Check Out Jenny Huynh’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Huynh.

Hi Jenny, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My grandfather owned a wholesale bakery for 20 years in Tuy Hòa, Vietnam before fleeing Vietnam in 1979 to seek a better life for his family. As refugees resettled in the United States, he continued to bake, sharing with friends and family as a way to express his love and keep traditions alive even when distant from the country he once called home. I grew up watching my grandparents make mooncakes, sticky rice and mung bean cakes, and many other traditional items during big holidays. COVID-19 lockdowns allowed me the opportunity to ask more questions and learn techniques the traditional way. What started as a bake sale to fundraise for APPI organizations has grown into so much more. It has become an outlet for me to express my creativity and innovation skills in ways my full-time job does not allow me to. Meeting community members and like-minded folks along this journey has been really rewarding. Named after my grandfather, BA KỲ mixes traditional recipes from his family bakery in Vietnam with modern interpretations based on a California upbringing.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not! Navigating a small business while maintaining a full-time job can be taxing when trying to navigate bureaucracies and figuring it all out. It’s very much a learning process but sourcing packaging and supply chain hiccups have been some of the biggest challenges. When I first started, it was mostly monthly drops that changed each month. Because of that, it was difficult at times to source particular ingredients or packaging that fit what I was looking for. Now that I am doing less monthly drops and focusing on pop-ups and custom orders, it allows me the opportunity to research and figure out suppliers that work best moving forward.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For me, what makes Ba Kỳ special is that it is very personal. Food helps share culture, history, and stories. With Ba Kỳ, that is what we are trying to do. To take things passed down from generation and share that with a curious audience. Being able to share the context behind it, whether that be a traditional item with a recipe passed down or a new spin inspired by my upbringing here in So Cal. Two of the most popular items, Pandan honeycomb cake and mooncakes are recipes passed down from my family and something I continue to cherish. It’s always heartwarming to hear from others that when they try our items, it reminds them of home and time spent with their family.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I was a very shy child but always curious and wanting to learn. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents curious to see what they were doing in the kitchen and watching them spend many hours in the kitchen prepping for big holiday celebrations. I was very creative always wanting to partake in arts and craft and getting involved in many projects. Since I was surrounded by my extended family and cousins a lot, there was always opportunities to be engaged and participate in cool activities.

Contact Info:

• Website: bakybakedgoods.com
• Instagram: bakybakedgoods