About Aiko |
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I want to be known for making people happy...and food is a very powerful way to do that. Everybody eats, everybody has food memories and so, this is the way that I found that I can make people happy. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, many moments led to Aiko Lyne discovering her passion for baking. From morning pastries on road trips during the holidays to vacations visiting her family in Tokyo, sweets were always comforting and alluring. The kitchen soon became a place for Aiko to spend time with her family and create something for loved ones.
During her sophomore year of high school, Aiko joined the school’s culinary program and started competing on the culinary team, becoming captain her senior year. It was also the year Aiko began applying for jobs as she was excited to begin her career. While working, Aiko studied at Austin Community College and graduated with both culinary arts and pastry arts AAS degrees in 2017. At the age of seventeen, Aiko landed her dream job at Qui and for a year and a half worked her way from dishwasher to lead line cook. While her favorite station was the grill, she found working with the pastry team more creative. Aiko’s next move would be to develop her skills at Emmer & Rye. Under the guidance of Executive Pastry Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Aiko brings her talent, creativity, and hard work ethic to her role as co-pastry chef at Emmer & Rye. Opened in 2015 on Rainey Street and helmed by Executive Chef Kevin Fink, Emmer & Rye brings a unique dining experience to Austin as the restaurant is the city’s first to offer contemporary American seasonal small plates passed on circulating carts. In addition to leading the pastry department at Emmer & Rye, Aiko has also spent time working at Emmer & Rye’s sister restaurant, Henbit. |
