About Us
Hello, I’m Suzana
I love sweets of all kinds.
But the best for me are the ones that are rustic, honest in ingredients, natural in looks and delectable in taste and texture.
I grew up in Malaysia where desserts are usually never baked but steamed, fried or stewed. And not many people owned ovens. Everything I learned about baking happened as an adult in a foreign land after being jaded with a career in banking. I pursued a diploma in pastry arts at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. From then on, my path took me to various restaurants and bakeries in New York, Boston and Kuala Lumpur.
I began building Butternut from scratch from my home kitchen in the spring of 2016 by using limited tools, and where I make my products in small batches and most of my work is by hand. The vision for Butternut Bakehouse is a place where you will find a feeling of love, comfort and gratitude that will envelop you like a warm hug. The flaky pastries will be a bonus.
Our Bakers
Susannah
kitchen manager
Rachel
baker
Baking has always been a passion of mine. I started out using Duncan- Hines cake mixes as a young teenager and graduated to fancy French pastry in culinary school. I love to design custom cakes, building unique creations that taste as good as they look. And baking treats for my four grown children always brings them home for a visit. My favorite pastime is experimenting in the kitchen with new flavor combinations to satisfy my curiosity and sweet tooth. At Butternut, we love to try out new recipes, while still perfecting our regular offerings. Even after one year at the bakery, I can’t resist a chocolate bouchon or fresh morning bun. They are happiness on a plate!
Gabby
baker
Julia
baker
Our Front of House
Allison
Café Manger
For me, there’s nothing more life-giving than warm beverages and pastries from a local cafe!
After establishing myself in digital project and operations management, and completing a Master’s in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship, I was drawn to Butternut Bakehouse as I settled into my new Arlington neighborhood. I’ve always been a foodie, and I’m passionate about unique flavors coupled with the kind of quality that can only come with passion and care.
Now I get the incredible opportunity to build a creative team with a focused service around life’s simple pleasures, and make a positive impact on our community at large.
For me, the cardamom swirls can’t be beat, and I love coming into something different every day!