Ketima Labrador was used to the hustle and bustle of bartending, but all of that came to a screeching halt in 2020, when the global pandemic forced businesses to shut down. With extra time on her hands, Ketima turned to her favorite hobby to keep busy, dessert making.
“The idea to start Tout Sweet really came out of lockdown,” Ketima said. “Most of my food and beverage career was spent behind the bar, so when the whole industry was shut down, I needed something to do. There was a lot of uncertainty during that time, but people were still celebrating when they could. Those moments of levity helped us all during a very dark time.”
Ketima is a firm believer in internet learning. Although her love for baking came from home, her knowledge came from researching techniques online, and experimenting in her kitchen.
“You can learn to do just about anything online,” Ketima laughed. “There was a lot of trial and error and I have had my fair share of errors.”
As for the business name, Tout Sweet, Ketima said that is one of the phrases from French class that she has always remembered.
"I took French in high school and ‘tout de suite’ means immediately or at once,” Ketima said. “In the beginning, we were offering desserts ready to go. Our future concept is to have a storefront where you can grab a sweet treat to-go or sit and enjoy dessert after dinner."