Clarine’s passion for food was instilled at an early age through her family. Holiday and birthday gatherings were always centered around food. With a grandmother that owned a bakery and yearly baking of Florentines with her mother, being in the kitchen became a favorite pastime of Clarine’s.
During college she decided to live abroad in Florence, Italy and take various cooking classes. It was there that her love and appreciation of food continued to grow because of her access to such amazing meals. After each dinner and dessert, she dreamed of someday starting a business in food.
Clarine finished her undergraduate studies at the University of Californina, Davis and went on to receive a teaching credential and masters from Dominican University of California. After 7 years of teaching 2nd grade and moving to the suburbs from San Francisco, California Clarine decided it was time for a change. With her dad leading as an example of a successful entrepreneur, she decided to go for it and thus, Clarine’s Florentines was born.
Clarine’s Florentines started in 2007. Clarine initially produced her cookies in Lafayette, California during the night when the bakery she rented from was closed. She enlisted free help from any family or friend that was willing to be paid in florentines!
Today, Clarine’s Florentines has its' own commercial kitchen in Berkeley, California and has hired 2 part time employees to help out with baking and packaging. Clarine is still as passionate about food as ever and loves to travel around the world experiencing new cultures and food.
