Brittany “Bee” McGee Photo: Kristin Welch
Brittany “Bee” McGee started her baking business after graduating from UNC-Greensboro. Until then, baking had been a self-taught hobby to escape the mundane aspects of academia and to exercise her creativity. Earlier in life, her creative outlet had been (among other things)ceramics and sculpture, working with her hands… so the tactile and artistic nature of baking and creating desserts seemed a natural progression from that.
Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, she wanted to follow her dream and start a business of her own. Brittany’s online baked goods presence was gaining a following for her original and beautiful creations. By 2017, she was ready to open The Humble Bee Shoppe in Winston Salem. As demand for her unique baked goods grows, she somehow manages to run her business solo, except for counter help when the West End shoppe is open Thursdays-Sundays. She also makes time to bake for pop-ups at restaurants around Winston Salem including Willow’s Bistro, Tate’s, and Spring House.
For someone so young, she is just 29, Brittany’s list of accomplishments in baking is already long and impressive. The Winston Salem Journal and Winston Salem Monthly have spot-lighted her macarons. She has also been featured in Yes! Weekly and won First Place for Best Bakery in the Triad and was voted second place for “Best New Bakery/Dessert Maker.” All of the successes and accolades have not jaded Brittany McGee’s philosophical approach to her craft. “To me, food is love that can be both shared and expressed despite various communication barriers. Everything I make is baked with intention and is truly an extension of myself.” These intentional goodies include cookies, wedding cakes, tarts, custards, brownies…but not much of it is done in a traditional fashion.
For example, there are always vegan options available in the shoppe, as well as ingredients that are fresh, local, organic and seasonal. Summertime is a time for peaches and plums and blueberries. But don’t be surprised to find peppers and black beans among the ingredients as well.
“My goal is to create moments of mindful happiness: there’s not enough of that in this world!”
Brittany McGee will be creating the dessert course for Community Table 2019, which will be held at The Cadillac Service Garage in downtown Greensboro on September 29. For tickets visit http://www.triadlocalfirst.com.
Visit the Humble Bee Shoppe in Winston Salem at 1003 Brookstown Avenue, Winston Salem, NC 27101, Thursday thru Saturday 11:00-6:00, Sunday 11:00-3:00 or online @thehumblebeeshoppe.co
Weekend driving trips are second only to learning everything about what is in my own back yard. Greensboro and the Triad are growing and changing and renewing in a way that no one would have predicted two decades ago.