Meet Christina Porcelli-lester | Baker & Hospitality Worker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Porcelli-lester and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was how can I share my passion. love & creativity for baking outside of my family & friends?
I wanted to share all of the delightful, delicious flavors that I grew up with in Brooklyn New York with diverse customers here in Nashville. Nashville has a lot of residents from all parts of the U.S. who may have never been introduced to desserts like mine. I want them to fall in love with a new flavor.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have always been a creative human! I started my career in hospitality working as a bartender for a well known catering hall in Queens, New York as a bartender. The bartending career was something I chose to fund my then singing career. I wound up falling in love with hospitality! I developed a huge passion for food, wine, cocktails & desserts. When I moved to Nashville, 17 years ago, I carried on that passion and continued working in hospitality. Being in this industry, I was still able to pursue my love for music & TV.
I have appeared on a few reality TV shows(Dating Naked & Beat Shazam, acted in Indie Movies and I’ve even done stand-up comedy at Zanies’.
I’ve definitely experienced highs & lows, but I don’t look at the lows as a challenge but more of a lesson. You have to go through some sort of struggle to realize what you really want in life & what is going to make you happy! So I say bring the challenges so I can use that as fuel to be stronger & better.
I am extremely excited to announce that my parents and I will appear on “Buddy’s Holiday Recipe Rumble” airing on Hulu December 6th. Buddy Valastro is the host and one of the judges on this family food competition.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting Nashville? How much time do you have? LOL
There’s so many neighborhoods, delicious food, amazing cocktails, shopping, rooftops, you name it. I could go on and on!
I will start with East Nashville, We would go to Frankie’s Pizza and order a slice of Sicilian, a Regular slice, and a glass of the house red. Frankie’s pizza tastes just like, if not better then pizza I grew up eating in New York.
After Frankie’s we would go to Pearl Diver and order one of their island inspired cocktails. Pearl Diver has the best vibes and is a chill & unique hang.
The Gulch is one of my favorite areas in Nashville. It is known for it’s brunch spots & the angel wings mural, but neither of those entice me.
It’s all about Neighbors bar & grill, which is a casual sports bar. The crispy shrimp app is the best & their brussels sprouts are a must!
Peg Leg Porker for some Memphis style BBQ cannot be missed. The ribs & chicken wings are my personal favorite!
Sambuca has one of my favorite patios. This elegant eatery has great lunch, dinner, cocktails & you can’t beat the live music, Okay I know I keep talking about food so I will pivot. My all time favorite shop in the Gulch is Kittenish by Jessie James Decker. Great quality comfy & sexy apparel.
Hanging out in Noble Park and getting an ice cream cone from the Sunday club is also a must when visitors come to town.
After eating our way through Nashville we’d have to go to Radnor lake for a hike to walk off all the food. Radnor Lake has 5 miles of unpaved trails, peace & tranquility.
There is lots of wildlife, I have seen my fair share of owls, deer, hawks & turtles.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to give a shoutout to my family! My husband & my parents have been my biggest support and inspiration for giving me the love and encouragement to start my own home baking business. They have also been my taste testers along the way. The three of them give me their honest feedback on what they like & dislike, when it comes to my dessert creations.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/chrissyporcelli__lester/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonettesbakery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551913419263