Meet Margarita Espinosa | Pastry Chef & Owner of Cookies By M.E

We had the good fortune of connecting with Margarita Espinosa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Margarita, how do you think about risk?
Life is about taking risks. You’ll never know what’s out there if you don’t take a risk. When an opportunity presented itself for the business (during the pandemic), I did not think twice and just took it. I thought to myself that I wasn’t going to lose anything. I gave it a shot and so far it’s been good.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Cookies By M.E started as an online bakeshop that came about during the pandemic in 2020. What sets CBME apart from other online (or even businesses with a physical store) bakeshops is it also highlights Filipino products such as the Chunky Ube Cream cheese Chewies – which is unique in Miami. Ube is a purple Yam that is endemic to the Philippines. Branding and marketing through social media and word of mouth helped in the success of the business. It is not easy to start and sustain a business but giving up is not an option. There is still a lot of things to improve on for the continuous growth and success of Cookies By M.E. I want the world to know that my products are always made with natural ingredients and baked with love every single time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you are in Miami, it would be best to check out Miami Beach and its beaches, Ocean Drive to see the Art Deco architecture of the preserved buildings and 1-800-Lucky in Wynwood to grab some Asian food and drinks before or after exploring the street art in the area. While in Hollywood, it would be best to visit Superwow Coffee to try their Japanese/Asian-inspired drinks like the Ube latte. It is best enjoyed with Cookies by M.E’s selection of cookies like the Chunky Ube Cream cheese Chewies.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am blessed to have a friend in Cheryl Tiu of Cross Cultures (@cross.cultures) and Filipino Miami (@filipinomiami) for helping introduce and promote Cookies By M.E to the Miami community. Grateful for Linda Reguieg (@lilow_75r) for pushing me to come up with a brand and helping with marketing during the beginning stages of Cookies By M.E. I would also like to thank Julio Casilla Jr., former co-owner of Cookies By M.E (@_cookiesbyme_) and current operator of Jeepney Miami for believing in the brand & its vision and supporting the business. To Kim (@kimfajardo9), thank you for being a big part of the success of Cookies By M.E’s “Bake Sale” in Manila, Philippines last year. I’m also very grateful for your continuous support and effort in growing the business with me. Thankful to Richard and Talita Ribeiro of (@superwowcoffee) as well for partnering with Cookies By M.E by re-selling three cookie flavors in their coffee shop: Chunky Ube Cream cheese Chewies, Chunky Chocolate Chewies and Chunky Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chewies.

Instagram: @_cookiesbyme_

Image Credits
Michelle Vantine