Gwin Grogan Grimes is a classically trained chef and baker, culinary school teacher, cookbook author and consultant.
Her great-great grandparents were bakers from Bremen, Germany, who emigrated to Mobile, Ala., in the early 1800s, where they owned a bakery for many years.
Gwin teaches baking and cooking classes at Central Market Cooking School, Culinary School of Fort Worth and as a volunteer in the Community Kitchens program at the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
She is the author of three cookbooks of Southwestern cuisine: Gorgeous Garlic; Nuts: Pecan, Pistachio & Pinon; and Coffee Creations, all from Rio Nuevo Publishers.
Gwin is a member of the Bread Bakers Guild of America, Chefs Collaborative, Slow Food, Texas Chefs Association, Southern Foodways Alliance and a founding member of Foodways Texas.
She is a retired journalist who was a writer, editor and restaurant critic for newspapers and magazines for more than 20 years, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Dallas Business Journal.
Gwin co-produced and occasionally co-hosted "Texas Food & Travel" weekly radio talk show with June Naylor on WBAP News/Talk 820 AM. She also was a regular correspondent for KDFW's "Good Day Dallas" and occasionally did cooking segments for the show.
She has developed and tested recipes for local and national clients, including cookbook publishers, magazines and corporate clients. Her confidential consulting work has included menu and product development, business strategy, social media, sourcing and other topics for restaurants.
Gwin has degrees from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and Texas Christian University, and attended culinary school at Bossier Parish Community College.
Mark Grimes is a native of Fort Worth and is a graduate of University of Texas-Arlington (B.A. Sociology) and Sul Ross State University (M.A. History).
He is a journeyman electrician by trade, and is currently pursuing certification for solar energy (PV) design and installation through IBEW Local No. 20, of which he is a proud member.
In his spare time, Mark studies physics, astronomy and mathematics. He enjoys playing classical guitar and banjo. His goal is to build a self-sustaining Earthship.
So, how did the journalist and electrician become bakers?
Gwin and Mark had been interested in farmers markets for a while when an opportunity arose to bake in a friend's catering kitchen.
In April 2007 they contacted Cowtown Farmers Market to see if there was any interest in having a baker at market. The answer was yes, and they have been baking ever since.
Artisan Baking Co. moved to its current location in September 2007.
