iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 11/03/2025

Celebrating Women’s History Month at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture! ✨ Join me for a special Bodega Bakes pop-up at Sweet Home Café every Friday in March, featuring my pastries and book signings on 3/14 & 3/28 from 10-12pm .

131

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 26/02/2025

stealthisrecipe.substack.com/p/steal-this...

020

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 10/02/2025

This one is for the folks who think “who the hell does she think she is— she’s easily replaceable talent— she’s not worth __ amount”

020

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 10/02/2025

People just assume I’m up to nothing because of my goofy approach to life but here’s what I’ve been up to just in the cookbook arena. Best Cookbooks of ‘24: NYT, WaPo, Food Network, BonApp, F&W, LA Times, Eater, Forbes, Delish, Robb Report, Library Journal, Amazon, B&N & best of ‘25 by RUSA CODES

030

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 10/02/2025

Happy Black History Year + ♾️

040

Reposted by Paola Velez

Justin Burke @justintsburke.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

It was such an honor to have Paola read a preview of Potluck Desserts and receive such a touching review and endorsement. Thank you, @smallorchids.com for the sweetest words and heartfelt allyship to the Queer and Trans community! Preorder Now wwnorton.com/books/978168...

021

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 05/02/2025

Whenever I bake for the camera, it feels like it takes forever. But I just knocked out 2 recipe tests in 1/2 the time while loading the dishwasher 2x & cleaning the kitchen. Like—why does filming turn a 30-min bake into a full-day production? IDK, how did I even get myself into making food videos? 🥴

040

Reposted by Paola Velez

Steal This Recipe @stealthisrecipe.substack.com · 04/02/2025

“But if you’re really that DIVA… just make more recipes.”

021

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 04/02/2025

Did you know I have a substack community called Steal this recipe? Join here: open.substack.com/pub/stealthi...

open.substack.com

Steal this free recipe: Italian Buttercream

This recipe is FREE.99?! Yes Lord! (in the voice of Anderson .Paak)

020

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 04/02/2025

My publisher just emailed to let me know that Bodega Bakes was honored by RUSA during their Book & Media Awards Ceremony at ALA LibLearnX. Congrats to all the other Essential Cookbooks of 2025! lnkd.in/esMmJNbr

030

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 03/02/2025

Carrot buttermilk pie, nasturtium coconut cream pie, sorrel snickerdoodle’s & campfire brownies

031

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 02/02/2025

I’m confused by the lack of action.. why this isn’t this something that (they) were paying attention to beforehand to protect all of us…. Like I’m genuinely confused as to how we’re all just standing here with our mouths hanging open… am I the only one?

141

Reposted by Paola Velez

Gabe Ortíz @tusk81.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

“Hundreds gathered in Dallas and Fort Worth on Sunday to protest President Donald Trump's new immigration policies. News of the protest spread across social media over the weekend, with posts inviting people to ‘show up & speak up for those who can't.'" www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/d...

cbsnews.com

Protesters in North Texas rally against new Trump immigration policies

Hundreds gathered in Dallas and Fort Worth to protest President Donald Trump's new immigration policies on Sunday.

4433122

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 26/01/2025

I am sad to think about what the current event we’re living will do to the breakthroughs of diversity within the restaurant industry as we know it. I hate that I even have to go there but the impact on 🧊 alone is going to be a a defining event for the industry

130

Reposted by Paola Velez

KikiCharles @kikicharles.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Check out Chef Paola. She started a substack

121

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 23/01/2025

It’s time to try something new 🧡 stealthisrecipe.substack.com/about Follow my other Bluesky account @stealthisrecipe.substack.com

152

Reposted by Paola Velez

Broderick @brodericksmylie.com · 22/01/2025

Do you remember when @tarajiphenson.bsky.social looked dead at the camera and told people to look up #Project2025 and it started trending on Google? I do.

3137

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 22/01/2025

When we try to reason with folks without reason it doesn’t work right? So here’s something I like to lead with ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE FOOD WILL COST YOU MORE MONEY. Forget the cost of eggs Some of yall (idk if they on this app) don’t know how to cook. And you order out a lot. Godspeed frfr

020

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 22/01/2025

When I used to think about the ailments of the culinary industry, I often thought about behavior in leadership, rent/costs of goods and labor increases. 🧊 targeting the culinary workforce will directly impact the industry with lasting ramifications. There’s a “known unknown” that 60-70% of the

130

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 22/01/2025

🧊 raids affect the whole culinary industry. The whole domestic food chain is about to be impacted. You won’t have to worry about tariffs, the call is coming from inside the house.

0416

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 22/01/2025

That’s me 🥲🥺💗 haha I have to run to buy a copy haha

151

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 19/01/2025

This weekend has truly been a doozy.

120

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 19/01/2025

This is a wonderful lesson on how we don’t own any digital real estate on web 2. Especially on any of these apps. For websites we pay fees for our domains and to host on servers. (We can say we rent there with a ‘*’.)

130

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 19/01/2025

I’m curious what marketing will look like now that TikTok isn’t going to be a leader in the space. ig and other apps haven’t been as unhinged or raw

000

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 19/01/2025

Haha I don’t want to be a bummer but as we’re being distracted by the news of the TT ban, what else is happening that we all might not be catching right now 🥺

000

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 19/01/2025

VIRTUAL DEMO RAFFLE BENEFITING BLACK LOS ANGELENOS- Virtual Demo perks: 🧁 Win a free copy of Bodega Bakes 🧁 Pick a recipe from Bodega Bakes to bake 🧁 1:1 virtual bake along for 1-10 people of your choice with an exclusive Q&A session 🧁 Hanging out with your fave internet bestie lol

102

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 19/01/2025

Forgot to screenshot the TikTok pop up. But I am intrigued to see how different these notes are.

011

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 19/01/2025

I didn’t realize we could post videos on Bluesky! 😨 #recipes

031

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 14/01/2025

The Gloria is a cross between a dry, orange Negroni and a bitter orange martini. Let’s make this cocktail, my way: 1.5 oz Gunpowder Irish Gin .5 oz Campari .5 oz Vermú Rosé (rose vermouth) .5 Aperol Orange Twist - for Garnish. #recipe

120

Reposted by Paola Velez

Brittany. @l8kergyrl24.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Review thread for instructions

111

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 13/01/2025

I don’t have a lot of followers here but i’m hosting a virtual demo raffle for folks who donate to the displaced Black families of Los Angeles In the link shared are the gofundmes of the families (made by the Afro Punk team) docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

docs.google.com

Displaced Black Families GoFund Me Directory

111

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 09/01/2025

Vanilla donut with pink icing 😍

121

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 21/12/2024

Come to Maketto’s pop-up shop today to try my Mont Blancas! Chestnut cream, sour guava, strawberries and NY style cheesecake (dusted with matcha for your enjoyment * not pictured) See ya later

111

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 16/12/2024

Yuzu Meringue Pie 🍋✨ Graham cracker crust, bright yuzu, & fluffy Dominican meringue on top. Come get a slice! Tuesday - Saturday 5-10pm at Providencia (Yuzu meringue pie and other holiday offerings will be available for preorder 🔜)

051

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 12/12/2024

Bodega Bakes is one of the best cookbooks of 2024!!!! Not in my deck of cards for the year but I’m grateful nonetheless 🥲😭🥲😭

031

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 11/12/2024

IG is down for most of the day.. uh.. I guess how is everyone doing on here?? lol

110

Reposted by Paola Velez

65 Feral Jellicles @lxv.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

They are the platonic form of homemade chocolate chip cookies If you want to do impressive bakery-style ones that are more chocolate than cookie, I highly recommend the Thickems from Bodega Bakes by @chefpaola.bsky.social

121

Reposted by Paola Velez

KikiCharles @kikicharles.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

#BlackSky #LatinoSky An amazing AfroLatina Chef getting her props. Follow her.

122

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 10/12/2024

Thank you @nytimes.com for naming Bodega Bakes one of the best cookbooks of 2024!!!

050

Paola Velez @smallorchids.com · 09/12/2024

A perfect little weekend book popup.

011