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Justin Lerias

@jtlerias

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Pastry chef & Owner @delsur.bakery
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And that’s a wrap on Del Sur 1.0! Thank you to my team for holding it down while I dilly dally around the city for James Beard weekend. Naturally, our dough mixer broke the week before we closed but huge huge huge shoutout to @badbutterchicago for lending us their mixer and @notasweetsperson for letting us use cafe yaya’s sheeter twice when ours broke earlier this year 🥲❤️ I’m gonna miss this version of the bakery, it was perfectly imperfect and we made it work. Even when it would flood in the back every time it rained and the ac was never strong enough to cool the space. I am so excited to expand our footprint and showcase our hospitality in a whole new way and hopefully, shorten the lines. This expansion also means more opportunities to make more pastries and drinks so we don’t sell out early! To everyone who supported us this past year, thank you and we look forward to welcoming you into Del Sur Bakery 2.0! by @jtlerias
I was told i need more headshots by @jtlerias
One year of @delsur.bakery! What an incredible year it has been. Forever grateful to my team who come in to work with the utmost passion, kindness, and understanding. I made a lot of mistakes this year and this being the very first team I’ve ever managed did not help at all. But to receive the grace and empathy from them has meant the world to me and I will always cherish and remember that. I will always be proud of what we achieved together, no one can ever take that away from us. The growth we’ve developed this past year both professionally and personally is nonstop, challenging, and painstakingly beautiful and we can’t wait to show you what we have planned for the future. ❤️ by @jtlerias
I’ve already said a lot in my speech last night, but this is how I’m choosing to reflect on how we got here, through memories created together. Corny right? To have a space that feels comforting and just filled with so much laughter and playful banter, it’s all I’ve ever wanted the bakery to be. Thank you all, I’ll be pinching myself for a while. by @jtlerias
Reflecting on 2025. The first photo perfectly encapsulates how I feel right now. It’s hard to grasp the trajectory that my life/career seems to be at right now and the difficulty of accepting that. It doesn’t take away from the fact that the bakery’s success is not because of me, but because of the collective work of everyone in my team. So much has changed in me personally that I am still trying to make sense of, sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad. But I’m happy to be running a bakery rooted the same values I harped on before it opened. All for the sake of trying and continuing to try as the new year arrives. by @jtlerias
I’m truly humbled and so grateful to be nominated for Pastry Chef of the Year by the @thebanchetawards. It’s hard to put into words the feeling of seeing your dreams come to life, especially in what seems like such a short time. From opening the bakery, to meeting with chefs and leaders who I’ve admired and looked up to for years, to receiving this recognition, it all feels a bit surreal. I can’t help but feel so lucky. I’m especially thankful to my amazing team for their constant support, dedication, and kindness, and for always challenging me to grow with grace. A huge congratulations to my fellow nominees, I’m looking forward to celebrating all of you at the awards! Photo by @oppungo (who was there since day 1 ❤️) by @jtlerias
Six months in for @delsur.bakery! by @jtlerias
Three months of being the world’s most unserious boss by @jtlerias
Today marks exactly one month of @delsur.bakery being open! Forever grateful to my staff for bringing my mission and vision to life and our patrons for their patience as we navigate this space and improve our flow. I’m so excited for the future of this tiny bakery. Photos by my incredible creative director, @oppungo. by @jtlerias
Del Sur Bakery opened its doors this weekend. This little bakery is a labor of love, built from my deepest passion for baking and sharing food with others. My greatest hope is that when you step inside, you feel the same warmth and care as if you were walking into my own home. May it be a space where all feel loved and welcomed. To my mom and sisters, who have been my biggest supporters through every high and low—thank you from the bottom of my heart. And to Francis who saw the vision for Del Sur before I even could, and gave us the space to bring it to life—Side Practice Coffee will always be home, and I will forever be grateful for your kindness and belief in us. Maria, your thoughtful design and branding gave this dream its identity, and I can’t thank you enough for that. And to my incredible team—your creativity, support, and honesty have meant everything. Thank you for pushing me to be better every step of the way. (And for adding more salt to syrups and pastries when asked.) My sincere gratitude to our patrons, some of whom waited 3 hours in line, for being so supportive, patient, and understanding. This journey has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also been the most meaningful. I wanted Del Sur to represent a community that is too often overlooked in this industry—one that values transparency, accountability, and intentionality. My own experiences since working in hospitality since the age of 16 have shaped these values, and I made a promise to myself long ago that if I ever had the chance to build something of my own, I would do everything in my power to create a space where leadership takes a different approach. Change happens when we hold ourselves and those in power accountable, and I’m so grateful to have a team that will help me stay true to this mission. Community over competition, always. by @jtlerias
Lastly, December ✨ 2024 has been the most challenging year yet— filled with contrasts from progress to setbacks, laughter to tears, anxiety to confidence. But through it all, I’ve experienced growth, both professionally and personally. Grateful to everyone in my circle for not only supporting me, but understanding my imperfections and allowing the space for me to learn and grow at my own pace. Here’s to more growth and resilience in 2025. by @jtlerias
November! The craziest month yet and it’s only about to get crazier 🌀 by @jtlerias

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