Catherine Liotapumanaia originally started baking out of necessity. With five kids on a single income, it was a great way to save on grocery bills. But she didn’t just throw together some easy muffins –  the Auckland Property Manager learned to make pizza dough from scratch, croissants, langos, delicious slices and so much more. “It ended up being a great creative outlet,” she says. Ten years ago, Catherine started making buns, and not only did her family love them – but everyone else who tasted them too. While she never imagined baking as a business at that point, the more she did it, the more she loved it. “I had long been aware of The Kitchen Project through working at council, so I took the leap and applied!” Catherine loves turning out her more traditional buns like Cinnamon scrolls but also mixing it up with Pacific flavours to incorporate a little of who she is into her food. Alongside the Biscoff, Snickers and Apple and Cinnamon buns you’ll find flavours like Mango coconut, Koko Samoa and Panipopo. It’s hardly surprising they sell out on market days. “It was amazing realising that this is actually what I want to do. I’m having so much fun!”