How Rhian Ramos’ accidental baking stint turned into a successful business
Rhian Ramos, one of GMA’s trusted actresses and currently a star in Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre, has taken a delicious turn. Her transformation from an accidental baker to a successful business owner is an example of how passion and a little faith can turn a simple hobby into a thriving and profitable project.
Her latest success story revolves around her signature cookies, now available at Luxxe White Cafe, a new spot at the Frontrow International headquarters on Quezon Avenue in Quezon City. This collaboration, under the ownership of RS Francisco and Sam Verzosa, who happens to be Rhian’s boyfriend, is clear evidence of her expanding reach.
Rhian’s baking journey was born from a casual, personal act. “Well, I’ve been baking these for years. Right when the pandemic started, that’s when I started making these,” she shared.
Her inspiration was emotional comfort. There was a cookie brand she enjoyed in New York that helped her cope with homesickness. Though she couldn’t replicate it exactly, Rhian crafted a version of how she wanted her cookies to be – crunchy on the edges, gooey inside, and with a salty top
What started as a private comfort food quickly turned into something more. “Some of my friends and family members would start ordering it from me because, of course, during Christmas get-togethers, I’d bring it out,” Rhian recalled.
The photos, showing her baking in a bikini during the height of the pandemic, unexpectedly catapulted her into viral fame. That moment sparked her baking adventure.
From there, Rhian’s cookie business grew organically. “So, I was baking for my friends, the photos went viral, and then people outside of my friend group started ordering,” she revealed.
One of her first loyal customers was none other than celebrity beauty doctor and entrepreneur Dr. Vicki Belo, a fellow baking enthusiast and owner of Scarlet’s Sweets.
“She would always buy multiple dozens,” Rhian said fondly, sharing how her customer base grew from genuine word-of-mouth.
Turning passion into business
Rhian’s cookies have gained considerable popularity, warranting her partnership with several cafes across Metro Manila, including Incanta, The Vibe, Deer Claus, and now Luxxe White Cafe.
Currently experimenting with new flavors, Rhian is including a quirky “cheese-corn” variant, which she describes as “weird-sounding for some people, but to me, they make sense.” Her focus remains on her classic chocolate chip cookies for now. “That’s why it’s called Bās Bakes because I love basics. So, I really try to go for the most classic version of something before anything else.”
Baking with a purpose
“Thank goodness, not anymore!” Rhian smilingly reported when asked if she still bakes everything herself. Due to the demand for her cookies, she now has a team behind her.
Rhian emphasized that she still believes in the magic of freshly baked cookies. She suggests that people try her frozen dough for that authentic homemade experience. Her cookies are nut-free, a detail she takes pride in, ensuring that even those with allergies can indulge. It took her time to find the right recipe.
“I really went crazy at the time,” Rhian admitted, describing the months spent perfecting her recipe through countless trials, mixing different flours and testing various chocolate brands until she found the ideal combination.
Rhian’s journey wasn’t planned. Her viral photos—initially just playful gimmicks—unintentionally set her on this path. “It was just like we were doing a girls’ trip. We got an Airbnb, so we knew there was a kitchen, an oven,” she recounted. Then it rained. We baked.
“That’s how it all started. The rest is history,” Rhian continued. She believes that doing what you love with genuine intent, coupled with a little faith, leads to amazing results.
Juggling her acting career and her growing cookie business isn’t always easy for Rhian. “It’s hard,” she admitted. “Sometimes, I don’t succeed in balancing it.” Her perfectionist nature makes her hesitant to push out subpar work, but she’s learned to accept that she should “make it exist first, make it perfect later.”
Mistakes, like forgetting to promote, are part of her learning curve—an essential lesson in entrepreneurship.
Her mother’s influence is evident in her value for hard work. “It’s from my mom. So, my mom has taught me and my sister to depend on ourselves. We’re like an all-girl family. It’s a lot of femininity. She’s always taught us to be thrifty, to depend on ourselves, and make sure that we’re really independent,” Rhian shared, highlighting the values behind her success.
Faced with a successful bump into entrepreneurship, Rhian offers some practical advice for aspiring home bakers and budding entrepreneurs. She confidently advised and reiterated,
“Again, make it exist first and then make it perfect later because sometimes experience, really, is the best teacher.” She continued, “And then second, I think in any business, you’re only as good as your marketing. And sometimes, marketing even goes further than how great the product is. Not to say that this isn’t a great product, ‘cause it is, but marketing really, really goes a long way.”
Bās Bakes’ unexpected popularity was a recurring theme in our conversation. “You really can’t plan these things. It’s a God move,” she ended our interview with a smile.
Today, Rhian’s life as an accidental baker living the “sweet” dream shows a perfect mix of passion, serendipity, and perseverance. Her journey teaches us that opportunities come from spontaneous acts of kindness and fun. Whether she’s on set or baking in her kitchen, Rhian also reminds us that sometimes, the best recipes are the ones you never planned to make.
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