Behind the Scenes with Q Bakehouse & Market
We sat down with the founder of Q Bakehouse & Market to explore how she turned her passion for baking and Taiwanese flavors into a thriving business.
Rachel Liu Martindale’s journey from engineering to bakery owner may not have followed a traditional path, but it’s one that has left an indelible mark on the Ann Arbor food scene. As the owner of Q Bakehouse & Market, Rachel brings a unique combination of Taiwanese and Chinese-inspired flavors into her baked goods, alongside a rich history of passion, perseverance, and reimagining her roots.
Rachel’s love for baking started at a young age, but it wasn’t until she worked as a barista that she began to truly explore it professionally. "I worked as a barista in specialty coffee shops and cafes, but I’ve always loved baking, ever since I was a little girl,” she shared.
Despite initially working in coffee, Rachel's passion for baking continued to grow. She ran a food blog and started receiving orders from friends. "I had this food blog that I was keeping up from college, and a lot of friends saw that I was baking regularly. I got my first professional order from friends who wanted to order a cake for their events, and it just slowly spread from there."
Eventually, Rachel took the leap and decided to pursue baking full-time. “I finally felt comfortable to take the plunge and quit my job to do this full time,” she recalled. "But that was spring of 2020... really poor timing, but I had to pivot real quick. I was in this, I was doing it."
From Milk and Honey to Q Bakehouse & Market
Rachel's bakery originally started as Milk and Honey, operating primarily through wholesale and pop-ups. "I did wholesale to local coffee shops and mostly wedding cakes,” she said, reflecting on the pandemic’s impact on her decision not to open a retail space at first.
However, with time, Rachel wanted to take her business in a new direction. She rebranded her bakery as Q Bakehouse & Market and opened her own location. "I was doing a lot more experimentation with food I ate growing up, rediscovering a lot of my Asian heritage, and I wanted to incorporate that into my baking."
A Menu That Delights the Senses
Q Bakehouse & Market offers an evolving menu that rotates weekly, but a few items have become mainstays.
“Our chili crisp scones are by far our most popular item,” she said. “I created them trying to make a flavorful, vegetarian scone. It was just a random idea that I thought of in the shower. I wasn’t sure how it would be received, but now people love them. If we ever took them off the menu, I think there would be some rioting.”
Other crowd favorites include breakfast galettes, which feature Chinese-style breakfast sausage with a jammy egg, and milk bread buns, which come in both sweet and savory versions.
What dish put you on the map?
“Our chili crisp scones really got us noticed. People absolutely love them, and they’ve quickly become our top seller. Customers come in regularly just for them.”
What’s one thing on your menu that everyone should try?
“I think the breakfast galette is something everyone should try. The flavors are great, and it’s such a delicious, buttery breakfast item. Plus, we change the fillings weekly, so there's always something new to try.”
The Day-to-Day Life of Running a Bakery
Running Q Bakehouse & Market is a full-time job, and Rachel is hands-on in every aspect of the business. "I come in after dropping my toddler off at preschool, and that’s when we get ready for the day. We write out all of our prep and tasks, and I bake as well," she said, explaining her daily routine. "I do everything that everyone else on the team does too."
Looking Ahead
As Q Bakehouse & Market continues to grow, Rachel is focused on expanding her offerings. "We’ve started doing Sunday brunch, and that’s been really good. We also want to expand our savory options and offer more frozen dumpling flavors."
Though the bakery is still in its first year, Rachel is excited about the future and eager to continue introducing new flavors inspired by her heritage to the Ann Arbor community.
Q Bakehouse & Market, with its ever-changing menu and innovative Asian-American inspired treats, has become a must-visit spot in Ann Arbor. From the crowd-favorite chili crisp scones to the savory breakfast galettes, Rachel Liu Martindale’s bakery is a reflection of her passion for baking, her dedication to her craft, and her commitment to sharing her heritage through food.