by Kelly Liyakasa

November 14, 2011

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Everything “Dora” begins with a love.

Her love of fashion led her from her native Poland to France. Her love of animation led her to specialize in children’s design, a world where she could create “surreal, crazy, fun creatures” for kids. Her love of her work led her to the love of her life at a downtown New York office building. Her love for her husband led her to test-baking a family recipe. And now, her love for that cookie concoction has her pounding the pavement and perfecting party favors.

Witte bakes out of Geordanes Food World on Main Street in Irvington. She does frequent Biscuit de Francie tastings at events like Children’s Book Day at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside in Tarrytown and Historic Hudson Valley River Day.

“For me, I want to make sure my packages are really elegant, because I feel like we eat with our eyes first,” Witte says. “I love packaging and conceptual work.”

Witte designed the silhouette of a black Cupid for her logo to represent love and the whimsical notion that one bite of the storied cookie would pierce one’s heart like the famed angel’s arrow.

Though cookies are polar opposites of clothes, Witte has plans to artfully mix the two.

“I can imagine cookies with multicolor icing and children’s T-shirts that match the cookie,” Witte says of her plans to open a concept store where, of course, each child would walk away with a pastel balloon. “Where I live, a lot of the young kids speak French… I do speak French so I have to use my skills!”

But Witte’s not limiting her cookies exclusively to the kids.

“I create (party favors) for adult’s birthday parties,” she says. “A friend of a friend said, ‘I love Juicy Couture. Could you do something really lovely in pink?’ and I designed packages for her that were very Bloomingdale’s, Juicy Couture-inspired, a taste-level that goes well with the cookie.”

Like Witte, Great, Great, Great, Great Aunt Francie had a knack for baking and a passion for couture hats.

“I know that if she were still alive, we would be best friends and create amazing food and art together.”

Look for designer Dora Witte on the artsy streets of Irvington or around town at tasting’s and community days. To special-order Biscuit de Francie cookies for your next event or special occasion, visit biscuitdefrancie.com. 

by Kelly Liyakasa

November 14, 2011

Latest Comments

  • Article from Kelly about Dora

    The article was delightfully written and very informative. I enjoyed it tremendously.

    Posted by Peg Wittte January 18, 2012 16:40:02

  • Thanks!

    Thank you for the wonderful article Kelly!

    Posted by Dora Witte December 07, 2011 09:56:21

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