Baking her dreams a reality
The Flour Pot owner brings Belgian heritage to De Pere
By Rachel Sankey
Unlike a traditional pie, which, in most cases, is eaten with a fork, Belgian pies are meant to be eaten like a slice of pizza.
Gina Guth, owner of The Flour Pot, located at 307 Reid St, should know, she bakes these pies weekly, as well as an array of other Belgian and non-Belgian baked goodies. The bake shop, located in De Pere, is attached to Abbey’s Bar, which is run by Guth’s cousin. The Flour Pot includes a commercial kitchen and workspace, as well as a gift shop.
Guth has worn many hats before she put on her baker’s hat. She started her career as a hairdresser and after 30 years of doing hair, Guth said she got into nonprofit work. After working as a domestic violence children’s advocate for seven years, she said her career took another path, where she served as the executive director of Family Centers of Door County for seven years. When the pandemic hit and she was let go from her position, Guth said that she decided it was time to move to Green Bay and decide what she wanted to do next. Throughout her 40+ years of working, she said her passion for baking never faltered.
“My mom was a big influence on me with my love of baking because she would bake all the time.” Guth said. She passed away when I was in my early 20s.”
Since 2010, in conjunction with her day jobs, Guth has taught weekend classes at St. Norbert College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College on heritage baking. When she was informed that her cousin had a space if she wanted to open her own shop, she said she decided to accept the opportunity. Guth said she and her family turned the space into a licensed commercial kitchen teaching area with the attached gift shop. The Flour Pot opened in June 2021, with its official ribbon-cutting in September.
Guth said her heritage is as important to her as her baked goods, and said much of her childhood was centered around her mom and other family members making Belgian treats. In the top-right corner of the kitchen, Guth has a tribute to her mom and her pie-making, which includes a painting from a Flemish Belgian painter in the 15th century.
“She was interviewed by the Milwaukee Journal in 1970 and was the first to publish the Belgian pie recipe,” Guth said. “Most of the time, these ladies, they didn’t have a recipe to follow, they just took the ingredients and did it.”
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Guth said she is featured in a cookbook that’s to come out in August 2023 on Belgian recipes. She said the Belgian Consulate in New York also recently reached out and would like to feature her Belgian pie recipe on its website.
Guth said she stays true to her family Belgian pie tradition, including making the traditional flavors – prune, raisin, apple and rice.
During Kermiss, a Belgian holiday which includes a church mass followed by gatherings with an abundance of food, Guth said her mom used to make a couple hundred Belgian pies.
Guth has four children of her own, and said she hopes they will become more involved as she gets older. All four kids were surrounded by baking and enjoyed it as well, she said.
Before opening up the kitchen to the public, Guth said she would conduct classes on Zoom from her home. People from California, New Hampshire, Florida, Texas and even Canada would stream in to bake with Guth. Though classes are in – person at The Flour Pot now, Guth said she will do a Zoom class with anyone who requests it. Guth offers pasta making classes, french macaron classes, kneecap donut classes, Czech Kolache classes, Belgian pie classes and more.
“The classes have been going like crazy,” Guth said. “I can hardly keep up… but it’s been really well-received in the community.”
The Flour Pot is the only place within the Greater Green Bay area that offers consistent baking classes, Guth said. Her classes have reached a wide demographic, from Girl Scouts to families with their children to couples and more.
“It’s a labor of love,” Guth said. “Since I’ve turned 65, I have a new mantra – ‘Do what you love, and love what you do.’ And I’m loving it. I never get up in the morning and go, ‘I gotta work today,’ you know? It’s exciting.”
The Flour Pot is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. For more information on classes, the bake shop and more, head to flourpot-llc.com.
Rachel Sankey is the Arts and Entertainment Reporter for Green Bay City Pages. She can be reached via email at [email protected]