Meet Ciril Hitz

We were lucky to catch up with Ciril Hitz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ciril, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My work ethic unquestionably comes from my mother. I don’t ever recall a time where she stopped to take a break during any project she undertook. She instilled in me the desire to work and immediately complete tasks as soon as they came up. Procrastination does not exist in her world. It was never an option in our household to “wait until tomorrow.” If there was something that needed to be done, it was completed before the sun set. There were times when we’d work in the garden by the glow of the car headlights to finish installing fence lines or dig holes to complete new Koi ponds before the break of dawn. Admittedly, this steadfast work ethic can prove challenging at times in that I often forget to pause and enjoy my accomplishments before preparing to move on to the next task or project.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

In the early days of my career, I was constantly pushing myself, doing everything I could to develop my skills, to exceed expectations (both my own and others’) and to get incrementally better at my craft. At this stage of my life, I now feel as though I’ve found the perfect balance between my personal and professional pursuits. That said, I’m a consummate learner and know there’s always room for improvement. I strive to educate myself in every way possible and, while not seeking to add another degree to my portfolio, I’m pushing myself to grow in multiple disciplines, most notably baking and art. I’ve attended workshops on topics like mycology, as well as baking seminars, plus, I’ve started researching glassblowing classes.

As for my brand, it’s constantly evolving. As a one-person operation, my greatest challenge is that I have more ideas than daylight hours but, because I’m doing work that I love, it never gets old. I happily juggle multiple projects and pursuits while still finding time to refuel with new and exciting possibilities around me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Education: My parents always supported my educational journey. They didn’t stress about me getting good grades but instead encouraged me to discover and pursue my own interests, freeing me from the pressures of traditional educational expectations. This somewhat atypical approach helped build my self-confidence and allowed me to truly learn from my mistakes and successes, even if the lessons weren’t immediately clear. Embrace mistakes, learn from them, and ensure they don’t lead to the same situation or outcome down the road.

Career: I’ve traveled down many paths, taking turns that were both right and wrong. While I always had a clear idea of where I wanted to go, the journey was never a straight line. One significant chapter of my journey was my apprenticeship in Switzerland, where I aimed to become a pastry chef and eventually open my own shop in the United States. Life, however, took an unexpected turn. A single class in Switzerland introduced me to the art of bread making, and this unique skill, combined with my degree in the arts, helped me carve out a niche in the American baking landscape. I became recognized as one of the premier bread artists in the country. This recognition led to opportunities, including writing two baking books and creating an eleven-part training series about baking. Now, I teach private workshops at my farm in Rehoboth and continue to teach full-time at Johnson & Wales in the baking and pastry department. The key to this progression was and is flexibility—being open to alternatives and having a willingness to deviate from your original plans can truly help you fulfill your potential.

Keeping Your Eyes Open: Whether I’m baking bread or designing a bread sculpture, my eyes are always searching. While many artists carry a sketchbook to jot down ideas as they go through life, I prefer to document images, patterns, and surface treatments that inspire me. For example, it’s not uncommon for me to spot a long-lost metal object with a beautiful patina during a hike, which might spark the idea for one of my sculptures. Similarly, I often draw from my culinary travels, blending flavors from rustic dishes to create innovative breakfast pastries. So, be ever observant and let your mind transform impressions into unique masterpieces.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

Not many people have four parents, but I did. My biological parents divorced when I was in kindergarten and I, ultimately, spent most of my time with my mother who, as a single parent, instilled in me the value of independence. About two years later, both of my parents reintroduced partners into their lives, expanding my family to four adults. Each of them taught me invaluable life lessons and created a support system that always worked together. I continue to rely on this network, using the lessons I learned from them to navigate my own life’s decisions. This interaction reminds me of a string orchestra where each section shares the melody as the combination of all sections create the complexity of the piece.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Cirilhitz.com
• Instagram: breadhitz
• Facebook: Ciril Hitz
• Youtube: Made by Ciril or Breadhitz