Who the Folk?! Robyn Frank

Welcome to “Who the Folk?!” Every week on Monday we feature a new member of the community as our “Person of the Week.” Last week week we got to know Dan Myers. This week meet Robyn Frank! Know someone we should feature? Nominate them by sending an email to [email protected]. 

TC Jewfolk: Are you from the Twin Cities?

Robyn: Yes. I was born and raised in Hopkins/ Minnetonka, but I’ve been living in Brooklyn, NY for the past ten years.

TCJ: You run a bakery? That is just, like, the coolest! How did that come about?

Robyn: Well, someday I hope to actually have a bakery, but right now I just have a little cookie company. We bake out of a shared commercial Kitchen in North Minneapolis that is run and operated by Appetite For Change.

TCJ: Is it as dreamy and wonderful as we imagine?

Robyn: Ha! Yes! We are forced to do a lot of taste testing and collaborating. It’s a rough life.

TCJ: You were just a judge yesterday for our First Annual Recipe Contest! How did it go? What was your favorite part?

Robyn: Yeah. It was pretty awesome. My favorite part was eating all of the delicious food! I mean, it was my job and I took it very seriously. All of the finalists did a great job presenting and sharing their stories. It was super fun. I hope to be involved in the next one!

TCJ: Are you involved in any other TC organizations?

Robyn: I have been doing a bit here and there with Appetite For Change. I really believe in their mission of using food based programming and education to create social change. It’s pretty cool and I get to see it up close because I’m on the premise. I also have been doing a few things with the local synagogues but I would love to do more.

TCJ: What’s you favorite way to celebrate Shabbat?

Robyn: A family style meal at someone’s house with good food, a lot of wine and really good company. I occasionally go to synagogue too.

TCJ: What’s your favorite Jewish food?

Robyn: My sister’s chicken soup. She makes chicken soup based on both of my grandmothers recipes. It’s ridiculously delicious. You have no idea.

TCJ: What’s your favorite Jewish holiday?

Robyn: Passover. Hands down. I just love the drama of it all. Pharaoh, plagues, making an entire symbolic meal. Its the best. Me, my mom and my sister rotate who does it each year and then my dad always leads. Last year we squeezed 14 ppl into my lil Brooklyn apartment. We didn’t have enough furniture or table space but somehow it seemed perfect.

TCJ: What’s your favorite thing to do in the Cities?

Robyn: Since I haven’t been here for a while, I’d say I just really like learning about all the new stuff that’s happening around town. It seems like people here are really proud and invested in MN. I’m trying to learn about the food scene, the arts, the music scene. That’s all keeping me pretty busy.

TCJ: What else do you do for fun?

Robyn: I would say that I love a good dance party. If there’s soul music playing and an impromptu dance floor nearby, I’m pretty much having fun. I also watch a lot of bad tv. That makes me happy too 😉

TCJ: Give us one more reason why you’re folking awesome! 

Robyn: I can bring down the house doing karaoke. As long as it’s an 80’s ballad.