Twenty-six years ago, Joanne Chang and her team launched Flour Bakery + Cafe in Boston’s South End, transforming a modest, vacant storefront on Washington Street into a local culinary staple. Surrounded by a small cluster of businesses including Mike’s City Diner and Hite’s Repair, the bakery opened with a do-it-yourself spirit, from painting the space to sourcing furniture and fixtures on a tight budget.
Although Chang did not grow up in New England, her professional culinary training in Boston fostered a deep connection to the city, making it the ideal location to realize her vision. The name “Flour” was chosen deliberately for its simplicity and fundamental role in baking, reflecting the bakery’s mission to create a welcoming atmosphere and elevate everyday moments. “Make life sweeter for everyone who walks through the doors,” Chang said, emphasizing the value of small gestures like a warm smile, a flaky croissant, or a carefully brewed cup of coffee.
This philosophy extends to the bakery’s signature cookies, the focus of Chang’s recently published cookbook, *The Joy of Cookies*. She highlights how cookies offer an accessible means to brighten a day or show care, requiring only basic ingredients and simple preparation. “Nobody bakes a seven-layer cake because a friend is having a rough week. But you’ll pull out a mixing bowl and some pantry basics for a quick batch of cookies to cheer someone up,” Chang explained.
Chang stressed the technical precision involved in perfecting cookies, noting that achieving the ideal texture, balance of salt, and exact baking time demands close attention, as there is little room to conceal flaws in such a straightforward treat. Her cookbook aims to equip home bakers with skills to confidently prepare a variety of cookies, from classic chocolate chip to innovative options like Glazed Cinnamon Roll cookies.
A James Beard Award winner, Chang is also the owner of Myers + Chang, a popular restaurant she operates with her husband, Christopher Myers. With *The Joy of Cookies*, she invites readers to share in the satisfaction and joy that comes from baking and sharing these simple but impactful treats. The book features photographs by Kristin Teig and was published by Harvest, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.