From biology to baking: Filigree Patisserie owner followed his heart and it led him to French pastries

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As a university student, Kent Lukey envisioned himself in a white coat toiling away at a stainless steel table.

"I wanted to study genetics to build artificial, lab-grown hearts," he said. "I've always really liked science."

Instead, he finds himself assembling macarons, croissants and chocolates through his Regina-based business Filigree Patisserie.

Lukey was two years into a biology degree when his grandmother passed away. She had instilled in him a passion for baking at an early age, so he changed course, choosing to follow his heart.

"I was always helping her bake," he recalled. "Most of the other grandchildren would come and help and then leave, but I would stay 'til the end."

Whereas his grandmother baked by feel, Lukey is meticulous. In that way, baking has allowed him to maintain his passion for science, precision and experimenting.

In fact, the name "Filigree" refers to an intricate, elegant cake decorating technique with curlicues and fine lines, which you can see on his company logo. Likewise, he was drawn to French pastries and sweets because he identifies with the attention to detail and commitment to quality that underlines the country's culinary arts.

"I remember visiting France for the first time and being enamoured with everyone having a croissant and a coffee in the morning. That's your breakfast. I loved that," he said.

Filigree Patisserie really does smell like a boulangerie in Paris not that you can tell from the outside. The business is based in Lukey's home. Descending into the commercial kitchen he built in his basement, I felt let in on a secret.

Lukey's wares, though, have far from flown under the radar.

Macarons are "what started it all" for Filigree. They are just as you would taste in Paris: a delicate shell, chewy on the inside, and the jam in the middle is popping with natural flavour.

Filigree has since expanded to a line of caramels, seasonal pastries and artfully packaged chocolate bars.

Lukey sources all of his chocolate from Valrhona, a producer based in a small town in France.

Beginning with home deliveries which Lukey still does with the help of his husband Filigree products are now stocked in some stores in Regina and as far away as Calgary. This despite Lukey having never marketed his product to retailers, aside from posting photos to social media and setting up stalls at local farmers' markets and craft sales.

"I'm not a salesman," he said."All of our partnerships have come from word of mouth. People ask me if they can carry my product because they've tried it before and know what they're getting."

It's been a quick ascent for a business owner who launched at a challenging time.

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Hot chocolate bombs, Pride and the Roughriders

Following his career-changing epiphany, Lukey enrolled at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary to study baking and pastry arts. During that time, he also founded Filigree Patisserie.

After graduation, he moved to Edmonton and worked at a patisserie and kept the Filigree brand going on the side, driving back to Calgary to sell his wares at farmers' markets.

In June 2020, he moved the business to Regina because, in his words, "the pandemic made everyone take stock of their life." He wanted to be closer to family, and his husband had a job opportunity in the Queen City.

Relocating a business during the pandemic was hectic, but profitable. Winter 2020 was marked by the "hot chocolate bomb trend" on social media, and demand for Filigree's offering was high. Lukey pumped out hundreds of bombs to satisfy people's cravings and experimentation while in lockdown.

He also made a name for himself with his annual line of vibrant Pride treats. Part of the proceeds support a local organization serving 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Lukey's knack for high-quality goods and his connection to the community caught the eye of the Canadian Football League last year. He was tasked with creating a product to give out to VIP guests of the Grey Cup staying at Hotel Saskatchewan.

"I never would've thought as a little kid going to Rider games, that one day I'd be making chocolate bars for the CFL itself," he wrote when announcing the partnership on Facebook. "It's unreal."

"Have faith in what you're doing," Lukey offered as advice for other creators who might be considering turning their passion into a business. "If you believe in the product and what you're providing, then people can see that. They know you're putting everything into what you're doing. That resonates with customers and they'll keep coming back."