Kareem “Mr. Bake” Queeman
At eight years old in Harlem, Kareem Queeman enrolled in his middle school’s Home Economics class – one of the only boys in a room of girls. Now, his mission is to bake through those barriers and become that representation he yearned for as a child. Kareem affectionately known as “Mr. Bake,” has succeeded in that mission as the first and only Black man nominated for the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards “Outstanding Pastry Chef/Baker” award as of 2023.
In addition to the recognition from the James Beard Foundation, he’s also made waves as a dynamic celebrity chef with appearances on several national networks. One notable appearance was on Bake It Like Buddy where he impressed the ‘Cake Boss’ himself by winning the show and simultaneously spearheading his TV career. He is always pushing the envelope for inclusivity in TV and Media and in 2023 alone, he has appeared as a featured cast member on Cooking Channel’s docuseries, Bake It ‘Til You Make It, a featured baker on the PBS Series Signature Dish, and as a guest on the TODAY Show, The Rachel Ray Show, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.
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In addition to his success on national television, Kareem is also proud to celebrate more than a decade of Mr. Bake, LLC. Kareem founded his company in 2013, quickly growing popular for his desserts backed by Southern family recipes and full of sweet nostalgia. Kareem’s early memories of baking involve his grandma and Aunt Janet whose family recipes, like banana pudding and sweet potato pie, have heavily influenced some of his signature desserts. With the help of his formal training in culinary arts from Monroe University, Kareem has perfected his pastry skills.
Kareem is dedicated to uplifting those POC, LGBTQ+ communities in baking through his “Sweet for Community ” advocacy initiative, which involves career mentorship, volunteering, motivational speaking, and even an ongoing queer dinner series. Recently, Kareem was the co-creator of Taste of Pride in DC which was a hugely successful event that showcased queer people in the food industry.
