Our Story

Lauren and Ben Kallenbach met while working at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation in Georgia. From there, they went on to contiune working as pastry chefs in the Middle East and in the Cayman Islands.

While in the Grand Caymans, our sourdough starter, Margot, was created. After the birth of the Kallenbach’s eldest, family brought them back to the United States and then to Waxhaw. Ben continued to work in pastry while Lauren worked from home, baking, while watching their son and then their twins. During this time, Lauren started Baked & Tempered, supplying baked goods to a local farm that sold other local products.

From here, Lauren had the opportunity to work with a UK based baking company. Ben continued Baked & Tempered while Lauren worked crazy early mornings in Charlotte. All of these experiences built the foundation for what is now Virtuoso Breadworks.

The Kallenbachs found 205 Salem in 2018 and opened with a local coffee roaster. Mid 2020, they converted the business to Virtuoso Breadworks. Ben and Lauren are the sole owners of the business now, with the same amazing baked goods and amazing coffee sourced from Charlotte based Enderly Coffee Co.