Welcome to My Mountaintop Kitchen—Where Passion Rises Like Bread in the Oven
I’m Stone, known in these parts as the Mountaintop Baker, writing to you from my home high in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental. Here, at this altitude and in this stillness, I’ve found the perfect space to share the joy of baking—a joy rooted decades ago in my grandmother’s East Detroit kitchen. That small kitchen, filled with the comforting aromas of Appalachian soul food and Sicilian tradition, became my first classroom. I declared myself Grandma’s “apprentice” before I even knew what that meant—and I never looked back.
Everyone can bake. That’s the belief behind Mountaintop Kitchen. Whether you’re just starting out or already well along your baking path, I share my recipes and reflections to help bring inspiration, warmth, and confidence to your own kitchen.
Though baking has always held my heart, I chose a different career path—one that led me to Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Department of Energy. But even then, baking was never far behind. I spent weekends, evenings, and every spare moment experimenting in the kitchen or mentally recreating pastries I’d tasted in local bakeries. My coworkers became my faithful taste-testers, delighting in both the wins and the learning moments.
Later, I moved to Santa Fe to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where I spent a decade exploring the rich culinary landscape of the Southwest. From Cloud Cliff Bakery to Geronimo on Canyon Road, I soaked up inspiration from every corner bakery and fine restaurant across New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. At high altitudes, baking became a new kind of challenge—one that pushed me to rethink everything I thought I knew. But I welcomed it. I was determined to take my baking to new heights—literally and figuratively.
Now, from my mountaintop perch, I invite you to find time for what fills your heart. Whether you’re kneading dough or just beginning to stir the batter of your own dreams, every step forward matters. Baking is a journey of joy, creativity, and resilience. And like any good recipe, it’s best when shared.
So here I am—grateful you’re here, baking and learning alongside me as I continue this journey. I invite you to bring your family and friends into the fold. Everyone is welcome at Mountaintop Kitchen, because everyone has a mountain to climb—and sometimes, we need a little sweetness to keep us going.
Everyone has a mountain to climb
This space was created for a community of bakers—whether you’re dusting off your mixing bowls for the first time, baking just now and then, or greeting each day with a preheated oven and a new idea. It’s a place for those inspired by the bakers who came before them, and for those who are inspiring others right now.
If this resonates with you, I hope you’ll subscribe. Together, we can learn, grow, and share the joy of baking—one recipe, one story, and one warm kitchen at a time.
What’s on the menu
Each week, you’ll find fresh recipes added to our growing collection—from soulful quick breads and colorful pastries to time-honored traditions and bold new experiments. All recipes are written with sea-level instructions and include adaptations for high-altitude bakers.
So come on in. The oven’s warm, the kitchen smells amazing—and there’s always room at the table.