In the heart of Waco, Texas, a culinary journey awaits dessert enthusiasts at Around The World. This unique establishment, owned by the well-traveled Camarena, celebrates its first anniversary at its new location on 119 N 12th St. The shop offers a passport to global flavors through meticulously crafted international desserts inspired by countries spanning from Brazil to Japan. Camarena’s vision goes beyond simply serving treats – she’s created a destination where locals can experience authentic global flavors without leaving Texas.
From Passion to Storefront: Camarena’s Culinary Adventure
The path to Around The World’s current success wasn’t overnight. After relocating from Union Hall, Camarena faced a two-year process of permitting and construction before opening the doors to her dream shop. Her passion for international desserts stems from extensive personal travels, where she collected recipes and flavor inspirations from across the globe.
“I just want people to try different things and experiences because not everybody gets to travel,” explains Camarena. “Not everybody likes to travel. So to come here, which is like, maybe a few minutes away… and get to experience something different than your typical bakeries.”
This philosophy drives everything at Around The World. The shop bridges cultural gaps through food, allowing Waco residents to sample authentic global desserts that they might otherwise never encounter. The business has quickly become a local favorite for those seeking culinary adventure without the passport.
For dessert lovers who enjoy discovering new treats, exploring global dessert favorites can be an exciting journey. Camarena’s approach mirrors this spirit of culinary exploration, bringing far-flung flavors directly to Texas taste buds.
Tempting Treats from Every Continent
The menu at Around The World reads like an international dessert encyclopedia. The Hungarian Dobos Torte stands out as a signature offering – a six-layer sponge cake layered with rich chocolate buttercream and finished with crushed hazelnuts. This European classic represents just one corner of Camarena’s global dessert map.
Brazilian treats share counter space with Mexican specialties, while English, Indian, and Japanese-inspired creations round out the offerings. Each dessert tells the story of its origin country through authentic flavors and traditional preparation methods. The drink menu follows suit with signature beverages that complement the international dessert selections.
What makes Around The World particularly special is its commitment to inclusivity. The shop offers numerous keto, gluten-free, and sugar-free options including key lime pies, peanut butter chocolate pies, blueberry cream pies, and banana pudding. This ensures that dietary restrictions don’t prevent anyone from enjoying a global dessert experience.
Amanda Jett, a longtime friend and employee, notes the customer reaction: “It’s been awesome to see people get excited about stuff they haven’t even heard about and when we explain it to them, they are bewildered and they can’t wait to try those items.” This sense of discovery is central to the Around The World experience.
The Research Behind Each Recipe
Creating authentic international desserts requires more than just following a recipe. For Camarena, it involves extensive research and testing to ensure each creation truly represents its cultural origins. She’s been known to study Italian recipe videos to perfect her tiramisu, despite not speaking the language.
“With my desserts, I do try to be as authentic as the place as possible,” Camarena explains. “I don’t try to Americanize it at all, or as least as possible, just so it has that flavor of authenticity for whoever has had the authentic thing before, or is from those places.”
This dedication to authenticity sets Around The World apart from typical American bakeries. Rather than adapting foreign desserts to American palates, Camarena brings the true essence of each culture to her creations. The result is a genuine taste experience that transports customers across continents.
The shop celebrates global dessert traditions in their purest forms, honoring the cultural significance behind each recipe. For many customers, this might be their first encounter with certain international sweets, making education part of the shop’s mission.
Building a Following Through Community Connections
Before settling into the permanent location on N 12th St, Camarena built her brand through pop-up events around Waco. Local shops like Black Daisy and White Elephant hosted these temporary Around The World experiences, helping Camarena connect with the community and generate excitement about her international desserts.
“I was also doing pop-ups at different events,” Camarena recalls. “So people would invite me to their shops or different things like Black Daisy, and White Elephant when it was still here.” These grassroots beginnings created a loyal customer base that followed her to the permanent location.
The business has maintained its community-centered approach even after establishing a fixed storefront. Regular customers now have a dedicated place to satisfy their cravings for international flavors without traveling abroad. Many Waco residents have discovered new favorite desserts they’d never heard of before encountering Around The World.
The shop has become a destination for anyone curious about popular desserts from around the world that they should try at least once. From European classics to Asian specialties, the menu offers an educational journey through global dessert cultures.
A Taste of the Middle East and Beyond
While the menu spans numerous countries, the Middle Eastern offerings deserve special mention. These rich, honey-soaked pastries and confections represent centuries of culinary tradition. Camarena’s research into these ancient recipes reveals her commitment to preserving authentic tastes.
For those looking to expand their dessert horizons, Around The World provides an accessible introduction to flavors that might otherwise seem intimidating. The shop serves as a cultural ambassador, bridging gaps between different culinary traditions. Each bite offers a small lesson in global gastronomy.
The influence of international travel on local food scenes can’t be overstated. As more Americans develop adventurous palates, businesses like Around The World fill an important niche. They satisfy curiosity about global cuisine without requiring customers to leave their hometown.
Those interested in irresistible Arabic desserts will find authentic options at Around The World, carefully crafted to honor their cultural roots. These offerings represent just one region in the shop’s impressive global dessert portfolio.
A Sweet Future for Around The World
As Around The World celebrates its first anniversary at the new location, the future looks promising. February 2025 marks a milestone for this unique Waco small business that has carved out a distinct identity in the local food scene. The shop continues to introduce new international desserts as Camarena discovers more global flavors.
The concept of desserts crossing borders has deep historical roots. Many traditional treats have traveled across continents, adapting to local ingredients while maintaining their core identity. The globalization of churros serves as a perfect example of how desserts can connect cultures across vast distances.
For those wanting to sample the authentic international desserts at Around The World, the shop is conveniently located at 119 N 12th St in Waco. With its diverse menu of desserts and signature drinks, this destination offers a culinary passport without the airfare. Food lovers can submit a dessert recipe inspired by their own travels to be featured on popular food sites.
As this small business continues to grow, it stands as a testament to Camarena’s vision of bringing global flavors to local palates. Around The World has found its place in Waco’s culinary landscape by offering something truly different – a chance to taste the world without leaving Texas. Dessert enthusiasts can submit a favorite local dessert shop to business directories to help others discover hidden gems like Around The World.
Whether you’re a seasoned world traveler looking to relive culinary memories or someone who rarely ventures beyond your hometown, Around The World offers a delicious introduction to global desserts. And for those inspired by different cultures, churro and foodie-themed apparel lets you wear your passion for international sweets.