Our Story
Celebrated pastry chefs Kyurim “Q” Lee and Jin Caldwell have meticulously crafted hyper-laminated croissants, giftable chocolates, and beautifully composed petit gateauxs for the Portland community since 2019, drawing inspiration from ingredients and techniques found around the world. The Seoul, Korea born-and-raised pair met over a decade ago during their time composing pastries for renowned Vegas establishments like the Aria, Wynn, Bellagio, Green Valley Ranch, and Joël Robuchon. During this time, co-owner Jin Caldwell rose to foodie fame; she headed R&D at the Mars Corporation and made several appearances on The Food Network. She was also named one of Pastry Art & Design magazine’s Top 10 Chocolatiers in North America in 2009 and led the first all-female team to a silver medal victory in the 2007 National Pastry Team Championship. As female chefs in a French male-dominated pastry scene, Jin and Q have hustled their way through the Vegas culinary industry, where they honed their skills and discipline through their continuing endeavors.
The pair moved to Portland, Oregon in 2018 in search of a better work-life balance and to foster a small neighborhood bakery that would be enjoyed by a wider community. They loved the idea of daily treats beyond cake towers and Religieuse. Q and Jin opened JinJu Patisserie in the spring of 2019, whose name means “pearl” or “treasure.” They’ve since been received with enthusiastic approval and local praise from Portland publications like Eater PDX, Portland Monthly, and The Oregonian, having been named Portland Monthly’s favorite chocolate croissant in 2021. Nationally, they have also received attention from the coveted James Beard Awards, having landed as a finalist for the Outstanding Bakery category in 2024. Their grassroots-led Instagram videos regularly go viral for their eye-catching bonbons and golden, buttery, shatteringly flaky jumbo croissants, which regularly sell out before closing hours at the walk-in order-only counter.
But beyond their accolades, Jin and Q are most humbled by the greater Portland community, which has welcomed them with open arms and opportunities for collaboration. When Jin and Q aren’t working behind the counter at JinJu on a frequent basis, they’re likely participating in pop-ups and events with other food establishments and local fundraisers. The pair strongly believes in hands-on ownership for their small but mighty neighborhood bakery, as well as in-person interaction for the most positive guest experience.