Breakfast of champions

Some people make breakfast every morning; others pick up fast food on the way to work. Those who choose to stop at a certain Hardee’s in Wilmington probably do not know they are eating a breakfast of champions.

Sylvia Ledesma is the 2008 Hardee’s Biscuit Challenge Champion. She competed against nearly 700 biscuit makers and walked away the winner.

“Five days a week Syvlia works at the Hardee’s at Market Street and Kerr Avenue. She has to get there extremely early to make sure the biscuits are ready for the breakfast crowd.

“I work at 4:00 in the morning, sometimes 4:30, every week,” said Ledesma. But what she does not tell you is that sometimes she comes in even earlier than that.

Syvlia is one busy biscuit maker. She averages about 680 biscuits a day. It is non-stop pouring the flour, kneading the dough, rolling it out, popping a tray in the oven and then waiting for the “beep” to let her know her award winning biscuits are ready.

After that, a quick brush of melted butter on top and they are ready to go.

This has been her job for six years. After all that time, being at work by 4:00 in the morning to start baking might bother some, but she does not mind the hours.

“I come to work everyday happy. I love to work, I love making biscuits,” said Sylvia.