A giant hamburger cake with all the trimmings and fries made out of cake and frosting. submitted photo
Whether you’re a starry-eyed bride, retiring from your job, or celebrating your first birthday, chances are good that there will be a cake to mark the occasion.
All About Cakes has the delicious task of designing custom cakes for every holiday on the calendar and for any celebration that customers can dream up. In business for just one year, All About Cakes is a cheerful store filled with party supplies, balloons, banners, piñatas, candles, theme items, table and chair rentals—all the necessities for a party–and, of course, cakes, cakes, cakes.
Candace King and Inger Gundeid were the former bakery manager and the baker, cake decorator, respectively, at the now-defunct Ralphs Supermarket. The two dreamed of being able to exercise their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, so when the store closed, they decided to take the plunge and start a retail cake shop of their own.
King, a Sonoma native who describes herself as “spunky and full of energy,” primarily handles the front of the store and marketing duties. “I raised four boys and running around town trying to put a party together meant going to several places to get all the things you need,” said King. “We designed this store so that you can get everything in one place, and have fun doing it. It’s kid-friendly and we keep the prices within people’s reach.”
Inger Gundeid, who is from Norway and graduated from culinary school there, can be found most of the day with her hands in flour or squeezing icing into fanciful shapes for custom cakes as diverse as a flat sheet cake with hand-drawn scenes, to carved and elaborately detailed creations like a vintage GTO muscle car or a giant hamburger with all the trimmings and fries made out of cake and frosting. Wedding cakes are a big seller year-round, and Gundeid’s deft hand and years of experience are put to test to make the bride’s vision a reality. Tiered and draped, bedecked with flowers or fruits, the cakes are, perhaps, the ultimate test of the cake maker’s skills. “It has to be beautiful,” said Gundeid, “but it also must taste great and hold up to transporting. We assemble the bigger cakes at the wedding location.” Weddings now require more than one cake. Said Gundeid, “Today groom’s cakes have become a new concept that needs a different kind of creativity. It’s more about who he is and many times it has a humorous theme.”
But if you’re just craving a bite or two, or want to get a little something for your bridge club or your kids, you can chose a mini cream puff—one swallow of heaven, or a cupcake with swirled chocolate frosting topped with a fresh strawberry. There are also “mini” cakes, four-inch-round delightful little indulgences that are just as detailed as their bigger counterparts.
Bakers traditionally rise before dawn to fire their ovens and knead their dough, so Gundeid and King decided to make fresh breakfast pastries and steaming hot coffee available to customers starting at 7:30 a.m.
In addition to all the “Nemo,” “Spiderman,” “Sweet Sixteen,” and “Over the Hill” kinds of supplies, King has also developed “Party in A Bag” kits in a variety of themes for those who want one-stop-shopping. They contain all that you need already packaged and ready to go.
Gundeid and King advise customers to come in to discuss the cake they have in mind and to bring pictures or sketches if possible. They go through a checklist of items such as what is the occasion, is it for a child or an adult, how many people will there be, are there any dietary restrictions, what are the favorite flavors of cake, frosting, and filling. Often the design takes shape from these discussions, with Kind and Gundeid working out details of the idea. “We try to help people create a memorable cake, and at the same time, keep it affordable,” said King. “And make it a delicious one as well,” said Gundeid.
All About Cakes is celebrating its first anniversary with two month-long specials. Every Tuesday customers receive a free coffee with the purchase of any breakfast pastry, and with any custom cake, they will get a free balloon.
All About Cakes
571 5th Street West • 707.933.1562
(West Plaza Shopping Center)
Tues.– Fri. 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. • Sat. 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
www.allaboutcustomcakesandpartys.com
