The Cake Ladies will sweeten your heart

BY SHEILA O’HEARN

NEWS EXPRESS STAFF WRITER

Fergus-Elora News Express, Wednesday November 15th, 2006, Page 16 & 17

Butter, sugar, eggs and flour — the baker’s alphabet that’s a true tum-twister, especially if applied to the speciality bake shop, ‘Sweet and Simple’, located behind ‘Professional Nails’ at 152 St. Andrew Street West, in Fergus.

Kelly Smith of Fergus opened up the shop on October 21st and if you want a cake decorated to your specifications, Smith can whip it up.

Smith is helped by co-owner and sister Macey Sievwright of Erin. Smith bakes and Sievwright, whose expertise is customer service, will “learn about baking from the best,” she said.

Smith is a Red Seal pastry chef, a provincial creditation that is earned through schooling, a long apprenticeship, and the passing of provincial exams.

In Smith’s case, she first went to Georgian College in Barrie to study culinary management; she, then, went to George Brown College in Toronto, winning high honours in baking and pastry arts. She has a Lindt Advanced Chocolate program certificate; completed a sugar artistry course; she won high honours as a patissier, and completed a non-toxic flower-making course. After three years of intensive schooling, she spent another five years as an apprentice, finishing the required 8,000 hours. Her Red Seal diploma came only after she wrote and passed a government exam. The Red Seal certificate is the highest qualification a baker can receive in Canada.

Sievwright, who is in training to assist with the baking and all matters related to the business, is excited to be working in partnership with her sister.

Sievwright said she has always worked in the service industry, including five years at Mohawk Raceway.

The duo said that customers love coming in to munch on their ornately decorated mini-cakes. But many other pastries and cakes wait patiently behind the glass counter, as though daring anyone to resist. Fruit mousse, such as raspberry or mango, or chocolate mousse — dark or white — tiramisu, cheesecakes, tortes, specialty flans, double fudge, and more, are a sampling of cakes they create.

The Cake Ladies’ forte is in baking shaped cakes for special occasions, especially weddings, showers, parties, New Year’s, birthdays, anniversaries — whatever you wish to celebrate. The sisters will express the ‘reason for the season’ through cake design, or they’ll recreate your vision of the perfect cake.

“We need to emphasize that everything is made, here, from scratch, with the freshest and best ingredients,” said Smith, adding that their cakes are buttercream layered.

For special-order cakes, Smith said a week in advance for customer requests works best; if simpler in design, two days, but they aim to please, Smith said, and they will try to assist anyone who requires a cake in haste.

The Cake Ladies offer weekly specials, especially with their ‘tummy ticklin’ Tuesdays and sweet-tooth Saturdays. They also plan to expand on the sale of uniquely designed pottery by former Erin resident Lisa Barry of Homestead Pottery.

“One of our plans for the new year is to make a dessert right in one of Lisa’s casserole dishes that a person could give as a housewarming present to someone, or a gift of any occasion. We’re planning to do the same idea with a cake stand and a gift certificate, which would be ideal as a bridal shower gift or anniversary. The (recipient) could bring in their cake- stand and we’d bake a cake for the stand — that kind of thing,” Smith said.

Stuffed potter’s mugs with lots of goodies inside and jars of freshly made baking mixes will also be part of their merchandise in the weeks ahead.

They also have plans to begin an apprenticeship program in the new year. The individual — a long- term apprentice — will be chosen from senior high school students who plan to go into baking, a college student, or a person who plans to go to college to study baking and pastry- making.

The Cake Ladies love themes.

“This month’s theme is chocolate” said Sievwright, adding that specials change per week, according to the theme. “And December will be about spice - things cinnamon or ginger.”

Patrons will, want to keep an eye out for chocolate and gingerbread houses, cookie-Christmas trees, and more.

The duo also cater to people with special dietary needs, boasting a gluten-free, sugar-free, and flourless cake.

“And it tastes really good!” Smith reassured.

No order is too small, too big, or too unusual for the Cake Ladies.

Their shop was made possible with the help of the Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures Development ;:Corporation (WWCFDC), a provincial program that negotiates loans to those starting up small business,

“It allowed us to buy equipment — showcases, fridges. stoves — that kind of thing,” Smith said.

The duo qualified for the mentorship portion of the program, which a successful entrepreneur guides and advises them in the world of business to help ensure their success.

“That’s where we got the idea to call ourselves the Cake Ladies,” Sievwright said.

“And our mentor also suggested a grand opening, which was very successful,” Smith added.

For more information, come through their distinctive pink door, call 519-787-3222; or visit their website at www.sweetandsimpleshop.com.