A very overdue introduction —
I very unintentionally took a little break from Wedding Vendor Wednesday for the month of July just out of sheer wedding season mayhem, but I am so excited to be back at it again today with a spotlight on one of my favourite people! I first met Marcia of The Dessert Room after being connected to her by one of my good friends, Danielle Shaw of Shaw Events. Since then, I’ve been floored by her incredible wedding cakes and just pure charisma every time I see her.
I was so excited when I heard that Marcia opened up a brand new pastry shop in the heart of Hamilton and just knew that her brand new space needed to be shared! I don’t think that it should come as a surprise that I developed a girl crush on someone who continually brings peanut butter cup cupcakes along with her every time I see her, but delicious baked goods aside, this woman is one of the most inspiring creatives in her field. I am blown away by her drive, skill level, and positive attitude more and more each time I am in contact with her, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her!
Firstly, congratulations on the new storefront! I’m so obsessed with the new look and am really contemplating driving all the way down to Hamilton on a weekly basis just to pick up cupcakes. What is your favourite part of the new location?
Thank you so much! I love everything! Hahaha, I’m kind of like a kid in a candy shop right now just loving every little thing about this space and having a storefront of my own! I think the part that I’m most excited about is finally having a place to call my own. I had been working from a shared bakers kitchen for a little while and it really helped me plant my feet, but now this space is ours to create in and be inspired by — plus I got to decorate it, which is always always fun! I chose Hamilton because I’m a proud Hamiltonian. The food scene is growing daily, and everyone in the area has been so welcoming, so encouraging and so happy for this new chapter. I couldn’t be more thankful to be able to do what I love and bake sweet treats for everyone!
I think I read once that you are a classically trained pastry chef! How exactly did you get your start in your niche of making designer cakes? Did you always have the end goal of being in this industry or did you kind of fall into it?
I always loved baking at home with my grandma and mom, but never really thought I’d end up in this industry professionally. While I was in university to get my science degree, I picked up a part time job in a bakery and just fell in love. After school, I decided it was time to go back to school for what I was truly meant to do. First I went to George Brown for the pastry program, and then they gave me the opportunity to further refine my skills at the National Pastry School in France. Both experiences were incredible and really gave me a good handle on the technical side of production. But up until that point, I was a self taught cake decorator and I felt there was more to learn in that area, so I went to a cake decorating school. Now, I couldn’t imagine life any differently. I also just love weddings, so to be able to do something in this industry completes me!
One of my favourite things about you is that every single time I see you, you come bearing about six different flavours of cupcakes. I’m sure experimenting with not only flavours but different techniques and types of desserts is one of the cooler parts of your job. Do you have one item in the shop that stands out as your favourite of all time? Or is there one that is by far the most popular?
Experimenting is so much fun! I only bring you the ones that work though, hahaha! There are some big fails, but it’s always really fun to see what works and what doesn’t — which of course leads to lots of taste testing. I would say my all time favourite are Macarons. They’re a totally blank canvas that you can just play around with to create unique flavours and I especially love making seasonal features. This summer our Margarita Macaron was a huge hit and I’m super excited for what fall has in store.
Are you noticing any cake or dessert trends popping up for 2016 and 2017 brides? Do you have a favourite trend at the moment?
Bolder looks are definitely entering the scene for 2016/2017 brides. They’re getting more adventurous and using bolder colours that may not typically be used for wedding cakes, like black, and I’m loving it! My favourite trend right now is using a lot of greenery on a very minimalist cake. Show your guests something new!
What is something completely unrelated to your job that you are really loving lately?
Is sitting in my backyard, drinking sangria a thing? Hahaha! Even though wedding season gets the best of your nights and weekends sometimes, I will always find time for some summertime sangria! I’m also a huge foodie, and like I said, Hamilton’s food scene is really fantastic, so I love trying out new hidden gems to eat.
If you could give brides one single piece of advice when it comes to their cakes and desserts, what would it be?
Finding inspiration online is a fantastic way to start the process, all the while giving room for creativity to flow. But remember that inspiration can come from anywhere! Everywhere from your linens, decor, bouquets, dress, and even the venue! Stay true to your vision and everything will come together seamlessly!
Keep up to date with The Dessert Room on social media!
Website — www.thedessertroom.ca | Instagram — @thedessertroom | Facebook — @mfdesignercakes
