Audeli's Birthday Cake

Audeli has been a friend for about 5 years now and is a big fan of the color green. As soon as she set a date for her birthday celebration at a beautiful park in the peninsula, she contacted me about a cake. Audeli's was interested in a light and fruity cake for her summer/spring-themed barbeque. I suggested a Classic Vanilla Bean Cake with Mango Bavarian Cream and a Sour Cherry compote. With no hesitation she concurred and sent me off to create the cake.

When designing the cake, i kept in mind her fresh, spring/summer-theme and created sugar Tulip buds & frilly Roses.


The cake was a hit with the guests and Audeli said it was "Muy delicioso!"

-Audely's Birthday Cake was created June.23.2007

Gold India Cake

This cake was one many months in the making. After being inspired by a beautiful wedding cake seen in a "Food Network Wedding Cake Challenge" a few months back, an idea for an indian-style cake was conceived. And since my Mother's church friends were throwing her a party, I, your neighborhood friendly pastry chef, was commissioned to create a cake. My mother, Irma, loves nutty flavors and asked me to make an intense flavored almond cake. After some experimenting, i created a Toasted Almond Torte. I wont reveal my mothers age but if its any indication, i was asked to use gold in the decor of the cake.


The Almond Torte was light, moist and very nutty, just as my mother requested. Happy Birthday mom!

-Mom's Birthday Cake was created June.3.2007

First Wedding Cake

Just recently I had the opportunity of making (my first official) wedding cake for Luz. Luz hosted a beautiful wedding for her niece at a vineyard in Woodside, California. She requested a classic Toasted Almond Cake with Vanilla Buttercream adorned with burgundy flowers and beige accents. I used Red organic Hybrid Tea Roses and burgandy Spider Orchids.




As I entered the reception hall, I was taken back by the amazing views of the Peninsula and I noticed the table set up right in the middle of the amazing view. Thats when I realized that this cake was my first official wedding cake. I was ecstatic!

-Wedding Cake was created May.31.2007

Baby Converse Cake

After making a pair of baby bootie cakes for Esther's Baby Shower a few months back, my good friend Miriam asked me to make her a pair for a baby shower she was organizing. Since the Shower was for a young mother-to-be, I suggested a pair of baby Converse sneakers. Miriam loved the idea and sent me off to make her a Dark Chocolate Cake with Organic Raspberries and about 30 bite sized "Cherry Garcia" brownies.


I was very pleased with the outcome of this cake considering it was made in a time crunch in the wee hours of the night!

Lisa's Baby Shower Cake

As soon as Silvia, Lisa's mother, set a date for Lisa's Baby Shower, she contacted me about a cake. Trusting my creativity and aesthetic sense, Silvia gave me free reign on the design and flavors with only one request- that the cake lean on the feminine side since Lisa is having a girl. After a bit of brainstorming, a Mexican-inspired cake was created. I used colors from the mexican flag and i adapted a graphic flower pattern i saw in an Urban Outfitters catalog. The piping was outlined with gold luster to soften the transition between the colorful piping and the rest of the cake.


The cake alternated between Chocolate Fudge and Toasted Almond layers and was filled with Organic Raspberries and Vanilla Buttercream.

The Ark of the Covenant

For my aunt Veronica's 50th birthday celebration, my aunt Maggie (Veronica's sister) was entrusted with providing the cake. And since Veronica loves everything in Ancient Jewish History, Maggie commisioned me to make her a replica of The Ark of the Covenant. This is my take on the Ark.


The actual Ark is a perfect square and pure gold all around. According to Biblical scripture, the ten commandments and Moses' staff were stored inside the Ark, along with other sacred Israelite objects. Complete with carrying poles, the Ark was untouchable by human hands and whoever would touch it would die.

With Moist Banana Cake and Vanilla Bean Custard filling, the only result of eating this cake would be a sugar induced state of euphoria.

Christmas Gift

The associate pastor of my church ordered a "Happy Birthday Jesus" themed cake for Christmas, but left the rest of the details up to me. That meant I got to choose the flavors and design (SCORE!). So, i decided to make a cake that resembled one of Banana Republic's gift boxes for the 2006 holiday season.


The Cake layers were Toasted Almond with Raspberry and Almond Buttercreams. A tasty gift indeed!

English Garden Cake @ The FCI

At The French Culinary Institute, the pastry level one students created an elaborate faux wedding from which pastry level two students would create a wedding cake. The theme? An English/Japanese Garden Wedding. The cake was a classic, french Genoise Cake soaked with a Sake Simple Syrup and a Fruity Plum Filling.

The English-Japanese Garden Wedding Cake was complete with butterflies, roses, tulips and even a bumble bee. Also, there were Japanese characters all around.


Once finished, the cake took on a life of its own and was voted best in class. Awesome!