Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter
Left: Nicole Shirley, owner and manager of Nicole's Sweet Temptations.
Right: A Nicole Shirley creation, California Fruit Tart, a sunny dessert filled with devine chantilly cream and topped with fresh seasonal fruits.
No matter the occasion - whether birthdays, weddings, christenings, anniversaries or Christmas dinner - the menu just does not seem complete without a cake. Not many people put up a resistance to cheesecake, a wedding cake, a child's birthday cake or their mother's interpretation of our fruitcake at Christmas time! This month being June, many brides would have already decided on their wedding cake. Most of them prefer the traditional rich fruitcake, but our neighbours in the United States just choose their favourite variation on plain, carrot, chocolate or other cakes. This week, Food takes you on a journey through the world of cakes from Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore's feature on Nicole Shirley's exotic varieties to food critic Rosemary Parkinson's take on the best cakes in the island.
SHE HAD a knack for the sweet stuff from she was a child. Nicole Shirley, 32, owner/manager of Nicole's Sweet Temptations, a gourmet cake and confectionery company, started her voyage in the world of baking from an early age. Having caught on from her mother, she learnt the trade very quickly.
Ms. Shirley was 10 years old when she discovered her true potential. Her mother, who was the cook and baker in the family, was recovering from a major car accident. She loved cakes, but was unable to make one herself. So, the young Nicole ventured into the kitchen to bake a vanilla cake to cheer her mother up. "I did not know how to, so mom gave me the recipe and a few instructions; then I was off to bake the cake. It was a success," Ms. Shirley told Food.
From that day, she continued baking and decorating cakes using her mother's Wilton Cake Decorating books as a guide. This expedition led to her small business, baking and selling to a few people in her neighbourhood. And, whenever she needed a sweet treat, she baked it herself. "I never buy desserts, I just bake them myself."
EDUCATION
By age 21, she was off to do a bachelor's degree at Florida International University in the United States, majoring in hospitality management. Then in 1998, she went to Nova South-East University to complete her master's in business administration. That led to cake-decorating courses across the United States. Currently, she is doing a course in intermediate cake decorating from Sugart by Ruthy, to be completed by July.
In June 2003, Nicole's Sweet Temptations, a company that specialises in high quality custom-designed desserts for all occasions, was born. She said the company started from her home kitchen and grew to an intimate café style location on Grosvenor Terrace last November. This move she said has paved the way for expanding her product line and services to include cake by the slice and gourmet coffee. She noted that the business is doing well. "I have been successful because I have built a loyal clientele that has grown through word of mouth. My customers know that I consistently delivering cakes that are of the highest quality and that use the freshest ingredients available."
GREATEST CHALLENGE
She noted, however, that though quite versed on cake baking and decorating, her greatest challenge is the wedding cakes. But she likes the challenge. "These are difficult projects, but I enjoy using my imagination to make them as delicious and beautiful as I can for the wedding ceremony. I am especially satisfied when the bride is completely blown away with my creation."
Ms. Shirley told Food that she has a passion for baking and she loves please her customers. She said she knows her products are high priced but she gives value for money. She also said she believe she is filling a void based on the feedback she has received. "I give the people things that are a little exotic as Jamaicans are very adventurous when it comes to dessert."
She is now embarking on a life-long dream of owning her own bakery. "The prospect is daunting and challenging, but I am excited and prepared to meet it." In addition to baking, she loves to cook which she does for friends and family. Also, she loves to read cook books and food-related magazines, including Food and Wine, Bon Appetit and Gourmet. Her favourite website is Epicurious.com. "My life, one could say, is consumed with food."
