Born in Cleveland.
Raised in my mother’s kitchen.
The early baking days
Baking was instilled in me as a form of bonding and a way of communicating — the aromas of dense, espresso-laden brownies and light, lemony, graham cracker crusted cheesecakes were rich with love, comfort, and confidence. Sitting around a table, gathered at parties, or secretly sneaking a last bite of cake in the middle of the night, dessert is the perfect way to share, enjoy and indulge (sometimes all at the same time)
As a film major at Emerson College in Boston, baking was never far from my mind. When I wasn't writing papers on Fellini or deconstructing David Lynch, I was baking: lemon-glazed bundt cakes, Oreo cookie cheesecake, double rum cake, triple chocolate chip cookies…my friends and neighbors loved coming home from a suffocating ride on the T or a cold walk down Boylston to find a wedge of cake at their door.
Swapping Hollywood for the rolling pin…
After living in Los Angeles and working in the entertainment industry for nearly a decade, I longed for the days of bringing a smile to someone's face with a treat, and to smell those familiar comforting aromas of my childhood. After careful reflection and a lot of encouragement from my friends and family, I donned my kitchen whites and slip proof shoes to began the intensive pastry program at Pasadena’s Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts.
I graduated with highest honors, perfect attendance, and turned in those kitchen whites for a blue bandana to become part of the staff at SusieCakes bakery.
My next job took me to the front of the class as a cake-decorating teacher at The Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories where I shared my excitement over cakes with eager students.
The girl on the logo is my mom!
My mom Gail started her baking business, Piece of Cake, in 1963 in Cleveland, Ohio. She is the reason that butter, sugar, and love runs through my veins. So, it's only fitting that Gail is the face of my business (yep, the little girl on our logo is my mom), as she is my inspiration every time I put on my apron and pre-heat the oven.
I want to pay homage to the business she started years ago by baking for all who appreciate and understand that the brilliance of the perfectly satisfying dessert is the company you eat it with. Piece of Cake L.A. is that homey tastes-like-mom's flavor, with a modern twist
Piece of Cake L.A. logo featuring my mom.
Maryn & Gail