So, my business officially started in July 2010 but let me take to back to when the baking first began. From as young as I can remember Mum always used to get us kids helping in the kitchen, or at least we thought licking the bowls and spoons after she’d been baking was helping! We always used to try new recipes and bake and cook all sorts of delicious things. I remember mum used to bring home a bag of ingredients and we would all help to conjure something tasty up with it (I’m sure she always had in mind what it was we would be making though!). So this is where it all began.
I remember the first thing I ever baked on my own were scones, and yes they were a bit lop-sided but they tasted delish with some jam, whipped cream and fresh strawberries from the garden, mmm mmm! Ok so my first attempt didn’t turn out perfect but I didn’t give up trying (as I feel so many people do), but tried more recipes and kept at it until things I followed in recipe books did turn out right, or at least how I thought they should be.
In primary school, I remember once making a Christmas cake and mum still says to this day that it was the best one she’s ever tasted (of course being young I didn’t try it, it had far too much fruit in it!).
Then in high school, I used to love Catering lessons and remember winning best sink (whoever had the neatest and most sparkling work area) quite a few times at the end of cookery lessons, and best dish a few times too (teachers choice of who had made the best attempt at whatever we were given to cook that week). I’ve never understood how people bake cakes which sink in the middle, ending up looking like a bowl, as for me I just follow the recipe and it just seems to work! Catering lessons were by far my favourite as it was always an easy lesson for me. I did my Basic Food Hygiene test and passed first time, and entered a Young Chef competition but didn’t get very far in that. I loved learning everything about food and flavours, different dishes and of course, the desserts were the best part to make and taste! At GCSE I passed all my exams but got an A* in Catering (my only A*!) and I was so proud of myself. They didn’t offer anything similar at A-Level (although I did do Business Studies) but throughout school and 6th form I baked and cooked at home and made birthday cakes for friends and family as often as I could. Some of the things I made back then were actually quite embarrassing, but then everyone has to start somewhere.
After 6th form in 2006, I applied for University to do Food and Nutrition but decided on taking a gap year to work and save some money. I worked at a restaurant/wine bar and here I learnt more about which flavours complimented each other. I'm positive I tried nearly every dish they had on the menu whilst I was there. My favourite being (a dessert of course) a chocolate ganache tart which, if I was ever allowed it, was a real treat!
After deferring uni for another year, I decided, almost on a spur of the moment, to go travelling on a working holiday to New Zealand and also to visit Australia and Hong Kong in 2008. In that year I tried many different foods and picked up lots of ideas but I also decided university wasn't for me. I think I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to start my own business so going to uni would only hinder me by costing money and time which I could make better use in starting up a business.
Whilst in New Zealand, I worked for a while in Wellington in a café in the library called Clarke’s, which I absolutely loved. They had the biggest selection of tasty treats you could imagine! Needless to say, by the end of the year I had tried most of the goods there that sounded scrumptious and had gained a bit of weight too! In my flat I would always be cooking or baking, anything from crumble to falafel, or chocolate mousse to macaroni cheese. When my housemates returned home, their first question would be, “So, what are you making today then?” Here are some photos, the first of me and my flatmate (Elodie) busy in the kitchen and, the second of one of my first attempts at birthday cupcakes:
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Busy baking in my flat in Northland,
Wellington, New Zealand |
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| Birthday cupcakes for a flatmate |
Not going to lie, at the time I thought these cupcakes were truly amazing!
After returning from travels full of new recipes and experiences, I continued making different things and trying new recipes at home. I remember going to the Oswestry Food Festival in 2009 thinking it was amazing and I couldn’t believe I’d never been before as the variety of goods on offer was superb! Early the next year, mum and I decided to take up a Sugarcraft course through the college where we learned how to make sweet peas and jasmine flowers and, as well as picking it up easily, I found it very therapeutic but could never see me spending much time doing this if I had a business. I have always wanted my own café. That is ideally my long-term goal, but it then dawned on me that I couldn't just go and open a café, so I should start small and build my way up to that. So in the spring of 2010, I had a sudden thought that maybe I could start my business from home in time to be part of the Oswestry Food Festival 2010, and that is just what I did.
I think I always work well under pressure and never give myself enough time to do things, so giving myself about 3 months or less to set up my business as well as working full time was hard going! But, I managed it and here are some photos to prove it!
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| The Launch of Lindsay's Cakery, July 2010 |
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| So many slices of carrot cake |
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| Just one of the boxes of cupcakes |
Since July 2010, I have grown in confidence and have learnt so much more about baking; Experimenting with new recipes and flavours, and even inventing a few of my own too! I do love making cakes but felt that I do love savoury food as well, which is why I decided on ‘Sweet Treats and Savoury Delights’ as the motto on my business cards. I have self-taught how to make more Sugarcraft decorations, how to ice a cake properly - square and round, and the art of nozzle piping on top of cupcakes. Yes, I have made many mistakes and got frustrated that I couldn’t do something, but this is the one thing that I have never given up on trying to perfect! I always thought that I would never want to do novelty cakes, but as the orders come in I see it as a challenge and won’t rest until I am completely satisfied with what I will be delivering to a customer. I look forward to new enquiries now as it gives me a chance to show my creative flair in what I produce. I have done a few food festivals and events now which, although take a lot of preparation and time baking, are the most fun and I have met some amazing people through doing these.
It’s now a year and a half on from when my business began, time really has flown since then but I have enjoyed it every step of the way. I have had so much support and help from all my family and friends, and honestly could not have achieved what I have so far without them!
I love both baking and cooking, I find it relaxing and especially love trying all of my treats too. I am so passionate about food and I hope it shows in my efforts to the Cakery. In general I love to try new ingredients and even try things I used to dislike, as taste buds do change. I can never say no to a dessert either when in a restaurant, no matter how full I am I can always manage a dessert! (It makes me wonder if there is a separate stomach for sweet treats!)
It makes running my business so worthwhile when you have great feedback from customers of how much they enjoyed their wedding cupcakes or how they just had to return to my stall for another one as it is too irresistible! I only hope I can improve Lindsay’s Cakery this year (well, mostly my organisational skills but practical skills and recipes too) and get bigger and better at what I do! :)
