CakeStar's creations have been commissioned by the reality TV show "How Do you Solve a Problem Like Maria", The Honda Indy, and the new NBC Network comedy-drama TV series "Suits" (I ♥ that show!). The sisters have also been on Rich Bride Poor Bride, BT Television, CityLine, CP24, in the pages of Canadian Living Magazine and Today's Bride, and will soon be featured on CBC's Steven and Chris Show as resident cake expert. They have also worked with area bakers at The Harbourfront Centre just past summer and broke the World Guiness Record for World's "Most Layered Cake"! Pretty impressive, right? Anyway, back to the event! We started the night with some savoury treats provided by Barbara's husband, Chef Carmine Accogli (@TheRealBigRagu) of The Big Ragu restaurant. I've been to The Big Ragu before and I'm a big fan (see my blog post here).
Barbara, who was born in Rome and raised in Toronto, is the co-owner, baker and edible artist for CakeStar. The daughter of a pastry chef and an artist, she adopted her father's love for the kitchen with her mother's love of art and fashion at an early age. Barbara has practically lived in the family bakery for 26 years. Barbara also co-owns The Big Ragu with her husband, Carmine
Monja, born and raised in Toronto, spent a great deal of her growing life in the family's Italian Bakery. She attended college and worked in a variety of careers only to come full circle later in life to help out at her family's bakery and discover the magic of cake art. Being self taught she learned primarily by trial and error, punctuated with a few hands-on courses and a few years later, she partnered with Barbara to continue the family business with a focus on the modern art of today's cakes.
Carmine Accogli (left), Monja Chiaravalloti & Barbara Accogli (right).
Watch Nicki's Eye on the Vibe Blog as she interviews Barbara, Monja, and Carmine. Oh yeah make sure you don't miss Nicki losing her ball. I don't think I can trust her with baking again.
Clockwise from top left: Chocolate-dipped strawberries, a cannoli-filling station and a "mini cake pop" station were set up for the delicious grand opening celebration.
CakeStar offers cakes (with 20+ flavours), cupcakes, cakeballs, and cannoli for purchase as well as classes for retro cake decorating, modern art cake decorating, 3D cake decorating, children lessons and many more.
We each got to take home a cupcake! I couldn't resist and ate it right away when I got home - talk about lack of self control O_o
It was truly a pleasure to hang out at CakeStar that night! Thanks again Barbara and Monja ^_^