inthekitchen
inthekitchen
for cake ’ s sake
Fearless , young entrepreneur Pam Kirkpatrick hangs out her cake-shaped shingle in the city ’ s arts and culture neighbourhood , building a business as creative as it is sweet .
by Arvel Gray
On a frigid winter afternoon , the black lacquered doors at 85 Arthur Street push open , letting in a swath of icy air . A mother and her daughter pause in the warmth of the shop , drinking in the sweet , buttery fragrance of sugar cookies and the intoxicating aroma of chocolate cupcakes freshly retrieved from the oven . They ooh and ahh over baking cases lined with gluten free lemon slice and caramel pecan bars , and a dreamy , double layer cake cloaked in pink buttercream roses , and finally decide on a selection of rumball-sized cakettes – a mix of cake and buttercream dipped in white and milk chocolate – a signature staple of this boutique bakery .
This family scene seems like a novelty in the midst of the ultrahip , arts focused Exchange District , and this is what makes Cakeology so special . The small , sweet shop is more than a bakery : it is a community cornerstone that appeals to a range of customers from every area of the city , another building block in the revitalization of Winnipeg ’ s downtown neighbourhoods .
Pam Kirkpatrick , the brains , heart , and hands behind Cake-ology , opened the bakery five years ago after learning the restaurant trade as a chef in local establishments . After the birth of her first child , the rigor of restaurant hours were no longer appealing , and she decided to concentrate on her love of baking .
“ I was hitting 30 , and there was a niche market ,” says Pam . “ Friends and sisters and brothers were getting married and needed cakes for showers and social events . Their children needed birthday cakes .”
14 ciao ! / apr / may / two thousand fifteen