Meet Al Thornton | Geologist & Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Al Thornton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Al, what principle do you value most?
Above all, making sure that I leave a memory/experience with every person that tastes my products, they know it was baked with love and they’ll never forget the name Cali Al’s Cheesecakes. Also, I value making the customer happy and satisfied to the best of my ability & making sure i provide the freshest cake upon delivery. I truly pride myself on baking my cakes fresh for all my customers, all cakes are made with 24-48 hours of delivery. Being so, it came from my mother who taught me it all. She’s instilled these values in me well before I started this business & I’ll continue to exude those values.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m originally a student of geology. Shortly before starting this business venture, I was well on my way to receiving my bachelors of science in geology & geophysics. So coming into baking was somewhat the same as being in the lab dealing with geology. It wasn’t so much hard or easy, it was just applying the same teachings I was taught from my studies in relation to baking. It was different & there were many trials & errors along the way. So it came natural to me, & so fun being that it was a new field. I learned patience, & even something that’s not the initial result you sought after, it’s still something great in some cases. In the lab, that usually isn’t the case, so that alone is the biggest lesson I learned coming into baking. My brand is about love, legacy, & memories. It’s built into core of it all from the name of the brand to the one cheesecake that started it all with my mom when I was a kid & people ordering from her to me now sharing it with the city & then the rest of the country!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Of course would have to go to the beach; Venice, Santa Monica, & Malibu. Check out the scenery & nightlife there. More than likely that said friend would want to go to Hollywood to see all of the stars on the Walk of Fame. Me being a geologist, I’d take them on a hike & go on a mineral dig or hunt. The restaurants I’d take them to is Catch LA, Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles, a few of my favorite inner city burger spots, Castaway, & whatever else they had planned on their list. If possible, hit up a family gathering & get them some good food and good wholesome energy to be around. In between all of those, I’m sure my friend would have a few ideas of their own they’d like to do & we’d make it happen.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First & foremost, my mother! Without her, I wouldn’t be able to share this amazing cheesecake! She’s the heart of it all! Special shoutout to my lady Tianna, for sticking it out with me through it all since day one, & my two children for also sticking it out with me & their mom. I want to give a big shoutout to my two big brothers, Davion & Husan, My close friend Melvin Stovall of @14NorthExotics being my biggest supporter & ambassador of my business. Can’t forget, most certainly all of my customers & constant supporters that reach out or attend any pop up I appear at. I appreciate you all!

Instagram: @CaliAlCheesecakes