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

Hi Eleana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in 2009 and worked at 3 different cake shops for about 5 years. On the side I would make cakes for close friends and family to get some practice in. I started an instagram account (when instagram was totally new and cool!) to showcase my work and I quickly grew a clientele from friends of friends or coworkers. I would make cakes at work for 8+ hours a day and then come home and make more cakes at home for my own clients. I eventually decided to just work full time for myself and get a bit of my life back! (which I never did…) Working for yourself is hard. It’s 24/7.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a one woman show at the moment. There was a time I had 2-3 employees who would help me with emails, baking, building cakes and decorating. We would take 25+ cake orders a weekend! It was intense. I would stay up on Friday nights until 3 or 4am and return back into the kitchen at 6am just to have all the cakes ready in time for their events. Then, sometimes, I would do it again on Saturday for Sunday orders. It was really too much. I have a family now and it’s just me who does it all, but it’s helped me realize how passionate I am about making cakes. I put a lot of effort into every order. I try to get as much detail about the clients vision through email so I can create a cake for them that is so special for their event. I do a lot of research on themes, characters, colors, sizing etc to really make the cake look its best. I have 15 years of experience! That definitely sets me apart from the others. I can’t event count the number of cakes I’ve made anymore. Not all of them were good, but everyone has been a lesson. I’ve had cakes fall apart. I literally had a 3D basketball cake roll around and crumble on it’s way to the wedding rehearsal. There have been so many tears, but I genuinely try to learn from all my mistakes to make my work better for the next client. Throughout the years, I think the most important thing I’ve learned is how to say no. If I don’t think I will do a good job at making something the client requests I’ll let them know right away and recommend someone else who could do it better

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?
I’m from the 626 so it doesn’t get better than that! We have the best variety of Asian food. I’m always taking people to Korean BBQ, Sun Nong Dan, Savoy, P P Pop, Luyixian. Monterey Palace for dim sum is a must since it’s my aunt’s restaurant. I’m a total Disney adult and I’ve basically had an annual pass since high school (when they were only $200…) but I don’t really know what’s new anymore, kids made me so boring. I spend a lot of time at parks, indoor playgrounds and Chuck E Cheese these days!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents like to take credit for my cake career. They ran a small bakery while pregnant with me. My dad made the cakes and my mom worked the front desk. I’m not sure if that’s really why I became interested in cakes, but it is a fun story to tell. I feel like I’ve been crafty all my life. I’ve always loved to make things, whether it is sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, I’d definitely consider myself a Martha Stewart type. I originally went to pastry school wanting to create plated desserts for restaurants and cruises. I took a class on cakes and sculpting and my first fondant cake was a “Land Before Time” theme and really the rest is history. I loved it! My first official job was in Dana Point, which was a 50+ mile commute each way, but it was worth it. I learned and grew so much as a cake artist there and I’m forever grateful for that opportunity!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemakescakes/?hl=en

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ele-makes-cakes-los-angeles?osq=ele+makes+cakes

Image Credits
Eleana Ramos

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