Deborah Dianne's Baking bliss
Deborah Dianne Smith is the mastermind behind the embellished creations pictured here.
Deborah Dianne Smith is the mastermind behind the embellished creations pictured here.
Deborah Dianne Smith is the mastermind behind the embellished creations pictured here.
Deborah Dianne Smith is the mastermind behind the embellished creations pictured here.
Deborah Dianne Smith is the mastermind behind the embellished creations pictured here.
Deborah Dianne Smith is the mastermind behind the embellished creations pictured here.
Deborah Dianne Smith is the mastermind behind the embellished creations pictured here.
Deborah Dianne Smith is the mastermind behind the embellished creations pictured here.
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>Keisha Hill, Gleaner WriterBeautifully decorated cakes and cupcakes that thrill the senses before the first bite. With their playful embellishments and cheerful colours, they hold the promise of mouth-watering delights.For that special spin on a kind of cake for a wedding or birthday bash, just ask Deborah Dianne Smith of Deborah Dianne Creations.
Her signature rum cake is a staple on several local restaurant menus in Jamaica and as far away as London and Belgium. She has also worked with several celebrity clients, including Frank Ski, Bobby Valentino, director Kenny Leon, and Dwight Eubanks. "I spend a lot of time making sure the finished product tastes good. It is important to me that I perfect the recipes. Basically, the taste should be even better than it looks," Smith told
Food.
After creating bedlam in her mother's kitchen for years, literally churning out delectable delights for her friends and family, Smith's only formal
training in the area came from a Wilton's Decorating Basic class at a local craft store in Atlanta. "I already knew how to bake, but I did not know how to decorate the cake. I went there just wanting to learn how to ice. I also watched many episodes of
Cake Boss (an American reality television series) and the show also inspired me to ice and decorate cakes," Smith revealed.
From her days of attending Meadowbrook High School, Smith knew she wanted to operate her own business. "Daddy is an entrepreneur, and growing up, I knew I wanted to have my own business. So you can say I was born into it, but I wasn't sure what I would have been doing at that time," she said.
Smith's talent comes naturally and although making a cake from scratch is hard work, it comes easily for Smith, who has been doing it all her life. "I can look at a picture and see how it is done and transfer what is on the picture to the cake without any hassle. I have a natural knack for it and it is something that I enjoy doing - making someone's life more enjoyable," she said.
She indicated that, based on the orders from her clients, it can take up to three days to finish the product. "It can take up to one day to source and shop for the items for the cake, based on the specifications from the client. Baking the cake also takes time. I like to 'dirty ice' the cakes - that is, one thin layer of buttercream icing and then let them rest overnight. The following day, I work my magic," explains Smith.
Although she is based in Atlanta, one of her long-term goals is to have a location in Jamaica and provide an opportunity for others to learn from her by opening a cake-decorating school. However, for now, she is content to perfect her craft and fill the many orders that have been coming her way.
"I believe in having a winners' circle or what I call a mastermind team. They won't give advice that will not benefit my short- or long-term goals. In all areas of your life, you should surround yourself with positive people," advised Smith.
If you are looking for that perfect cake to accentuate your event, orders can be placed 30-60 days in advance, especially for weddings. To view some of the delectable creations by Deborah Dianne Creations, visit
www.deborahdianne.com or
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Deborah-Dianne-Creations.
keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com
