Sugar Blooms and Cakes has blossomed

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This article was published 11/10/2016 (3310 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opened one year ago at 1020 McPhillips St., Sugar Blooms and Cakes has become a go-to place for Filipino specialties and fancy celebrations. 

“We specialize in sugar flowers to decorate cakes for every occasion”, says storefront manager Nikki Melegrito, daughter of owner Genevieve Melegrito.

Marie reveals that her mom runs the production end. Baking is done at a facility on Selkirk Avenue and delivered daily to the shop. 

“Business has blossomed and we’re moving production to the space next door” Nikki says. She envisions a cafe which serves coffee and cake slices as well as a  baking centre.

“Everything will be under one roof.”

Sugar Blooms employs a staff of 18 and is looking forward to hiring a few more experienced personnel.

While Genevieve oversees the baking, Nikki tends to the storefront and comes up with the creative ideas for cake decorating. She says many of the store’s delicious offerings are familiar to her Filipino customers.

The all-white store and decorated back wall presents itself as a cheerful place where customers can linger in front of the glass showcase to pick their favourite pastries. 

How about a frosted cake, made according to Genevieve’s original recipe, full of home-made goodness? Or why not try the sylavannas, a layered meringue pastry filled with butter cream and topped with pecans and flaked almonds?

Nikki’s favourite cake is ube marcapuno, a purple yam cake filled with ube jam, covered with coconut strings and topped with real whipped cream.

The assorted cookies look impressive too.  There’s chocolate krinkles, white macadamia cookies and French macaroons. Always popular with the youthful crowd are three kinds of cupcakes; chocolate, red velvet and vanilla.

Nikki says Sugar Blooms is known for its custom cakes, from towering wedding creations to something in 3D. This reporter spied a koala bear on a branch and a comic crocodile.

Genevieve has been baking for 20 years Nikki says. When the family moved to Canada 12 years ago from Papua, New Guinea (there’s a huge Filipino population there), Genevieve dreamt of opening her own bake shop. Back home, she had taught English at high school and college.

Nikki’s father is an engineer and became a manager at Boeing Canada.

Nikki, 25, says she grew up with the sweet smells of baking. 

“Making cakes is definitely my mother’s passion. The shop is my mom’s legacy”.

Her future plans are to remain in the family business. “It’s the best way to honour my parents. There’s a lot of love going into the baking”.

Freda Glow is a community correspondent for the North End. 

Freda Glow
North End community correspondent

Freda Glow is a community correspondent for the North End.

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