Tuesday, January 14, 2014

The Internship Program at The Sugar Suite



The way that we have managed to grow such an excellent team over the past 4 ½ years is through our internship program. We are a “teaching” bakery, and interns are a big part of what keeps us going and what makes us successful. Interns are students who sometimes have no experience in the baking, pastry or cake world that come into our bakery to learn the basics.  Every experience is different, and each student comes to learn different parts of the business. The students are unpaid, which for gives them the flexibility to learn without a strict time table. Most of our students are interested in specifically wedding cakes and sugar flowers. Although the cakes being produced, as well as the skill set of the intern determine what they will learn, generally in the course of an internship we are able to cover:
-        Torting, assembly and stacking of wedding cakes
-        Covering cakes in fondant
-        Piping cupcakes
-        Production support and culinary work, baking & buttercream
-        Some basic sugar flowers
-        Bakery maintenance, communication and how to operate as a team
We interview all our interns to ensure they will be a responsible member of our team, as well as a fast and neat worker. The interview process is also a good time to talk more specifically about the intern’s area of interest and their schedule. With such a small team, anyone that enters into our bakery must be 100% committed to the mission of the bakery. We cannot guarantee a position will be open at the end of their internship, but we can guarantee that we only hire from within. Everyone on our payroll has at one time been an intern. The only strict requirement of our internship program is that you must have completed a pastry degree and require an internship as part of your degree.
If you are interested, please contact Jennyfer@thesugarsuite.com
We have lots of advice to share and hope you will consider being an intern at our bakery. Here are some thoughts from our employees on their internship.



Nicole Giordano, Pastry Chef
My internship at The Sugar Suite was life changing. I learned so much more during my internship then I did at school. Working onsite taught me the pace and quality that was expected.  While I was an intern at The Sugar Suite, I got thrown into so many different types of duties such as baking, making sugar flowers, decorating wedding cakes, and making beautiful desserts. The Sugar Suite is top rated in the country, so the clients expect nothing but the best, which taught be to strive for nothing but perfection in my work. I was so lucky to get hired out of my internship because I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. I have worked for The Sugar Suite for almost 2 years now, and I have learned so much and have met so many influential people. 

Danielle DeCrenza, Assistant Manager
The Sugar Suite has been such a great experience for me. When I first started as an intern, I was a little scared. I was in a new place with new people and it was myfirst bakery job coming out of school. Everyone at The Sugar Suite was amazing. They were there for me every step of the way. I have learned so much from everyon here and they have become my family. I was so lucky to complete my internship here, it has been the best experience of my life and I am proud to call this place my home.

Nicole Griffen, Assitant Manager
When I first started my internship at The Sugar Suite I thought I would be doing a lot of piping cupcakes and busy work. But I was wrong! I got the opportunity to work on some really amazing custom party cakes and wedding cakes on my first and second week there. I learned so many things during my internship that I never would have learned at school. I learned things like how to place fondant on a cake, how to make flowers out of gumpaste, how to properly stack a wedding cake and so much more.  When I first started looking for an internship I was looking for a paid internship, but I didn't find one. Looking back now I'm glad that I didn't find a paid one, because I probably wouldn't have learned all the things I know now about decorating wedding cakes. I most likely would have wound up working in a hotel learning how to make plated desserts, cookies and small cakes, which may be interesting to some people, but for me that kind of job does really utilize my creative capabilities. The Sugar Suite is at great place to get an internship! You may not get paid for what you are doing but it is worth it because you are getting paid in experience, and get to learn from the best in Orlando. 



Monday, September 30, 2013

The Sugar Suite Shop is now OPEN!

We are excited to announce the "Soft Opening" of our bakery boutique! Everyone is invited!
  Read more below about what "soft opening" means to us, and why we are doing it.
Orlando wedding bakery | Orlando wedding cake | Orlando Cupcakes




Our Shop Hours are:

Monday - Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm

Saturday 9:00am - 3:00pm

Closed Sunday

Our address is:
1630 South Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL



Every day we will be posting TODAYS MENU. 

Below is our menu board with 6 cupcakes, 5 seasonal desserts and our weekly special.  We are focusing on using fresh seasonal ingredients, and making our favorite classic and rustic desserts.

Some items will remain on the menu all year long, some are seasonal, some just for that day! 
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This sign was custom made for us by Kim McFadden at The Chalk Shop
She was an absolutely pleasure to work with and is a true designer/artist!



In addition to the new menu items offered daily, we have created a line of premium cakes called "Party Cakes"
We are responding to our clients who are looking for a moderately priced, gourmet birthday or party cake that looks great. You have your choice of size, buttercream finish, decor and flavor. Although we will have cakes at our shop on a first come first serve basis,  party cakes must be ordered 10 days prior to customize.
To learn more about the customization options and how to order email hello@thesugarsuite.com
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We have chosen to do a "soft opening" as opposed to a full launch for the month of October for our customers. I was inspired by one of my favorite companies, Disney.  Before launching their resorts, restaurants or attractions to the public, Disney first asks its cast members (in our case friends & clients) to join them in perfecting their systems, products and all around experience before launching to the public. We never "launched" our current company, our strategy was to do the best job possible and more customers came.  We felt right about sticking to this culture that has given us so much success, and felt a need to work out all the kinks before meeting the public. Our core desire has remained meeting the expectations for service and quality that our customers have come to expect. 
Our soft opening will include some tastes of our new desserts as well as link to a survey rating all aspects of your experience.
Orlando wedding bakery | Orlando wedding cake | Orlando CupcakesWe hope you'll join us! 

All photos by my dear sweet talented friend Amalie Orrange





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Friday, August 9, 2013

Logo Grooms Cakes

A couple weekend's back, we had a firestorm of our logo grooms cakes so considering the popularity I thought I would share. Logo grooms cakes are a simple half of a 12" round covered in white fondant with the grooms favorite logo on top!  Some grooms choose sports teams, some choose album covers (the one below is the groom's band's album cover!), one even chose Captain Kirk :) They are simple and a great way to rep the grooms interests at the rehearsal dinner or wedding reception. Cost wise they are between $175.00 - $225.00 just depending on the intricacy of the logo!





this one was actually a graduation cake, but I thought the oars were a cool 3D touch

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Friday, July 12, 2013

BRIDES Magazine Top 100!


Orlando Wedding Cakes, Orlando Bakery

BRIDES Magazine named The Sugar Suite one of the top 100 Cake Designers in the country!!!

This is by far the best, most excited recognition we have ever received.... ever.
BRIDES Magazine published a list of the top 100 wedding cake bakeries in the country, and we made the list.  It was very exciting news to hear, but then when I saw who else was on the list...... I was overhwelmed with emotion.

First, my mentor, teacher and friend Minette Rushing of Custom Cakes was on the list along with some of my other friends Sharon Alexander with Sweet Sensations, Rachael Teufel of Intricate Icings and Sherri Myers of The Pastry Studio.

As if that wasn't exciting enough,  we were also listed with our cake idols. Bakeries that we are totally guilty of stalking: Jim Smeal, Sylvia Weinstock who made Tony and my wedding cake, Mikes Amazing Cakes,  Vanilla Bake Shop, My Sweet and Saucy, Erica OBrien, Pink Cake Box, Charm City Cakes (bakery of  Duff Goldman of Ace of Cakes) and the amazing Ron Ben-Israel.

DUFF GOLDMAN and RON BEN-ISRAEL PEOPLE!!!!!

For all of our hard work to pay off is exciting, but for it to pay off this huge is beyond anything we could ask for at any point in our career.  Thank you BRIDES Magazine.  Thank you for choosing us and thank you for creating a fantastic list of the industry's best.


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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Father's Day Cupcakes at The Sugar Suite!


Father's Day Cupcakes at The Sugar Suite
Order our very manly cupcakes by Tuesday June 11th 
(pick up Wed June 12th - Saturday June 15th)

Cupcakes are $3.00 Each and can be ordered in any quantity.

To order go to: OrlandoBakery.com 


 CINNAMON SWIRL JACK DANIELS
Cinnamon swirl cake with Jack Daniels buttercream and cinnamon sprinkle with navy bow tie


MAPLE BACON
Cinnamon buttermilk cake with maple buttercream and candied bacon


GUINNESS
Chocolate cake, Guinness buttercream and hipster stache

Orlando wedding bakery | Orlando wedding cake | Orlando Cupcakes

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Bright Buttons Photoshoot

Recently I participated in a styled shoot where the theme was buttons!
It was so much fun and had such sweet and adorable details!

I had the great pleasure of working with Sivan Rettew of Sivan Photography, Jaclyn Fraser of At Last Weddings + Events, Kimberly McFadden of The Chalk Shop, Tara Gould of P is For Pie Bake Shop La Lovely Ink, Courtney Hill of Dishie Rentals, Darrin and Cindy Shifrel of Orlando Wedding and Party RentalsMarigold Scott, Mike and Kristina of 829films, and last but not least Dream Designs Florist





Here is the gorgeous colorful flower arrangement by Dream Design Florist


I love sepia tones, this picture is so gorgeous!


How fun!

Our button sugar flower.


The backdrop was by Kimberly McFadden of The Chalk Shop, isn't' it adorable!?






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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Rivini Wedding Dress Inspired Cake


We adore wedding dresses, especially when they inspire the cake design!  Our bride Melinda Chose this gorgeous Rivini dress and loved the accompanying brooch belt. Her wedding took place at Paradise Cove Orlando, an outdoor lakeside venue with fantastic atmosphere!  
  
 Dress by RiviniSolutions Bridal Designer House


Our design challenge was to create a detailed sugar brooch belt that matched her real sophisticated jeweled belt, while keeping with the tropical feel of the venue.  Our answer: fresh cymbidiums and a graduated buttercream swirl cascade to offset the linear shape of the belt.

Here was the final cake:


Photos by: Robert McClory




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