My name is Vanessa Strydom and I love cake! I started baking novelty cakes many moons ago, primarily for my own and then other children in the family. After much prompting from friends and colleagues, I decided to take this show on the road so to speak, and so Casa de Jequenelle was born.
This tongue tying name is an acronym of the names of my own children and two nieces. I thank them for allowing me to name and shame them here; Cassidy, Dene, Jean-Dre, Queegin and Noelle. As they are the cornerstone of this business, they really do deserve a mention. I would also like to apologise to them for the years of “come test this” or anyone for offcuts? They no longer eat cake.
Our “business” is essentially just a two man show. My husband and myself. He bakes, I cover. Simple. This arrangement usually works well, until it comes to colors. Magenta and Teal, according to him, should just be called pink and blue, end of story.
Our client base is primarily made up of long standing customers, those that so many years ago ordered a baby shower cake, that now order a bleeding Zombie Unicorn cake for that same, innocent child’s 13th birthday (times have changed since I was a teenager…) Referrals from these same clients, have over the years kept me from having to swim in the marketing pond, in which I will most certainly drown, and for this I am eternally grateful.