Today we’d like to introduce you to Lada Sadovnyk
Hi Lada, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My family and I moved to San Diego from Ukraine about a year and a half ago. Back home, we owned a woodworking and furniture manufacturing business for export, and I ran a small content creation agency. After moving, we faced the challenge of finding work and began actively discussing our options. My husband found a job as a manager in his field, while I started testing the waters!
I had been baking cheesecakes for my family for years, constantly perfecting the recipe. When we decided to take it more seriously, I refined it further, and we continue to improve it weekly. Our main product is the burnt Basque cheesecake—an authentic Spanish recipe that has gained global popularity in recent years. It’s no surprise, as a properly made cheesecake has a creamy and delicate center while being slightly burnt on the top and edges. To achieve the results we have today, we made over a hundred test samples of just our original classic burnt Basque cheesecake. We meticulously measured proportions, replaced ingredients, and experimented with time, temperature, and other oven and equipment settings. In the end, our production process consists of nine steps to achieve the perfect texture.
With just a few molds and some cream cheese, I took a few professional photos and videos and launched an ad campaign. The first customers arrived within a week, and soon after, we began to grow rapidly. Within two months of testing the waters, we realized it was time to rent a professional kitchen and invest in commercial equipment and supplies. As we grew, so did our advertising budgets, product range, and loyal customer base, for which I am incredibly grateful for their support throughout this journey.
Today, we are actively searching for a space for our first storefront or coffee shop.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey was definitely not easy, as in addition to immigration-related challenges, we constantly had to deal with various business-related issues along the way. The rules and laws here are significantly different, and there’s a lot of bureaucracy and fine details that you only learn about once you start.
That said, we can confidently say that government agencies in the U.S. are very accommodating. They make an effort to understand the “language barriers” and challenges of adapting to new realities, whether it’s in business or daily life. A year later, after going through most of the necessary steps, we’ve realized that you adapt and start feeling more at ease once all the requirements are met. Here, you’re protected, and you have guarantees, privileges, and support.
One of the significant challenges we faced was explaining to customers why a cheesecake, which has never been considered a premium product, could cost upwards of $40. In the beginning, we were met with a lot of questions about this. Over time, thanks to countless reviews and recommendations, this issue resolved itself. We can’t say that what we do is entirely unique, but we’ve managed to convey to our customers that every cake we make is crafted with the same care as if it were for ourselves—without cutting corners on ingredients, avoiding harmful additives, excess sugar, or artificial flavors.
The main difficulty we’re currently facing is finding a rental space. It’s very challenging to secure a good location without two years of business history and a strong financial reserve. However, we believe we’ll overcome this hurdle soon enough. The key is to work hard and maintain consistent quality.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We’re now proudly a family-owned business. Our previous experience in running a business has been incredibly helpful in managing our current venture.
Our regular menu features 6 flavors, along with 2–3 additional rotating flavors that change every month. We strive to develop all of our recipes in-house, introducing unique flavors that our customers won’t find anywhere else.
In less than a year, we’ve been featured in San Diego Ville and San Diego Magazine, with mentions in the articles “Top Picks of August” and “Must Try 2024.” Additionally, Meta published a success story about our business.
We’re extremely proud that people appreciate and support what we’re doing, and every month we continue to grow our loyal customer base!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
The people we are most grateful for are our customers. Our early birds received permanent discounts right away, which is the least we could do for them. I am incredibly thankful for all the support throughout this challenging journey and never miss an opportunity to let them know. Every month, this list grows with new names, and it motivates us to keep moving forward.
We are also very thankful to our first landlord in the U.S., Bennett Goldberg, one of the owners of Maker Kitchens. He is someone who genuinely supports small businesses by offering private commercial kitchens that are an excellent starting point for startups like ours. As we mentioned before, renting a location without two years in business is nearly impossible, but hubs like these make it much more accessible.
We’re grateful to Henry from San Diego Ville for giving us the initial boost that brought media attention to our business, and to Nicolle Monico from San Diego Magazine, who loved our Ube Cheesecake!
Angela and Jordan Stones also deserve a special thank-you for recognizing our marketing efforts and featuring us in Meta’s success story article.
And, of course, I’m beyond grateful to my husband, Alex, who worked tirelessly for an entire year—12 to 16 hours a day—on both our business and his full-time job to help accelerate our growth to its fullest potential.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://musecheesecakes.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muse.cheesecake?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
