Today we’d like to introduce you to Monika Stout.
Monika, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I spent years as a graphic designer, working at a drafting table with T-square and triangle, assembling the then-complex layers of commercial art. But, with the move to computers, I missed working with my hands to create something beautiful. I took a cake decorating class with the aim of making birthday cakes for my children. Once I began, however, I realized that this is what I was born to do!
I have since spent many years taking classes and learning a variety of techniques to create individual works of art in cake, icing, fondant, and sugar.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I never went to culinary school and am not a classically trained pastry chef. I am self-taught and a home baker, but I have gained tons of skill and experience over the years. I now know there are many different means to an end and you don’t always have to follow the “regular” route to achieve success!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Truly Scrumptious Cakes story. Tell us more about the business.
My company is called Truly Scrumptious Cakes and I specialize in one-of-a-kind custom cakes. I’m known for being able to make anything out of cake. If you can dream it, I can make it into a cake!
Last year, I was lucky enough to compete on Food Network’s Cake Wars. Our theme was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. For the first round, I had to incorporate at least two pizza ingredients into the final cake – I picked tomatoes, cheese, and pepperoni. My cake was a tomato soup spice cake with caramel mascarpone buttercream and candied pepperoni with cayenne pepper. The cake was then covered in a dark chocolate ganache. The judges said that my cake confused their senses but in a good way! It sounds weird, but is one of my best selling flavors now!
The second challenge was a little more difficult: the second round cake was supposed to represent an epic battle.
I decided that I had to have each turtle fighting a villain. I wanted the cake to seem like a moment taken out the Nickelodeon cartoon. The cake was such fun and the judges loved it. I was crowned the winner and took home the $10,000 prize!
My cakes are known for being elaborately designed, but also to taste wonderful. My cakes are Truly Scrumptious.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m so lucky to have found my passion! I love what I do and love that my creations are used to celebrate the most important milestones in life! Weddings, birthdays, baby showers, all the special times are made better with cake! How lucky am I to be able to be a part of that?
Contact Info:
- Address: 1615 Orange Blossom Way
Encinitas, CA 92024 - Website: trulyscrumptiouscakes.com
- Phone: 760-803-0869
- Email: trulyscrumptiouscake@gmail.com
- Instagram: truly.scrumptious.cake
- Facebook: facebook.com/TrulyScrumptiousSanDiego/
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