"Cecile Gady, the owner of Cakework, designer of custom weddings and party cakes, says she got into the business because "it just kind of happened."   When friends gave dinner parties, they always wanted her to bring dessert - especially one of her cakes.   Cecile says she just had a "feel" for baking, and that innate quality paid off, quite literally, when someone offered to pay her to make a dessert.

One thing led to another, and soon Cecile was offered a job making desserts in a restaurant. In 1985 she decided to open her own business, and thus Cakework was born.

Since that time, Cecile's success has continued to grow.   She is known for enchanting her local San Francisco-area clientele with uniquely designed cakes, such as the newspaper-stack design she created for a couple who met while working for the Wall Street Journal.   And then there was the six-foot-tall Eiffel Tower!

It is designs such as these that bring others, besides her clients, to Cecile's doorstep, too.   In 2001, she was invited to enter a Today Show competition in which she won several awards. This fall, she'll be on Food Network's "The Secret Life of Cakes."

Cecile believes that several factors contribute to Cakework's success.   "I think what sets us apart is that we're really innovative," she says.   "When people come to me with an idea, I twist it and shape it so their cake will be a really show-stopping experience."   Another factor is the taste.   "Our cakes taste great - rich, creamy, buttery.   You can taste all of the separate flavors."    In the opinion of the YWD staff, Cakework's flavors, including their signature flavor, banana truffle, are show stoppers too!

And you don't have to live in the Bay Area to enjoy one of Cecile's cakes: Cakework will actually deliver your cake almost anywhere, and their delectable creations are also available through the Dean & DeLuca gourmet foods catalog. "