Jamaica's Cakes offers premium cakes and pastries from elegant tiered wedding cakes to birthday and specialty cakes and baked goods, with each made from scratch to order. We never freeze our cakes and never use shortening, two shortcuts that most bakeries usually take. Owners of Jamaica's Cakes, James and Jamaica Crist set out with one mission - to make beautiful cakes that please the eye and feed the soul. Since opening in 2006 their cakes have pleased moms, kids, brides, and celebrities, with not only the look of each cake, but the quality of taste. As Jamaica says, "A beautiful cake makes a great first impression. It's the quality that leaves a lasting one."
Q: How did you get started in the culinary arts?
Jamaica Crist, owner and head designer of Jamaica's Cakes has been making custom cakes for over 12 years. As an apprentice at The Sweet Life Patisserie, one of Oregon's most renowned bakeries, Jamaica learned the fine art of cake baking and design.
Q: As a pastry chef, what are three things you can't live without?
The three most important things are my double-tall convection oven which bakes thing perfectly, my Hobart mixer, and a pair of Dansko clogs, because I'm on my feet all day!
Q: What is your favorite cake?
My favorite cake has to be our Chocolate Rhapsody. It's a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and chocolate ganache, topped with raspberry puree. We're known for not doing sugary-sweet desserts, so the raspberry goes great with a rich, dark chocolate cake.
Q: What's next for you?
Our next step is to continue to expand and grow. My husband and I started this bakery from scratch, as the only two employees. We have done very well through this economy, and have worked ourselves up to four full-time employees to keep up with the demand. After a few more employees we'll need a second store!
