BAKING A STORY WITH CAKES
The Botswana Confectionary market is still growing. And if there is one thing that Madhubashini Yatagama, the Director of Cakes N Creations wishes to do is to bring to Botswana the same standard and skills that exist elsewhere in the world.
Yatagama is an internationally acclaimed Creative, who has trained and showcased her skills at some of the top markets when it comes to the Industrial bakery market.
Born in Sri Lanka, she has been calling Botswana home for a couple of years now. One thing that her diverse can count on when it comes to cake designs is that nothing is impossible in her kitchen. She goes all out, and leaves no stones unturned. Not one to turn down any challenge, when she talks about her passion and her future outlook, she does not miss a beat.
“I am very passionate about designer cakes,” she explains sitting at her living room in Gaborone. She recently showcased that passion when she crafted a beautiful cake to celebrate Botswana Guardian’s 40th anniversary. The cake which was sort of a newspaper stack left many in disbelief, as they could not believe that this was indeed a cake and not a real stack of newspaper. Even cutting the cake was something else, as those who were given this task struggled to put the knife through the cake. In fact, guests wished that it could just be left like that, undisturbed.
Speaking about her passion, she points out that her love for cake started in 2009. It took her four years to find the right space for her business. And that space happens to be located at Craft Market, where she currently sells all things related to baking, including accessories, ingredients, and her fresh bakes, designer dessert, cupcakes and Maroons. Besides her designer cakes, she also has standard cakes that can be made on short notice. In total, she has 19 unique flavours, which all have her personal touch. So big is Yatagama that she has created and worked with some of the top local companies, using her skills to tell their stories. These companies include Botswana Examinations Council ( which was her first corporate cake), Game City Mall for its tenth anniversary, Builders Warehouse, Angolan Embassy, Debswana, First National Bank as well as Fours Cash & Carry. “I strongly believe that cake is not just a pastry made with flour, eggs, sugar mixed together. Cake is storytelling hence I am big when it comes to customized cakes,” she explains, showing off her recent cake which was a Vintage inspired book. Breathtaking, the cake had a surprise in it, as the flavour was something that some cake lovers might be unfamiliar with. This happened to be a Ginger infused taste. Before you have a heart attack, that taste was something of a dream. Fresh and with hints of ginger, it was refreshing and beautiful to experience ginger in this elevated level.
Explaining the concept behind this particular flavour, she explains that it is one of her signature flavours. For the client in question, she points out that the client loved her Chocolate cake, and that one day, she convinced her to try this new creation. And the rest as they say is history. Besides the Ginger flavour, she also has other flavours which include Amarula, Cakes N Creations Cocos ( intended for weddings), as well as her take on the classical and traditional fruit cake and many more. The cocos flavour takes can be consumed after months, and the longer it stays, the more tastier it gets.
She points out that when it comes to customized cakes, she is a master. She gives her clients the freedom to share the theme for their cakes, and she would take it from there. One thing that she wants when she is creating is to be given the freedom to bring to life a concept without any restrictions. Above all, she is also big on quality.
“Say for example a client has a favourite chair at home, I can incorporate that in the cake. I am very artistic,” she explains adding that she compares her cakes to tailor made suits. She also points out that she does not like to repeat concepts. “I try as much as I can to change the design,” she says, noting that she always sits down with her clients, and shares her vision with them. Elaborating on something that bakers use to transform cakes, which happens to be Edible printing, she shares that she goes further with Edible printing ( which is also sold at her shop). She knows how to be creative and uses techniques that can transform a 2D into a 3D.
“I have mastered the art of giving a cake a 3D effect,” she points out.
She is now ready to take the next step in her journey in the Confectionary world, and is looking into sharing and imparting her skills through workshops and training. She is hoping to start this next year, and wants to conceptualise something that is totally different to what is currently in the market. Her other focus is targeting hotels and high- end restaurants, whom she wants to supply with 100 percent quality cakes and confectionary products.