It was not that long ago that if you were in need of a signature cake for that special occasion or to quell that hard to ignore sweet tooth that the answer to your needs was as simple as Cakes by Tatiana (CbT). An Ottawa institution for many years in the establishment was ‘pastry chef’d’, owned and operated by Tatiana Vorobej. Delicious, sophisticated from the first bite to the crumbs. Her famous clients over the years have included such luminaries as Adrienne Clarkson, Princess Margaret, Margaret Trudeau, The Ottawa Senators and the King and Queen of Spain to name just a few. Growing out of a vision, and an understanding of the discerning pastry craving palate, Tatiana established herself in Ottawa and, frankly, pastry in the city has not been the same since.
However, Tatiana has moved away from Ottawa and her pastry splendor is sorely missed. I caught up with her in Toronto, where she is now living, and asked her about her Ottawa experiences and the inspiring work she is doing now with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).
JD: Cakes by Tatiana was a hugely successful specialty pastry and cake shop in Ottawa. How did you get into the business? How long were you established in the city and what was it about Ottawa that made it such a great match for what had to have been a dream establishment?
TV: I burnt my first Gingerbread house when I was 9 years old and am pretty sure I was hard wired to always be a Pastry Chef. In the late 80’s I transitioned from being Pastry Chef at several FOUR SEASONS HOTELS across Canada to becoming chef/owner of CbT. I knew that Ottawa had a large and well travelled diplomatic/political demographic that would embrace a sophisticated twist in classical dessert elements. There were no cafés serving high end, multi-component, plated dessert so it was a natural choice to come back to my roots and establish my vision.
JD: I understand you are connected to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and are sharing your talents and passion there with students. How is that experience for you and what is your motivation and inspiration?
TV: Multi- media has allowed students to become much more savvy about their career choices …and who teaches them! The TDSB wanted an instructor with real world/industry experience who could help the students navigate through the many apprenticeship /college/and industry choices that are out there …that is my expertise as I chair the MINISTRY OF TRAINING , COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (MTCU)BAKER-PATISSIER committee. When the students connect the dots and have their own “ah ha” moment, I’m inspired. At CbT, I had been taking high school, college and culinary arts students on co-ops and stages for 15 years at least, so it was a very natural and organic choice to transition into a full time teaching position.
JD: Do you continue to do special orders now that you are established in Toronto?
TV: Frankly no, but only due to lack of time as I still compete and just recently shot an episode of the SLICE NETWORKS upcoming CAKE WALK- WEDDING CAKE CHALLENGE. I’m constantly upgrading my skill sets too… but hope to have time in 2012 to get back into cakes as I miss it …GOOD CAKE IS HARD TO COME BY…there are a ridiculous amount of so called cake artists out there who make very mediocre cakes
JD: What do you miss most about Ottawa?
TV: The best and most loyal client base ever….I still get e- mails and I sold the shop over 3 years ago! Many of my clients followed me through every location I had in Ottawa…I will never be able to say thank you enough!
TV: As you know, I have always made tortes vs cakes. A torte must have a cake , a filling and an icing and is always rich. So here it goes: CAKE: Rum butter, vanilla pod with flecks of cocoa nib / FILLING : alternating layers of light mango cheesecake mousse and an 80% dark chocolate Guyanese truffle cream / ICING : dark chocolate Ganache…and butter must always be involved!
It’s YOUR birthday…who am I to say ice cream or not…but I’m all about the cake baby!
The famous line, mis-attributed to Marie Antoinette, goes, Qu’ils mangent de la brioche! – or loosely, Let them eat cake! Let them eat Tatiana’s cake, I say, and they will rave on and on! From serving the discriminating tastes of patrons of Four Seasons Hotels across Canada to the creme of world and Ottawa high society and beyond- Tatiana now is providing inspiration and guidance to students at the high school level in Toronto. She truly ‘takes the cake’!