Innovative new business to showcase cake and ceramics

Innovative new business to showcase cakes and ceramics

Pastry chef & Artist Jeongmin Sylvester, owner of online patisserie Sincerely, Cake, is opening a retail space designed to showcase her exquisite cakes and handmade ceramics - proving that dreams can still come true during challenging times.

In the beginning

In 2013, Jeongmin Sylvester graduated with a Diplôme de Pâtisserie from Le Cordon Bleu Sydney and moved to the Blue Mountains to set up a premium online patisserie business, Sincerely, Cake. The business’s tagline ‘made with sincerity’ is a true insight into this delightful alumna’s work ethic.

In the last four years, Jeongmin has built a successful business based on online orders and retail sales of her popular baked goods at local artisan markets. She says: 'In these challenging times, we all need to find ways to support our community. Baking is what I do, so if I can make someone happy with cake, that’s what I’ll give them.'

Ceramics or cake?

Jeongmin has always been equally passionate about ceramics and cake, so after completing a Fine Arts degree (ceramics & glass) in Korea, she travelled to Australia where she pursued a Diplôme de Pâtisserie at Le Cordon Bleu Sydney. Read Jeongmin’s story in the Blue Mountains Gazette.

Showcasing her passion

From her first Le Cordon Bleu class, Jeongmin began to nurture the dream of merging her art and patisserie talent into one business. Having built a loyal clientele for her product, she has since found the perfect premises for her new gallery/patisserie in Hazelbrook, NSW and has been waiting patiently during lockdown for council approval to start the project.

A dream come true

In June 2020, construction started on Jeongmin’s new business premises – a retail space designed to sell cakes and ceramics. Jeongmin will retain the name Sincerely, Cake and is eagerly looking forward to opening her shop in mid-July 2020. The innovation, creativity and dedication of this inspiring alumna proves that hospitality dreams can still come true during the most challenging of times.

The gift of cake

Jeongmin caused a delighted stir on social media when she shared a post about her generous gift of delicious patisserie to frazzled healthcare workers at the local hospital. Her best friend, a nurse at Westmead hospital, was delighted to share Jeongmin’s cakes and message of thanks with his fellow workers on the Covid-19 frontline.

Find the bright side

Jeongmin said there has been a bright side to the Covid-19 lockdown – the emotional gain of having more time to spend with her children and partner.

Cherish the extra time with family, try to find the bright side, maybe slowing down in life can be a good thing for you. At the moment, I don’t have as much work, so I can focus on my family at home. I feel it is important to make beautiful healthy meals during this time, to nourish our bodies and minds.