Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeri Valeriano and Christina Ong.
It was by a “sweet accident” that Valeri and Christina discovered their passion and talent. On Mother’s Day April 2011, they wanted to give their two friends (also their employers) whom they consider their “second-moms” something special but not expensive and so they decided to try and bake for them. They scoured the internet and stumbled on a tutorial about making a Sunflower Cupcake using a ziplock-bag improvise. This was when they discovered about buttercream. Few clicks after, they saw a tutorial on how to make a cupcake bouquet and instantly fell in love with it.
The special day came and they surprised their friends with a lovely homemade gift they made. They both really loved it even though some the cupcakes were coming off the wrappers. One of them, Aida, was really the one who convinced the ladies to improve it and brought the idea of making a business out of it. It is as if she saw something from that bouquet although what’s all there was were dry cupcakes that are almost falling off from the pot. It was the start of it all. From then on, they practiced every single day. In June 2011, Queen of Hearts Couture Cakes was then founded and they have braved to open their Facebook Page with the hope that people would appreciate their work and hopeful that one day, someone would be enticed to order their sweet treats. Weeks passed… then months… but not a single order.
It was a really tough business, but they were determined. They knew they had to do something and so they have scoured the internet and searched for all the local schools in their area even the neighboring cities. They have sent about 50-60 emails introducing themselves and attached a couple of pictures inspirited that they would like them and hopefully order. Again, no one bothered to reply. Then one day, they had a phone call from a local Nursery School. It was one of the organizers for the school’s Summer Fair.
They are in desperate need of a cupcake seller as the parent who volunteered could not make it. Even if it was only 3 days until the event, without hesitation, they said yes. As soon as they put the phone down, they rushed to the grocery and bought everything they needed. They did not waste a single second. They baked through the night in their cramped studio apartment. They were not able to sleep as the cupcakes were on their bed..and just everywhere. They have baked about 200 cupcakes, 150 cakepops… in their humble 5liter oven that can only bake 6 cupcakes at a time.
They sold everything and not only they had their first wedding cupcake order but also had an invitation to another fair in the local park. It was a very challenging process. They have worked countless hours, made a lot of mistakes, wasted so many butter and icing sugar, broke few hand mixers..the long list could go on. But all these did not really stop them. Instead, these became their inspiration. Not only that they were very keen on perfecting their craft.. but also, they wanted to prove that buttercream is not just for filling cakes.
When they were given a chance to showcase their talent at the Cake International Show London in 2012, they made the most of it. It was their first ever live demonstration in front of so many people. They were very nervous and their whole body was literally shaking, but nobody knew. Consequently, they had inquiries and requests for buttercream cake decorating classes.
They braved announcing their first Buttercream Floral Cupcake Class in May 2012-they had 1 student. Then on the next, they had 2… then3… then 4… then 6… then the next thing they knew, they were invited to different countries to hold Buttercream Master Classes. Now, they have published 4 Bestselling Buttercream Books with multiple language translations each and sold worldwide. They also now have products and innovations that are also sold worldwide.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not! 6 years ago, buttercream is not widely used in the UK as a cake decorating medium. Nobody was interested to learn about it either. Our designs reflected our culture as we are originally from the Philippines and we just love colorful cakes. People who have seen our cakes in wedding exhibitions either loved it or they just walked pass us as if we don’t exist. We were really determined and just didn’t stop. Eventually but slowly, the cake style evolved and more and more people appreciated what we do and our classes were filling up so quickly.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Queen of Hearts Couture Cakes story. Tell us more about the business.
We are proud to be one of the pioneers of contemporary buttercream art. We only use buttercream as our decorating medium and this is what we are known for. We are the only one who has written the most number of books about Buttercream. We have also innovated cake decorating techniques that we teach in classes and now widely used by other cake artists.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
You would not know how big cake community really is until you are in it and it will only get even bigger as years pass. There are soooo many amazing artists all over the world and each artist contribute to how the community evolves. Surely more and more techniques will be discovered and trends will be out of this world amazing!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.queenofheartscouturecakes.com
- Phone: +447702212182 / +447714500109
- Email: info@queenofheartscouturecakes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/QueenofHeartsCoutureCakes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueenofHeartsCoutureCakes/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/QueenofHeartsCC/
- Other: https://www.switchnswapcakestands.com
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
