"This is not only a cake, this is a piece of art," said my brother-in-law when I showed him a picture from one of Susan’s cakes. The cake was a gift for a dress designer who was leaving her job to start her own party store. The colorful party box with a half-open lid provided space for the tape measure, scissors, lace, and blue thread. Red and orange buttons were "sown" to the lid with the same blue thread. For a groom’s cake she created a sports bag, emblazoned with "Dartmouth" where the couple went to school. Items important to the couple’s life together were spilling from the bag. For a BRO party, Susan made one of the most opulent cakes I’ve ever seen: the four-tiered, white chocolate cake was decorated with irregular chocolate pleats, large and medium-size garden roses sprinkled with opalescent dust for a dewy look, draped ribbons and bows edged with gold, and a string of pearls cascading from the top. Next to this stood her signature cake, the miniature "day-after" cake she delivers to every bride and groom.

I first interviewed Susan shortly after she started in business. Now, 12 years later, she is known throughout the Bay Area and way beyond for her fabulous wedding and special occasion cakes. Since 1995, some of her individual items, such as truffle box cakes, place cards, and favors, have been available by order year round from the Horchow Collection and Neiman Marcus catalogs and shipped from coast to coast. This year, she has shipped her first large opulent wedding cake to a well-known writer in England. Susan and her cakes have been featured more recently in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine Magazine, Bridal Guide, Modern Bride, Bargain Weddings and Victoria Magazine. They could be seen on TV on Channel 5's Evening Magazine and on the cable WB20 News. Clients describe her work as "outstanding" and "unbelievable."

Susan is very conscious of quality. To ensure freshness, she will not make more than five wedding cakes per weekend. She schedules tastings and appointments (Thursdays through Saturdays) so that "my clients get to taste the fresh product they will get on their wedding day."