Just in time for Valentine's Day, a cozy new sweet shop had its grand opening at 2060 Oak Bay Ave.
Mom's Cake Cafe, officially opened on Jan. 18, is a family-run business focused on custom cakes. The visionary behind the business, Jellica Ann Lasat, can make extravagant creations of just about anything customers dream up, whether that be a space-themed cake with astronauts, construction-themed fondant, or intricate cupcakes with delicate icing flowers.
In-store, with the bright sun pouring through the many windows, staff whip up a range of beverages and have a refrigerated display case with delicious-looking sweets whose esthetic is just as carefully crafted as the flavour.
Owners Jellica Ann Lasat and her close friend Jeraldine Reyes, two Filipino moms whose kids are the same age, started their journey when they met through their husbands after moving to Victoria during the pandemic.
With a degree in hotel and restaurant management, plus training in bread and pastry production, Lasat brought years of experience in baking, working in coffee shops, and small business ownership. Reyes has a solid foundation in food safety with a bachelor's degree in biology and 12 years of managerial experience with one of the Philippines' largest fast-food chains. Their husbands contribute their experience in restaurant and coffee shop management.
What started as making cakes for friends expanded during the pandemic when well-known cake shops in Lasat's Philippines town closed. Once in Canada, she launched an online store, diving further into her passion.
"After nearly two years, we were thrilled to seize the opportunity to take over a physical store, marking an exciting next step in our journey," Lasat said.
The name, Mom's Cake Cafe, comes from the owners both being mothers and their shared love and respect for their own.
"We are both deeply inspired by the values our mothers instilled in us and we approach our work with love, care, and dedication," Lasat said.
That reverence for family is evident in the framed pictures celebrating motherhood on the shop's wall, plus the nod to their homeland with Filipino cakes – something appreciated by Filipino customers.
"Their Filipino cakes bring back memories of home," said one reviewer on Google.
The purple yam cake with ube flavouring is absolutely rich and delicious. The sans rival Filipino dessert cake is also a hit, made with layers of buttercream, meringue and chopped cashews.
But that's not all. The menu boasts classic cafe fair, breakfast, salads, soups, sandwiches, and even BBQ dinner.
For those looking to surprise a special someone with a pretty sweet treat, there are tons of options. Lasat has some recommendations for Valentine's Day: "We suggest our bouquet cupcakes or a heart-shaped red velvet cake – both are sweet, romantic options."
No matter what one orders, Lasat said the joy of being part of customers' special moments is what drives her.
"Our ultimate goal is to create cakes that are not just desserts but meaningful parts of unforgettable celebrations."
