cakelava Interviews: Joan Spitler of Cake Divas, Pt. 2

All photos courtesy of Cake Divas

More Adventures in Diva-land. Pt. 2 of our interview.
Click here to see Pt. 1.

Sasha Reichart: It’s been fun for Rick and I to watch you and Leigh on TV. We’ve noticed the staff has grown. How many employees currently work at Cake Divas?

Joan Spitler: We currently have a staff of 12 in addition to the 2 of us.


Sasha Reichart: 12 is a pretty large staff. What was your hairiest experience with a cake?

Joan Spitler: To this day I remember Leigh and I having to carry a seven tier wedding cake up 5 flights of uneven steps made of slate rock on a hot summer day! Also, assembling a 5 tier wedding cake in the center of a large courtyard water fountain was fun.

SR: Most difficult cake to make and why?

JS: The most difficult cake we made was a full size replica of a room with actual life size furniture in it. The walls, the floor, bed, nightstands, computer desk, chairs, lamps etc… We had to make it in pieces, deliver it to Las Vegas, and assemble it on site. Wow.

SR: Wow is right! I'd love to see a photo of that. What other pastries besides cakes does Cake Divas offer?

JS: We do everything!


SR: [ by everything, Joan does mean everything! This is a 14' pumpkin pie made by Cake Divas. I'd love to know for what function. Where is the Guinness Book when you need them.]

SR: The half pink fondant, half ganache wedding cake you designed for Trista (Rehn, The Bachelorette) and Ryan was gorgeous! I recall when you and Rick worked on it, he was very excited about the cake. Tell us the story behind the design of the Bachelorette’s wedding cake.



JS: Everything in her wedding was pink, so Trista wanted to make half the cake all chocolate for Ryan, so he would have at least one masculine thing at the wedding!

SR: One of your signature designs is the famous “Vows” cake, which has the couple’s vows written all over it. How did you come up with the fabulous idea of the “Vows” cake, and what is the most unusual writing you’ve ever had to do on a cake?

JS: Cake design is truly collaborative. The Vows were Leigh’s idea. She met a couple that were both literature majors, and they really wanted something to reflect who they were. Their vows were a very important part of their ceremony. I loved the idea and ran with it.

SR: Have you ever been a participant in a Food Network Challenge? Is so, which one, and if not, would you and Leigh agree to do one if asked?

JS: We have been asked many times to be on Food Network Challenges, and declined. We are too busy to leave our business!

SR: Everyone I ask this next question to has a love-hate relationship with it. What are your top 3 favorite cakes you’ve made?

JS: #1 my cake dress! I made a gigantic cake that I wore in an art gallery. At the end of the evening I served myself.


SR: How fun! I love it!

JS: #2 a 10 foot cake that nearly touched the ceiling covered in beautiful detail –lots of sugar work, filigree, and all of that old school cake design work that takes forever-fabulous!


SR: Oh my goodness! 10 feet. That must have been so labor intensive. Fantastic!

JS: #3 The cake we made for the Dalai Lama

SR: [Joan didn't have a photo of that cake, but I'm sure it was amazing!] How do you and Leigh unwind when you aren’t making cakes?

JS: We love watching movies , making art, and seeing friends.


SR: What’s next for Cake Divas?

JS: We have some television opportunities in the works. We’re presently designing cakes for a movie set. Things change so quickly in L.A. that we’re always busy, with lots going on and many new adventures await us.

SR: I have no doubt that whatever you do next will make a huge splash!

END, Pt. 2.

** In our next interview I'm chatting with Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes in NYC. Elisa and Confetti Cakes have made a huge name for themselves in New York and across the country, and she's anxious to share her stories and latest news with our readers. Coincidentally the date of our interview, November 5th, is also the release date of Elisa's new book! In these next couple weeks, check out the Confetti Cakes website and blog to see examples of her amazing work!

cakelava Interviews: Joan Spitler of Cake Divas, Pt. 1

All photos courtesy of Cake Divas

Rick and I have known L.A. cake designer Joan Spitler of Cake Divas and her partner Leigh Grode for 6 years. Joan was the last person Rick and I saw before moving to Hawaii to open cakelava -- she drove us and our dog Mikey to the L.A. airport. Cake Divas was only 4 years old at the time Rick started working there and had already made a huge name for itself in L.A. Thousands of cakes and countless magazines, celebrity functions, television shows and public appearances later, they are practically a household name and will be celebrating their 10-year anniversary this month.

I’ve been looking forward to interviewing Joan ever since our series began. I knew with her fun, outrageous, design-without-limits approach to cake design that she would make a perfect interviewee, full of interesting stories and experiences. On a personal level, Joan is an absolute sweetheart and we love her to death. She is warm and genuine, she would do just about anything for you and she has a great energy. She and Leigh and the rest of the Cake Divas team finished filming “Amazing Wedding Cakes” which recently aired on We TV, and they are already off on their next big adventure!

Sasha Reichart: Tell us about your earliest experiences with cake design. How did you get into the field and where was your first job?

Joan Spitler: My mom was really into home crafts in the 70’s (macrame, decoupage, tile ashtrays, and of course, cake decorating!) I was inspired by the Wilton style cakes she used to make for our birthdays, and entered cake decorating classes at my elementary school. I won 3 years in a row, and I still have the trophies! My first job cake decorating was at a grocery store. I was working the bakery counter and one night all of the decorators were sick, so I just jumped in and improvised and they promoted me.

Sasha Reichart: When did you and Leigh Grode open Cake Divas? How has it changed since the beginning?

Joan Spitler: Leigh Grode and I started Cake Divas in 1998. Leigh kept a full time job to pay the bills, while I made cakes. We literally owned a small mixer and a table and rented space part time in a catering kitchen. Every cake we sold bought the pan we needed to bake it in. Our business grew one cake at a time. We just celebrated 10 years in business this month. We now have our own kitchen, 2 offices, a large staff, and lots of equipment!


SR: Congratulations on making 10 years! Your artistic style of cake design is one the main reasons Rick seeked out Cake Divas when we moved to Los Angeles. Do you have a background in fine arts?

JS: Both of my parents are artists. I have been an artist my whole life, and went to college at UC San Diego, where I received a BA in fine arts. I am a self-trained cake decorator, so most of my skill set originated from my art background. I look at cake as another art medium.


SR: How would you describe the Cake Divas style of cake design?

JS: Our Cakes are Delicious on the inside, enchanting on the outside. Our cakes are filled with love.


SR: What a perfect description! Rick and I see a difference between a cake decorator and a cake designer, just as there is a difference between a cook and a chef. What is your opinion on this, and at what point in your cake career do you think you crossed over from a cake decorator to a designer?

JS: I think all people have a creative side. Some of the most amazing cakes I’ve seen have been done by people with no experience whatsoever. I think I crossed over the line when my art life and cake life began to merge.

SR: I agree, that artistic ability is far more important than being classically trained. Due to the volume of orders at Cake Divas, it is essential as the lead designer that you delegate cakes to your staff. How do you feel about relinquishing some control over your designs?

JR: I am always in the kitchen, and have my hand in everything. At first, it was really hard to let go. Now I actually enjoy seeing the creativity and collaborations that come out of working in a team environment. It has been my great joy to see other designers find their own style while working at Cake Divas!


SR: Congratulations on your recent marriage to Leigh! (Grode)! I have two questions. Did you and Leigh celebrate with a wedding cake at your nuptials and have you noticed an increase in same-sex couples coming to you for wedding cakes since California legalized gay marriage?

JR: Leigh and I did not have wedding cake at our legal nuptials. We had pie. We have been making a lot of cakes for same-sex weddings since California legalized gay marriage, and it has been just fantastic. The majority of couples getting married now have been together for many years, so there is a wonderful peace and satisfaction in celebrating a commitment that has already stood the test of time.

SR: You’ve made countless celebrity cakes and are in high-demand in Los Angeles. We loved the wedding cake you designed for Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. What are some recent celebrity cakes you’ve made that you are particularly proud of?

JS: We love all our cakes, and clients!


SR: That was a very classy answer. We saw you on a televised wedding in Turks and Caicos with “Mr. Fabulous”, Preston Bailey. Tell us about that wedding and any other exotic locations you have flown your cakes to. How is it for you and Leigh to travel with your cakes?

JS: Traveling with cakes is always an adventure. You never know what might happen, and you always need to be flexible. Total focus is devoted to the cake at all times. Besides going to Turks and Caicos, we have been to Costa Rica, and other destinations nationally.

SR: We recently did some traveling with a cake and can definitely relate to your perspective. Let’s talk about Amazing Wedding Cakes, your show on We TV. How did Cake Divas become involved with Amazing Wedding Cakes? Did you know who the other designers would be?

JS: We were asked to be part of the show, along with the other designers. We didn’t know the other designers beforehand. It’s been so much fun watching everyone work.


SR: [other questions I asked regarding production of the show have been omitted from this interview. To respect the confidentiality of the show’s production, Joan is not at liberty to discuss this publicly]

SR: I understand Leigh has a background in film and TV production in addition to running Cake Divas?

JS: Leigh has a background in film and TV, so it has been very helpful when we are working on television or doing movie or industry work. She keeps us on task, and knows how to handle things really well.

** END, Pt. 1. Join us back here tomorrow for Pt. 2 of our interview. In the meantime, get to know more of Cake Divas work on cakedivas.com.

cakelava Interviews: The Great White Snark, Pt. 2

All images courtesy of Great White Snark

Chicks, Snarky remarks, and blogs. Pt. 2 of our interview. Click here for Part 1.

Sasha Reichart: Let’s discuss this whole Kristen Bell obsession. When did it start and have you ever met her?


Great White Snark: Eh, “obsession” is a bit strong. For a while there, I was playing up my interest as a fixation for the sake of entertainment on the blog. But don’t try that at home: only the most skilled of greasy-fingered bloggers can take a mild stalker vibe and turn it into “entertainment.”

Thanks to my nasty case of A.D.D., though, my attention tends to wander. I’ve since been distracted by other shiny things and have turned my attention elsewhere. I’m a big fan of Natalie Portman these days.


Sasha Reichart: You regularly attend conventions. What has been the strangest encounter you’ve had at a convention?

Great White Snark: On the convention floor at Comic-Con this year, a huge, muscled-out dude in a skin-tight leopard-print shirt (not a costume, mind you) and “Friend of Corey Feldman” printed on his convention badge asked me for directions to “Thundercats. You know… Lion-O? Thundercats.” Sort of surreal. In a trip-to-a-reality-show-on-VH1 sort of way.

That’s been the most unusual actual encounter. The trick at these conventions is actually avoiding having encounters with some of the stranger characters.

SR: No kidding! I wish you had a photo of that "Friend of Corey Feldman". How many comics do you currently own and when did you start collecting them?

GWS: Hm, I do have a couple of longboxes (that’s a bit of industry terminology there, for ya…) of comics that I collected when I was a teen, but I haven’t been actively collecting for a while. Until Marvel comes out with a comic book that you can eat and convert into a one-bedroom apartment, my money will be going elsewhere.

SR: Like Rick and I, you are a huge fan of LOST. How do you feel about JJ Abrams latest project, “Fringe”?

GWS: I believe my exact words on Twitter were: “Dear Fringe: Screaming, tense music, and lots of frowning do not fool me into thinking your show is interesting. P.S. I hate you.”

So, yes, I guess you could say that I love it. Except that I don’t.

SR: We don't exactly love it either, but our DVR is still giving it a chance. You seem to enjoy making Top Five and Top Ten lists. Here are a couple for you to answer:

What are the Top Five Fantasy Geek Costumes you Would Want Your Lover (or Kristen Bell) to Wear?

GWS: I’m not really into bringing cosplay home with me, but no self-respecting, red-blooded American man is going to turn down a lady in a Slave Leia costume.

SR: Top Five Guilty Pleasure Shows you wouldn’t want to admit publicly to watching?

GWS: I have no shame. So, subsequently, there are not shows I feel guilty about watching. I probably should feel guilty about watching 90210, though. That show is crap. Fluffy, escapist, popcorn-flavored crap.

SR: Would that be old-school or the New 90210? In the same vein, we actually found ourselves watching re-runs of The O.C., partly to hear all the great indie music, but that doesn't necessarily make it right.

SR: What are some of the blogs you frequent?

GWS: I have a metric ton-load of RSS feeds in my reader, but when I’m pressed for time, these are the sites I visit for my very basic essentials:

/Film for my film geek fix.



Newsarama for happenings in the comic book world.


Topless Robot for general geek news and hilarity.


Super Punch for geek curiosities.


And when I feel like a good laugh at the expense of others: Jen at Cake Wrecks.



(Jen was my first interview victim, er, Interviewee. Click here to see my 2-part interview with Jen of Cake Wrecks).

SR: All excellent choices! What’s next for Great White Snark?

GWS: I won't stop until I've appeared before the eyeballs of every Canadian of legal voting age.

It might be an arbitrary goal... but it's my goal. So I'm sticking with it.

SR: Brilliant answer, and somehow we think that won't be a problem.

END, Pt. 2

** Join us back here on October 22nd when we explore what it means to be a Diva, a Cake Diva, that is. Rick and I are very excited about our next interviewee, who is also one of his previous employers, the fabulous Joan Spitler of Cake Divas! Joan and her partner Leigh Grode own Cake Divas in L.A. which has always gotten a lot of attention due to their high-profile celebrity clientele (a list WAY too long to mention) but now they are even more in the spotlight with their new show on the We Channel, called "Amazing Wedding Cakes". Get to know Joan as we have and YES, she is pretty much exactly like you see her on TV -- totally fabulous! Check out Cake Divas website and tune in to the show, and we'll see you back here in a few weeks! **