Crowd Pleaser: Leah Stein

Let's face it, it's the most joyous food there is. No other substance entices people to think up goofy reasons (excuses) to have it ("It's Arbor Day! Jennie got through her electrolysis!"). Employed as the centerpiece of every milestone, you can't make a graceful exit from an affair till they cut it.

And as a palette for food creativity, cake has no peer. Our local 'ace of cakes' combines the soul of an artist and the temperament of a chef on deadline. In talking to Leah, you can sense that she is in love with her work and the happiness it brings to others. And while she doesn't brag, you can also feel her pride in receiving a super-high (3.97) GPA in culinary arts / baking from SCCC. 

So have another slice! It's actually good for your soul.

And here's a slice of the mind that's behind all that goodness:

Hometown: Lake George
Resident of area for 10 years.

Where do you work / what department?
I am a cake artist at the BreadBasket Bakery. I decoratecakes from regular birthdaysto elaborate weddings andsculpted 3D cakes

How did you learn to do
this; what sort of training?

I do have a degree in culinary
arts, with an emphasis in
baking that I received last May
from Schenectady County
Community College.
That took a while - going there
part-time while working and being
a single mom. But really it's
lifelong training; I've been baking
and decorating cakes since I was a
girl. And I am very grateful to the
owners of the "Queen of Tarts"
bakery in Guilderland. They are
out of business now, but they
were the ones who gave me my
start and introduced me to the art
of 3D cake sculpture. 

Do you have regular
days/ hours?

Tuesday - Saturday 7 a.m.
 to 3 p.m.

Any other jobs?
I'm a mother of a 6-year old girl

Hobbies?
Camping and hiking, kayaking,
knitting

Last Vacation:
A work/vacation in Atlantic City
for the American Bakery
Conference

A great date is...
Getting dinner/drinks at a place I
have not tried before, then
checking out a zombie movie (at
home or in the theater, but 15-foot
zombies are more exciting.)

A perfect day is...
Sleeping in late, then making
pancakes with my daughter and
staying in my PJ's all day!

Places in town I like to go to
after work...

The Local Pub for the best fish 'n'
chips!!

Favorite cocktail:

Keep it simple - Bombay
Sapphire and tonic with a big
wedge of lime

I bet you get some strange
sculpting requests...

Customers have asked me to write
really interesting things on cakes,
most are not PG. I have also
sculpted cakes into many shapes
including most parts of the human
anatomy.

Most embarrassing moment
at work?

After I finished decorating a cake
I went to pick it up. It slipped
right out of my hand directly into
the garbage can. Do-over!

Last movie watched
"Where the Wild Things Are"

Favorite TV Show
6 Feet Under - I miss it : (

Favorite website
www.cakewrecks.com makes
me laugh every time.

"In my iPod now":
The Gossip, PJ Harvey

Favorite local musicians:
Jonathan Lorenz, Rich Ortiz,
Garland Nelson and Soul Session,
and I would be remiss if I didn't
shout out our head baker, Chad
Tallman and his finger picking
gypsy jazz. He'll be playing this
Sunday at the Bread Basket.

Favorite Sports Team

Hellions of Troy Roller girls!

Last Book / Magazine Read

Bust - For women who have
something to get off their chests.

What even my best customers
would be surprised to learn
about me:

I used to be a park ranger for the
National Park Service and NY
State.  But I'm surprised that I still
love cake, since I eat it every day!

Wild Card: your philosophy
of life...
Eat dessert first! : )