vendor reviews: cakes

From sketch pad to oven, Jirina's Bakery still chosen for their always-fresh, custom-made wedding cakes after twenty years

Reviewing Jirina and Milan Kepka of Jirina's Bakery

If you grew up in the K-W area, you likely already know Jirina's Bakery by name or by taste - or both. That's because after twenty years in the business, Jirina's Bakery has earned a reputation for fresh, delicious flavour, and designs that can compete with any of the most traditional or ultra contemporary cake shops in the country.

When Jirina Kepka and her son Milan begin their work on a wedding cake, they do so knowing that their couples expect them to design, bake and deliver a wedding cake that plays as much a part in the décor of their wedding as it does in the menu. This adorable shop is very busy (particularly during wedding season), obviously well-loved and entirely family-run. It is also home to hundreds of cake designs, samples and, of course, orders for upcoming weddings.

Knowing that countless wedding memories have taken shape within the walls of this shop, staff at The Ring have always been among Jirina's biggest fans. We sat down to find out what local brides could expect from Jirina and Milan for their 2009 and 2010 weddings. Let us explain...

Jirina's Bakery in person

Jirina and Milan's showroom (located at Victoria Street North and Margaret Avenue) is filled wall to wall and floor to ceiling with sample cakes. A memory board is lovingly cluttered with past clients' thank you letters while shelves and counters show off albums filled with photos of past cakes in every conceivable colour, shape and design. Even kitchen files contain more wedding ideas in the form of sketches (cake blueprints, really) of cakes-to-be. Each cake design is developed from a concept in Jirina's mind, photos her clients have brought in, or an idea that occurred to her during a moment of inspiration.

A trained professional

Beyond a passion for creating and twenty years of running her popular, busy cake shop, Jirina also has the technical knowledge to execute her designs. She has her Masters in Cake Decoration from McCall's School of Cake Decoration (1989), as well as training in Gum Paste Flowers. Her son Milan was also trained in the art at George Brown College and has won a number of awards for his work.

Style and taste

Jirina's Bakery produces cakes in every conceivable colour, shape, number of layers, designs, and styles, depending on the bride and groom they're made for. As you can see when you visit, Jirina and Milan have used everything from columns to wine glasses and water fountains to organza in the design of wedding cakes. There's really no limit to your options here. Realistic looking flowers and fabrics can actually be made entirely from sugar and icing, or you can opt for the real thing - using fresh flowers and fabrics or ribbon that match your bridesmaids' gowns.

Flavours range from mocha and marble to pound cake and vanilla with raspberry, double chocolate and other types of fillings that will please just about everyone. In fact, if you've ever been to one of the biggest local bridal shows, you were likely served a piece of free cake in any one of three or four different flavours, courtesy of Jirina's Bakery... She distributes 3000 pieces of it every show!

It's about what you want

Jirina and Milan work hard to make sure that every bride who comes to them gets the wedding cake they dream about. "We work with each customer from start to finish," says Milan. "We ask questions to make sure that every possibility has been covered. This gives brides the time to make their choices, but also the assurance of knowing that they are comfortable with the cake they have chosen."

One of our favourite things about Jirina's Bakery is that they don't want you to feel like you're being rushed into any decisions, or worried you may made a wrong choice. Jirina and Milan says they'll help you throughout the process. If you're looking for a simple yet elegant wedding cake, they've got a ton of ideas for you. If you're looking for something more complicated and intricate, Jirina just smiles and says, "I love a challenge!"

Researching your cake
Jirina is the first to admit that the internet has changed the nature of her business - and her clients. "Clients are more knowledgeable about what they want when they come in," she says. "They often bring photos of cakes and their prices that they have found on the internet." Jirina pointed out several photos of her own cakes (she photographs each after it is completed, before it is shipped out), that were designed completely by eye from these internet or magazine photos her brides brought in. "If they bring me a picture, I can make their cake look exactly like it. I enjoy that," says Jirina. If you come to Jirina's showroom with an idea in mind, or just looking for inspiration, she'll be happy to walk you through your options.

When you really look at the past work of Jirina's Bakery, you start to understand that wedding cakes are essentially a form of edible art - with their colours, accessories, the way they are laid out and their sculptured sugar & icing that looks like flowers or fabrics...

Milan admits that he has always admired his mom's creative abilities. "My mom was an artist even in her childhood. Her designs and colours come together naturally for her in her work."

How do you price a cake?
Jirina will quote you your price on the per-person basis the way your caterer will. In these terms, her cakes average approximately $3 per slice. If you're ordering a groom's cake or shower cake, you're likely to spend about $1 per slice. To compare, consider that you'd go to the local café or coffee shop, you spend easily $5 or more on a piece of cake to go with your coffee. Jirina says that her average bride spends between $350 to $400 on their cake.

Walking you through it :: from simple & elegant to celeb-style cakes
Because there are so many options, it can be hard to decide which way to go. Because cake usually has two purposes – to taste good and look great, we're going to outline four cake styles and what you can expect from them.

Celebrity-style cakes

Because of Jirina's longstanding reputation for design, it's not uncommon for a bride to bring in an photo of an extravagant, multi-tiered, sculptured and decorated cake from a magazine and want it recreated for her wedding. That's when Jirina's quick to tell brides that they don't have to have a celebrity-sized wedding budget to get the cake they really love. "Give me a design challenge and a budget and I'll do my best to make a gorgeous cake at a fraction of the cost."

Simple, elegant & unique

These cakes are three to four levels, one above or beside the other on stands with decorations and accessories. This cake will have your guests ooh'ing and aah'ing for $300 and up.

Simple, tasteful

One to two cakes, one above or beside the other, on stands or not. Still with beautiful decorations on each cake. Meant for smaller numbers of guests or for cutting and then backing up with a slab cake. Approximately $150 to $200.

Feeding the hungry

Full size slab cakes will feed 25 to 300 people and have basic decorations on them. Usually, these look like decorated, gigantic rectangular cakes.

Making room for cake
You would likely spend at least double the cost of a cake on that ever-popular late-night snack for your guests. Basically, if you're worried about spending money on the cake you really want, cut out the $8+ per person late night snack, spend half of it on the cake of your dreams and the other half on purchasing nicer guest favours/gifts or getting that horse and carriage you've always dreamed of. Budgeting is just putting things into perspective and prioritizing what you really want.

The ingredients
To make a wedding cake, you'll need many hours of work, a steady hand, some great art skills, and a secret weapon that ensures your cake that won't dissolve into itself in a light heat. Jirina says, "Every cake must always be fresh. It should never be frozen." That's why she insists that each cake is made just before the wedding day. "There's no real way to cut corners with time or expense unless you want a lopsided cake!" Jirina says she doesn't mind the work that goes into her designs, "These cakes are all my creations. It is a lot of work, but I am doing what I love."

In wedding primetime (wedding season, May to October), Jirina and Milan don't count on getting much sleep between Thursday and Saturday, and we doubt they'd have it any other way. "We can do five to eight cakes each weekend because we always have additional staff to come in if and help if we need them. We would never turn away a bride."

Shop with options

• You can order cakes for your shower, wedding rehearsal dinner, stag & doe and groom's party as well. 
• Jirina has also created mini-wedding-cakes and cupcakes for guest favours and for table centrepieces, which look amazing.
• When frozen, wedding cake can last a year or more, which makes for a nice treat on your first anniversary.

Summing it up
Jirina can create a wedding cake that could quite easily be served at any celebrity event, but for a fraction of the cost. Call Jirina or Milan at 519-570-0790 to talk details, or visit them at their bakery at 196 Victoria Street North in Kitchener to see their designs in person. They are open from 11 am to 6 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 9 am to 6 pm on Friday and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday). You can also reach them by email at jirinasbakery@hotmail.com. For more cake designs and options, visit Jirina's Bakery online at www.jirinasbakery.com.

- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca
* Prices are all approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and management of Jirina's Bakery.