After being laid off from my job and getting excited for my friend Deepika’s wedding, I decided I would make the wedding cake! With absolutely no experience, I dove headfirst into the cake world—attending cake shows across the UK, lugging home a suitcase full of supplies from Manchester, and testing recipes late into the night in my tiny kitchen. My neighbours could literally hear me baking until midnight.

At the wedding, someone asked if I had a business, and without thinking, I said, “Yes!”—even though I didn’t. Eek!

But that moment sparked something incredible. Soon after, I received international press for my “Cake Box of the Week” and began teaching cupcake decorating classes at my friend Clara’s little Italian café in Notting Hill. And just like that, my business was born.

I returned to Canada in 2011 and moved into my very first retail space on Dundas West, with a beautiful view of Trinity Bellwoods Park. Between those cosy brick walls, my team and I spent weekends teaching classes and creating beautiful wedding and special occasion cakes and cupcakes in our little shop.

People from all around the world have joined our classes—celebrating special occasions, learning new skills, and discovering the joy of baking. From the very beginning, we’ve also hosted incredible corporate team-building events that bring people together through food.

I was lucky to hire some truly fantastic pastry chefs who taught everything from macarons and pies to wedding cake decorating, bread making, and even the art of chocolate soufflés. Some of the most talented cake designers in the world worked with us, creating wild and wonderful works of cake art that still make me smile to this day.

In 2018, I gave birth to my son—and in the very same year, our classroom found its new home at 12 Sousa Mendes, where all of our classes and team-building events now take place. Our forever classroom is a gorgeous, two-floor, 2,000-square-foot studio space that I absolutely adore.

That year was a big one: our bakery operations also expanded into a 4,000-square-foot facility as we began selling cakes to Loblaws, Fortino’s, and McEwan Foods.

Over the years, my team and I have been lucky enough to make cakes for incredible clients, including Drake, Mark Wahlberg, and The Property Brothers—and even sports stars like José Bautista, Mitch Marner, and Josh Donaldson, who’ve all had us on speed dial.

And yes—my dream customer is Oprah. So, if you happen to have her address, let me know! I’d love to send her a cake… or better yet, have her join us for a class!

After achieving so much with the bakery—and surviving the COVID years (yikes!)—I decided to sell the bakery side of the business so that Le Dolci could focus fully on growing our Culinary School. I wanted to increase the number of classes we offer and share even more baking knowledge and joy with all of you.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside my adored Momma Dolce, who has been with me from day one. Everyone who visited us on Dundas West remembers her—always ready to lend a helping hand and feed everyone her homemade pizza and pasta for lunch!

Today, I’m lucky to have an incredible team of pastry chefs, cake decorators, and administrators—truly the best in the world, in my opinion. I take great pride in making sure every guest is treated like family. My goal has always been simple: I want every customer who walks through our doors or interacts with us online to feel like part of our Le Dolci family.

After 16 years in business, I hope you and your family enjoy every class, every sweet treat you create, and every moment with our team as much as I love coming to work each day to make classroom magic for you. There’s always room for another cake and pastry lover in our family—so come join us on our delicious culinary adventures.

xo,

Lisa