How sweet it is. In a great leap of faith, two sisters who have spent their lifetime growing up in a family bakery business, decided it was time to take their own pathway in the world of baked confectionery. Located down in the rapidly reviving 'hood of Mimico/Long Branch/New Toronto, along the section of the Lakeshore we just call "the 'shore", you'll find a sweet, sweet spot called CakeStar.
I'm fairly certain that right from the day these girls could hold a spatula, baking has been in their blood.
Barb Accogli & Monja Chiaravalloti, without question are among the superstar set of the cake making community in Toronto and the GTA. For me, personally, what I think makes them so darned good is not only their genuine commitment to making a great product but rather the fact that the core values that drive their passion is based on their love of family. Every time you wander into Cakestar, or even when you pick up the phone and call them to talk about a dessert, they embrace you and without even realizing it, you've become a part of the CakeStar family. I am in awe of their talent and their drive to succeed. I've been fortunate to have an inside peek to their lives and their family and I'm touched and buoyed by the way that CakeStar isn't just about making cakes, it's about love and respect. To that end I'd also like to add that these girls have big hearts and support the community on an ongoing basis by supporting fundraising and charities events involving family based support organizations such as FAME, as well as raising funds for Autism research. I have always subscribed to the tenet that when you give good, you get good which leads me to believe that CakeStar will be wildly successful.
Recently I attended the social media opening for the store. What a fun evening. We stuffed Cannoli's, we dipped Cakeballs and we shouted out a big cheer for support and success for Barb & Monja. CakeStar is located at: 3431 Lakeshore Blvd. West in Etobicoke. Store hours are: Tuesday to Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 pm. Sunday is strictly by appointment only. Barb and Monja can be reached at 416.259.9053 or by email at: cakestar@rocketmail.com If you click on the title of this latest blog installment it'll take you directly to the CakeStar website. Be prepared to have your mind blown away at the works of art that you'll feast your eyes upon. Or you can do what I have a tendancy to do....just wander in and give in to your sweet tooth cravings. Oh gosh....how I need a cannoli!!!! Quick, where are my car keys.
On any given day one will never know what they find in the pastry case. Traditional southern Italian styled Cannoli are filled fresh when ordered. I love, love, love that! Which means the pastry shells will never, ever be soggy. 
There are cupcakes and cookies and those fun little Cakeballs. A super nice touch is how the girls have packaged up Cakeballs for me to use as gifts. These are the finishing touches that set CakeStar apart from everyone else.
If you are a sweet tweet person or have Facebook then I suggest you follow CakeStar (their Twitter handle is Cakestargirlz). These sweet but wickedly evil Queens of Confectionery will paste up the daily special treat of the day. It takes sweet teasing to a whole new height but I love it! A picture, as they say, is worth a 1,000 words. So check out these clips of Monja as she assembles and decorates a customized wedding cake. Life is sweet and so are these sisters!
Monja begins to build a cake!
Tools of the trade!
Voila! A wedding cake is born.
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