After moving, Brooklyn to San Francisco in 1976, I began to cook for myself and enjoyed it. Mom did a fair bit of baking and I tried my hand at those recipes, as well.
Realizing that my early bird tendencies didn’t fit well with most restaurant work, I moved through a series of jobs at bakeries - cookies, cakes, and such. The household had been a Ron Jehu’s gallery, then design studio. Ron had regular dinner guests and events which gave me significant experience and was a confidence booster. I did a short stint baking desserts at a restaurant - and a restaurant in a hotel. And a few years cooking for a family two or three times a week.
"Kiss My Sweet..." 80s bakery Haight St, SF, CA. Baker and cake decorator. I was asked to make a bday cake for a drag queen...nothing more. I chose a dressing table theme - lipstick, perfume, gloves, etc. bought at a thrift store next door. They loved it! I had no idea what I was doing, or...
While baking...Living with a designer/gallery owner (Ron Jehu) who regularly hosted events. Great training and experience catering those! Got me out of my shell. and obviously Carmel loved her Farewell Cake!
...same for Maria! Carmel was married to artist Pepo Pichler.
I can't recall the event - shrimp cocktail, chinese chicken salad (likely prepared by Ron), olives, a plate of bean sprouts (?), maybe hummus, and a couple of spinach and ham filled pastries.
Michael, Ron and third roommate, Bob Word.
Ron's birthday cake - I asked if it was OK if I went architectural. I used columns used on wedding cakes, double layers of cardboard. It looks like we later added an extra support, I think it's a wood marking gauge?
The cake...in a freer moment...
Lemon Curd Tart