NAOMI Anderson has always loved baking. She remembers weekends and holidays spent at the home of her aunt, a home economics teacher, making pastries and other dishes with her cousins.

"As a child, the idea that you could make cakes and other pastries from scratch blew my mind. It was like magic, so from a young age, I knew this was what I wanted to do."

The 28-year-old entrepreneur from Morvant spoke with WMN at her recently opened bakery, Unicakery, on Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, on July 18 – her birthday.

[caption id="attachment_1097385" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A Unicakery brownie. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]

With its whimsical pink and white decor, Anderson said Unicakery officially opened on July 10. The two-woman team is made up of herself and former trainee turned assistant Mikel Tappin.

"I remember the first time I saw the Food Network and learned that you could actually pursue a career in food. I was about seven or eight years."

Anderson describes her family as talented in the kitchen and credits her aunts and grandmother for her love of cooking and baking.

"My aunt gave me my first recipe book and baking tools. Some of those baking tools I use today in my business."

She studied at the TT Hospitality and Tourism Institute, where she pursued the culinary arts programme first. But she couldn't escape her love for pastries and cake artistry.

"The idea was always to be well-rounded. However, over time, I decided to specialise in desserts fully and strictly focus on becoming a pastry chef. I also completed the baking and pastry arts programme there."

Her Unicakery journey began at home, providing special-occasion cakes and desserts.

In 2017, she felt her career and business were progressing. At that time, she also had a job at a patisserie, a place she credits with teaching her more techniques and skills she would use to improve her craft.

That same year, she described the response as overwhelming, and she said it became challenging as her job was demanding.

"In November 2017, I took a leap of faith and left my job. I branded my desserts under the name Unicakery, which always seemed like a beautiful and perfect business name for me."

[caption id="attachment_1097387" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Red velvet cheesecake. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]

She said the name came to her in a dream and is a hybrid of the words unicorn, cake, and bakery. Anderson always loved unicorns growing up and called it a "unique childhood obsession."

She also loves art and painting, and says her baking is an artistic expression.

"Having my own baking studio/creative space where others can come in and experience the magic is one of my greatest accomplishments."

In 2023, Anderson won the Female Youth Entrepreneur of the Year from the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute.

She describes Unicakery as a "multi-purpose baking studio," saying the term is more suitable.

"Our main offering right now is speciality classes and workshops. We invite people to come and learn