Sweet Escape operation is finally back in full swing

Sweet Escape, run by manager and main baker Malyssa Castro, center, and partners and cake decorators Seiji Sonoda and Jessica Sonoda pose after their re-opening. (Daisy Demapan)

The boutique, run by manager and main baker Malyssa Castro with partners Seiji Sonoda, Jessica Sonoda, and Erica Thornburgh, said the closure in the last few months was a trying time for their business.

“We’ve been closed for months but we couldn’t open immediately because our appliances were damaged…due to the humidity and power outages. We had to throw everything away” and basically started from scratch, said Seiji Sonoda, who is also the outlet’s cake decorator.

The business originally opened on Nov. 11, 2011, with sisters Jessica Sonoda and Thornburgh taking the lead, but Seiji Sonoda said it felt like they were opening for the very first time again.

When asked how it all began, he said that business has always been in their blood. “We’ve always had this desire from our parents since the time of the Chamorro restaurant they opened many years ago located on the strip [now called Paseo De Marianas] but the whole concept for the boutique started with my sisters,” he said.

Seiji Sonoda went to the famed culinary school Le Cordon Bleu and returned home to take part in the business, which all started with cupcakes.

“It was Seiji who shared all his techniques with us and so we kept experimenting with our recipes,” said his sister, Jessica Sonoda.

After much trial and error, they came up with a recipe for delicately crafted fondant cakes that conforms to the weather of Saipan without taking away the decadence of the dessert.

Everything is made from scratch and custom cakes are done entirely freehand.

“It does take us a little longer,” Seiji said, but that’s one the reasons behind the boutique idea. “It’s a very intimate experience and we like to get to know our customers by name,” he said.

“Eventually, people were asking us to make cakes and so our primary business became orders and a lot of our flavor ideas were inspired by our customers,” he said, stating that over 85 flavors have been concocted since their opening four years ago.

“We are now compiling a list of these flavors for our customers to choose from,” he said.

The siblings would like to start soon with made-to-order dessert dishes for dining.

Today they offer a wide variety of pull-apart cakes, 3D cakes, custom cakes, and tablescaping services to bring out the character and personality of their cakes for any event.

According to Seiji Sonoda, one of their biggest supporters in the success of the business is their cousin Malyssa Castro, who serves as the main baker and the front service where customers have a chance to taste their best selling flavors. “She has been supportive of the business since day one,” he said.

Sweet Escape is inviting everyone to drop by for refreshing teas, cookies, one-of-a kind cupcakes and cake creations available daily. It is located behind the former Jollibee restaurant building in Garapan.

For more information, add them on Facebook, call 233-3657 or log on to www.sweetscape670.com.