Photography by Emma Bassill
Since opening The Caker over a decade ago, Jordan Rondel’s beautifully-decorated desserts have quickly taken over our Insta feeds and garnered her a cult following. Now based in LA, we talk to the cake queen about culinary lessons, food heroes and her love for vintage leather shorts.
My earliest memory of baking… was making gooseberry jam in Paris with my pappy which was then used in a tart I helped my granny make. I think I was about 5 years old, but I still remember the happiness I felt when I watched the tart come out of the oven, all golden and smelling like heaven.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be… an architect or an interior designer. My dad is an industrial engineer and I have always been incredibly inspired by architectural design and furniture. I’m someone who is really affected by my surroundings and I’ve always taken huge pride in the look and feel of my home and work space.
A kitchen rule I tend to break… It’s not a rule I like to break, but it’s one I do – I have beautiful German chefs knives but they are always blunt because I never take the time to get them sharpened. I will use this interview as a reminder to do that!
The best culinary lesson I’ve learned is… how to season perfectly. It’s taken me years to get this right, but I think I have it down to a fine art now.
My food heroes are… my grandparents. When I think of their cooking I think of pure comfort. Everything they create is made with the most tender touch and each ingredient has been thoughtfully selected, but somehow each dish comes together in the most carefree way, which lets the ingredients sing.
The last piece of clothing I bought was… a pair of vintage leather shorts.
I would describe my style as… casual post-wave on some days / LA biker chic on other days, which I think sums it up quite well.
My favourite pick-me-up… a large glass of wine!
The best book I read recently was… Everything Is Under Control: A Memoir with Recipes by Grant, Phyllis.
The song I have on repeat right now is… Crimson & Clover by Tommy James & The Shondells.
The biggest lesson I’ve learnt lately is… to slow down. I’m always rushing and always carrying a million things, which in turn means often dropping things. Slowing down and doing each task with more care and precision has really helped me lately.
If I didn’t live in Los Angeles… I always thought I’d live in New York – but I like it here!
My most cherished possession is… my great grandmother’s one-of-a-kind diamond ring, which I wear every day.
