Layers of a story
“Naked Cake with a Vintage Touch”
We decided to try something creative: combining a naked cake with a vintage cake style. While planning everything, we stumbled upon a café. Just a few photos made us feel it could be the place—but the moment we walked in, the space wrapped us with its climbing ivy, and the warmth of the host gave us the final confirmation. Pichak Café was the spot.
The very first person to sign up was Shabnam from Sweden. Of course, no one flies from Sweden to Canada just for a workshop—she simply wanted to send us her good energy. We decided to pass it on by putting her chair into a raffle to gift her spot to someone else.
Next came Nazanin, who joined with incredible energy. She moved quickly through each step of decorating, but her enthusiasm showed in every detail. As she said at the end, the experience felt like release and therapy. Despite her busy life, she stayed with us until the very last moment.
Niloufar, who had also joined our very first workshop, came back again. Since each workshop is unique, she decorated a totally different cake this time. Once again, with her classic taste and eye for detail, she created something that looked like a wedding cake.
Then came our first couple, Farshad and Sama. They had just recently started their relationship, which made watching them work together even more fun. They made sure both of their ideas came through in the design. This might have been the very first cake of their shared life together. We wish them happiness ahead.
Our second couple, Mahsa and Hadi, brought an extra glow into the room, arriving with a bright bouquet of sunflowers that carried autumn right into the space. Mahsa decorated carefully while Hadi supported her by her side. A talented designer, Mahsa turned every idea she had into decoration. She later told us she’d always wanted to try piping—and finally got the chance.
Our story took another lovely turn with Hana. This all started with Elham, who had joined our first workshop and loved it. This time, due to personal challenges, she couldn’t come, but wanted to send a gift of kindness. She introduced her close friend Hana to us. And just like that, Hana became our special guest—her constant smile now part of our photo memories.
Remember Shabnam’s seat? It went to Maryam, who won the raffle. She decorated her cake with the same care she puts into her paintings. When she brought it home, her son took the first bite and said it reminded him of the nostalgic cakes from stories and cartoons. That might have been the sweetest compliment of all.
At the very last moment, Negar and her young son Ersay joined us. Negar’s bright smile and Ersay’s childlike energy brought new spark to the room. He poured everything from his playful world into his cake. His creation, decorated with blue seashell chocolates to match his mom’s outfit, became one of the most unique cakes of the day. Excited, he immediately called his dad to say: “I’ve got a cake for you, and I’m bringing it home!”
But the story didn’t end there. One day, Leila told Shadi that a woman named Neda had shared one of our posts online. Shadi recognized the name instantly—an old college classmate. We hadn’t been in touch for years. Neda, without knowing who was behind Raindow Café, had simply felt drawn to share our post. When we reached out and reconnected, it was such a joyful surprise. Another reminder of how human connections can reappear in the most unexpected ways.
And so, the story of our second workshop was written—with each of you as a character. The cakes may be gone, but the smiles, the energy, and the bonds we created remain.
