UConn’s Instagram recently posted a video of a Dairy Bar employee going to work making beautiful buttercream flowers. Meet the no longer anonymous cake decorating extraordinaire, Ali Javery.
Name: Ali Javery
Major: Political Science
Year: Senior
Hometown: Barrington, RI
Other involvement other than Dairy Bar: Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority, Uber Brand Ambassador, Intern for the CT General Assembly
When and what made you start cake decorating?
AJ: I actually started baking when I was really young. My grandfather taught me how to bake and I just fell in love with every aspect of it. In middle school, my school ran a father daughter bake sale every year. Both my dad and I are extremely innovative and like to think outside of the box, so we came up with some pretty crazy cake ideas, which allowed me to experiment with a bunch of different types of cake decorating tools, such as fondant, gum paste, etc. But really, I just love all kinds of baking, whether I’m whipping up some French macaroons or cookies, I’m just happy being in a kitchen; cake decorating just goes right along with the baking realm.
Did you join the Dairy Bar specifically because you knew you would have an opportunity to decorate cakes?
AJ: I had no idea when I started working at the Dairy Bar that they even did cakes. I was a transfer worker from the UC Cafe’s when the Dairy Bar needed help during finals. When I started working full time at the Dairy Bar last fall, one of the full timers mentioned that they needed help with cakes, and I asked if they could train me because I already had a lot of experience with baking.
What is your favorite part about decorating cakes?
AJ: My favorite part about decorating cakes is that I can get really creative and innovative with different designs. I especially love decorating general sale cakes because there is really no limit as to what I can put on a cake; one day I can make mermaid cakes, and the next I can do ombré rosette cakes.
Do you have a favorite cake you have ever decorated?
AJ: I think it would be hard for me to choose one favorite cake just because I honestly love all of them, and I’m ultimately proud of all of them. If I had to choose, I would say that mermaid cakes are my favorite.
Where do you get inspiration for your cakes?
AJ: I do a lot of looking on Pinterest and get inspiration from there. I can’t copy directly from Pinterest because the vast majority of cakes posted on there are regular sponge cakes – ice cream cakes are a completely different animal. You have to make sure you work fast because the ice cream will melt. We also only use buttercream frosting at the Dairy Bar. With regular cakes you can utilize gum paste and fondant, which make decorating easier. I also just like to ask people around the Dairy Bar what kind of cakes I should do. I’ve pulled inspiration from Disney movies, Lilly Pulitzer and I recently was on a dream catcher kick, too. It really just depends on the mood I’m in that day.
What happens when you leave the Dairy Bar?
AJ: I’m hoping to train a few people before I leave the Dairy Bar so we can keep making awesome cakes for our customers. I honestly wish I could stay there forever, because it’s really the best place to work on UConn’s campus. Some people (you know who you are) say that I should give up politics and open up a bakery, and perhaps maybe one day I’ll do just that. But right now my goal is to teach as many people at the Dairy Bar what I know so they can develop their own ideas and skills for cake decorating.
Here are a few more of Ali’s masterpieces:
All photos courtesy Ali Javery