ROSELAND — When the Food Network's "Cake Wars” airs Monday, Roseland native Yvonne Ivy-Stephens will host a viewing party — featuring the same slices of cake she baked for judges when she appeared on the show.
The pastry chef — who has served cake to some of the city's most famous residents, including President Barack Obama — was a contestant on the show and is hosting a watch party at 7 p.m. at the Godfrey Hotel, 127 W. Huron St. The event is free and open to the public.
[Provided/Yvonne Ivy-Stephens]
Ivy-Stephens founded Penthouse Sweets in 2014, which specializes in custom desserts like cakes, wedding cakes, cupcakes and dessert bars. The dessert studio is located in suburban Alsip.
She said the opportunity to be on the show was well worth it.
“It was a really fun time,” she said. “It was a great life and business experience.”
Unlike others in her field, she said she didn’t grow up baking.
“I don’t have one of those stories where I was in the kitchen with my grandmother baking,” she said. “My grandmother baked and my aunt is an amazing baker, but I wasn’t in the kitchen with them.”
Ivy-Stephens didn’t go to culinary school until much later in life. She was already married with three daughters. After 12 years working as a pharmacy tech, she said she wanted a career change.
“One day I was just sitting on the couch having a moment and just unhappy with my life because I was a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “A culinary commercial came on and I was like I’m really going to do it.”
Since graduating from Illinois Institute of Art Chicago, she calls that decision a life changer and the most amazing experience of her life.
In addition to Obama, she has made cake for Steve Harvey and major local corporations.
“The ride has just been amazing,” she said.
Before becoming as successful as she is now, she put in the time. Before opening her dessert studio, she was sometimes working five jobs simultaneously, so taking on part time jobs at bakeries, cupcake boutiques and more were normal.
“I wanted to condense as much experience as I could in a short amount of time,” she said. “I did any and every job I could get my hand on.”
Looking toward the future, Ivy-Stephens would like to open up another location for her business and eventually get her products into stores so she can become a household name.
While doing that, she said she wants to continue being an example for black girls.
“I really want them to have something that represents hard work and something they can look up to instead of what’s on television now because we’re depicted in a poor light,” she said.
Check out her full menu online at www.penthousesweetschicago.com.
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