Rafael Cakes & Sugar

My name is Rafael Ramirez. I am a cake designer from the Dominican Republic. I was introduced to the world of baking by my Grandmother, Ana Luisa de los Santos (or Encarnación, as we all knew her) when I was still a child. Encarnación was well known in our town for her local pastries, sweets and baked products.  I grew up helping her in the kitchen, learning her recipes, her skills, and her secret ingredients!.     Through the years I have had the opportunity to explore different decorating and baking techniques, and I have developed my own cake designing style.  I also had the pleasure of working very closely with one of the most reputable cake decorators in the Dominican Republic, Rita Fermin, who has been a teacher, a mentor, and the perfect supplement to my continued development as a baker and cake designer.   Rita Fermin is a valuable friend and a wonderful instructor.  Every now and then I spend a few weeks in the DR baking and designing with Rita, so catch me there next time.Rafael Cakes & Sugar came about after over 20 years of baking for fun and sharing my creations with friends and family.  My desing style takes an elegant twist and is classic and refined, which sets my cakes apart from the every-day bakery products.  I am a strong believer in quality over quantity and, for that reason, I am always in search for the most fresh and best quality ingredients, and I only use products that would meet my personal requirements. The best cakes do not come from low quality products.