Earned Relevance

CakeLove: Warren Brown Answers Relevant Questions

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” Jackie DeShannon first sang those lyrics in 1965, but Warren Brown, founder and owner of CakeLove, is working to spread sweet -with an emphasis on sweet -love to anyone whose palate appreciates a piece of heaven made from scratch.  The former host of the Food Network’s “Sugar Rush” spun away from a successful career as a litigator to launch what is now a mini custom bakery empire with seven locations in and around the Washington Metropolitan region’s more eclectic neighborhoods.  Warren’s outlook on his dulcet delights is simple, “We’re about chocolate, strawberries, vanilla, almonds…the kind of pure flavors that aren’t busy.”  No fuss. No frills.

We sat down with him (virtually) to learn about the man behind the baker, and true to his litigator self, his answers were as uncomplicated as his desserts.  We appreciated that, btw.

Basic info:

Full Name: Warren Brown
Hometown: Cleveland OH
Last school attended: George Washington University Law School
What you consider your career to be: Entrepreneur

…getting started.

What was the “aha” moment like when you said, “What the hell, I’m going to give it a shot (follow my dream)!”?

I was waiting to get picked up from JFK with a cake in hand thinking about how many people commented on the cake I carried on board my flight. So many people in NY and DC said the same thing, marveling at the idea of homemade baked goods. I figured if I just kept baking from scratch the way people love it when it’s homemade, then people would continue to be drawn in. That’s when it clicked for me.

When you got your break in the business, who was the person who took a shot on you? What do you think they saw in you?

Judy Weinraub who was then with the Washington Post saw something in my story and ran with it.

Describe that first moment when you were doing what you love and you felt like you made the right decision.

The right choice… not sure, but I know when I did have a doubt. I saw a friend who was a part time musician play with his band. I told him that he inspired me and I had quit my job as a lawyer. He was taken aback and couldn’t believe it. Not in a good way either. That’s when I gulped and said, “uh-oh!”

At this very moment, are you passionate about what you are doing?
Yes, I am.. But it’s a wide range of things that I do, not just bake. Running a business is fascinating and I enjoy it even when it’s tiring, difficult, and without easy answers.

…inspiring to you.

What (who) inspires you?

Peace and quiet inspires.
Witnessing hard work and effort inspires.
Meeting people and talking with strangers inspires.

What’s the most unique request for a dessert you received?

 Stumper. People come to me with requests for the classics. Cake is not like plated desserts where pastry chefs invent dishes for people from another planet. We’re about chocolate, strawberries, vanilla, almonds, kind of pure flavors that aren’t busy. 

Who do you admire? (No mom or dad allowed)
Richard Branson.

Gadget(s) of choice?
Recently, the handheld puree tool. I don’t even know the name, but it purees everything in a jiffy. And it makes great soups.

…so disappointing.

What’s one thing you’ve done to disappoint yourself?
Cut my locks off years ago. But lately I’ve been thinking of doing it again but for different reasons.

What do others do that disappoints you?
It’s disappointing when people refuse to accept that cake tastes better at room temperature.

Which part of your career could you give up in an instant?
Paying the bills.

Which dessert do you make to cheer up yourself ?
That’s not how I approach dessert. I eat to enjoy food for how it tastes. I look forward to it, but it’s not substitute therapy. That’s not healthy.

…leave ‘em with this.

How do you deal with adversity?
Take it head on. Weigh it for merit and revise what I need to in the business to improve. Never take it personally.

What quote/saying are you best known for?
“I mean…” when I disagree but want to be nice about it.

What do you do when you are not building your empire?
Run, cook at home, watch 24.

What’s next for you?
Writing a second cookbook.

Where can we find you online?
I don’t tool around much online.

If you had one last song to sing, line to deliver, speech to give, or cake to prepare for a waiting audience or client, what would you leave them with?
Fever to Tell, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The whole album. Just a lot of good loud noise.

 
Editor’s note: If you’re ever in the Washington, DC area, visit Warren’s spot Love Café’ on U Street. If you just want to taste some of the best baked goods available, you can have CakeLove goods shipped to you.  Warren’s new cookbook is available CakeLove: How to Bake Cakes from Scratch. Find it here.