Project Bakeover

Episode 1

Cute Doesn't Pay the Bills

41 mins

Having immigrated from Japan ten years ago on her own, Keiko is the owner/operator of Kanadell Japanese Bakery in East Vancouver, BC. Roughly translated, kanadell means baking in harmony which is an important philosophy for Keiko and the shop. The other important things for Keiko are staying true to the Japanese palate for the sweets, which comprise only a minor portion of her wares and which are not as sweet as most western pastries, and to make everything as "cute" as possible, which is arguably why her "animal" decorated Japanese sweet buns are her most favorite items and the most popular with her customers. The time consuming nature of making such items reduces her time for other areas of the business, her ability to oversee the work of her employees, and to produce items such as cakes on a regular basis, she only making and selling cakes on Saturdays. Without any family support, she has only herself on who to rely, leading her to working long hours seven days a week without a profit to show for her efforts. Steve likes her baking but knows that he has to get her to streamline her baking to less labor intensive items, and to diversify her menu to have Japanese inspired western baked goods to appeal to a broader market, both which should allow her to make high profit margin cakes as a standard part of her menu every day and not just Saturdays. And Tiffany wants to help Keiko achieve her much desired cuteness to the front of house, Keiko admitting she not having the budget to focus on that aspect of the shop.