In this deliciously inspiring episode of The Realtor Who Whines, Rashelle sits down over a glass of Hawkins Cellars wine with Chef Sugar, the creative force behind Sugar Land in Oregon. From surviving Hodgkin’s lymphoma to graduating from culinary school and building a thriving custom dessert business, Chef Sugar shares her journey of resilience, creativity, and flavor innovation.
They cover everything from bourbon caramel and sweet potato pie to savory-sweet cheesecakes and daring flavor mashups like chocolate cake with electric filling, caramel, and toffee, or a Waldorf cheesecake infused with garlic and pear. Chef Sugar explains her fully custom process from flavor brainstorming to design and how she balances artistry with business strategy.
Listeners will pick up valuable entrepreneurial lessons: knowing when to say “no” to a client, charging what you’re worth, keeping overhead low, supporting other local businesses, and never sacrificing quality (even when ingredient prices spike). She talks about working out of a sterile kitchen, collaborating with other chefs, using edible flowers, and even creating vegan, gluten-free versions of classically dairy-heavy desserts like tiramisu.
From managing large-scale orders with a two-calendar system, to taking time off without a storefront, to growing her business 40% through networking, Chef Sugar proves that success is as much about relationships and strategy as it is about skill. She also teases her upcoming dessert membership program designed for small businesses and event planners, and shares how locals and out-of-state customers can order from her.
If you’re hungry for inspiration (and maybe a little cake), this episode serves up decadent layers of business wisdom, mouthwatering stories, and genuine connection.
Thank you for listening! Connect and collaborate with Realtor Rashelle on any of her social media platform pages > https://linktr.ee/RealtorRashelle
