While growing up in Dubai, Dana Alfahham spent her free time baking, making anything from mini cupcakes to three-tiered cakes on a regular basis. At first it was just a hobby, yet overtime she continued to advance her craft both in Dubai and England, eventually becoming an authorized cake decorating instructor abroad.
“It just seemed natural to continue with my passion when I moved to the U.S.,” says the now-South Riding resident who is the proud owner of Dana’s Cake Shoppe, a local bakery that has been offering gourmet desserts, freshly baked goods and special-occasion cakes in the region for nine years.
With the simple ingredients of butter, sugar, flour, eggs and cream, Alfahham creates intricately detailed cakes for any type of event, with weddings being the most common. Come spring, you’ll be able to witness the artist at work for the first time, as Alfahham is opening a brick-and-mortar location at the Village at Leesburg.
“We are planning an open-kitchen design, which is currently being constructed right now,” says Alfahham. “I want customers to see the cakes being made and be part of that experience.”
In addition to full-sized cakes, Alfahham plans on offering a variety of other baked goods, including ready-to-go slices that customers can enjoy in the small eating area of the space, as well as macarons, cookies, eclairs and more.
For customers planning a future wedding, Alfahham suggests booking her services about six months in advance, as she bakes and designs each custom cake by herself. When the new shop opens, she has plans to hire a full-service baking team.
While the exact date is not finalized, Alfahham is hoping for a mid-April grand opening. Until then, Dana’s Cake Shoppe will remain open for business, serving up anything from a graduation-themed cake featuring stacked books made of fondant to a five-tiered wedding cake for your special day. // 1604 Village Market Blvd. SE, Unit 125, Leesburg
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