Meet Elyssa Attwood | Cake Artist & Pastry Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elyssa Attwood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elyssa, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Tortoise Cakes consequently made it’s slow yet determined debut when I decided to combine my passion & experience in the culinary as well as visual arts. I chose the name because it has ‘tort’ hidden in it; which makes me think of torte cake. A torte is a rich, multilayered cake, that is filled with whipped cream, buttercreams, mousses, jams, or fruits. These are the kind of decadent cakes I offer, along with cupcake minis and Italian macarons. I also thought it was different and simple enough to remember for my customers; I liked that it has a more androgynous vibe, because my clientele come from various backgrounds. Food and art are one of the universal ways to connect people. Having had the privilege of traveling and living in other countries, being exposed to amazing dessert, art, and as a beneficiary of great hospitality. I want to pull from those experiences and hope to share a glimpse of the broader culinary scene – one that is generous and sparks curiosity, while cultivating an appreciation for art and giving the community’s taste buds a fresh restart!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Prior to my baking, I had a career as a professional artist working in various mediums like: graphite, oil pastel, watercolor, acrylic paint, oil paint, and graphic, UX & UI design. The realism art genre was my strong suit, up until three years ago I started dabbling in impressionism and post-impressionism. I could complete my artwork more quickly and therefore convey meaning through my art as effectively as I would through realism. When I began working in an industrial bakery, the culinary arts grabbed my attention. Buttercream as a new medium to paint impressionist designs with my palette knife, so closely resembled my experience painting with thick oil paint, that I fell in love with the process. Then I worked for a privately owned cake shop as a full-time cake decorator, and found people were willing to pay more for my intricately adorned cakes than my art!
“Stop waiting for Friday, for summer, for someone to fall in love with you, for life. Happiness is achieved when you stop waiting for it, and make the most of the moment you are in now.” I admittedly was hung up on this notion of waiting; not from a place of contentment, rather from a place of unmet expectations. These derived from needs that were left unacknowledged/ignored. Because I had waited for people to open doors on my behalf. Up until 5 months ago, I had enough waiting on traditional employers to give me a chance. I decided to take a chance on myself, my skills as a professional artist, and knowledge from working in industrial as well as local bakeries, and launched Tortoise Cakes.
Rather than throwing more sugar into the batter, I use more fresh & rich ingredients and play with the flavor profile of my cakes, until I strike a balance between slightly sweet paired with either tangy, salty, or savory. My love for culture and background living abroad adds a unique spin on what would otherwise be a common cake, and common bakery experience. I started my bakery business for people who need beautiful cakes that aren’t compromised in taste, and as a creative outlet to support myself. Tortoise Cakes has gradually grown more reputable only through the relationships I have with people. I cannot emphasize enough the impression one leaves people with; how they make people feel is imperative to the success of their business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d recommend a visitor stay at Kinship Landing; an aesthetically clean bed & breakfast with great hospitality in the Springs. They should hit up Red Rock Canyon Open Space for their first hike to get acclimated to the elevation first, then hike less tourist infested trails within Helen Hunt Falls area. Food-wise I suggest Pho-N-Thai, Asian Cookery, and Piglatin Cocina. Then to end the evening with a bang, I’d drop into La Rumba in Denver, for their unbeatable Latin dance social scene!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to acknowledge the following: God for His unfailing love & grace in my life, The Sanctuary Church in Colorado Springs for encouragement & support, Tim Bennett and his kitchen & space for me to bake & create, Discord – UX House server community specifically for offering invaluable feedback & critique on my logo design/branding of my business. Olivia Graziano and Zach Murphy @birdsofpassageco for photographing my work. My girlfriend clan Lydia Attwood, Taryn Enos, Erica Ligocki, and Michelle Sage, for their encouragement and support. My parents John and Kelly Attwood for raising me in another country & culture, giving me a strong work ethic, morals, and modeling a faith; in which I’ve made my own.

Instagram: tortoisecakes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tortoisecakes/

Image Credits
Mikaela Stern @xaris.photography and Olivia Graziano and Zach Murphy @birdsofpassageco