Founded in Brooklyn, now based in the East Village, SOMA CAKES comes from Hiroyo Kuramata; an experienced custom cake designer and pastry chef.

Hiroyo followed her passion for the art of pastry from her hometown of Tokyo, Japan, all the way to New York City to attend the Institute of Culinary Education. While watching Iron Chef on television in NYC, desperate to secure a restaurant internship to complete her culinary training at ICE, Hiroyo decided to write a letter to the great Iron Chef, Morimoto. In what seems like something out of a movie, the letter reached chef Morimoto (who was working at the prestigious Nobu restaurant in Manhattan at the time) and Hiroyo was hired to work alongside him in the kitchen of Nobu. She transitioned from Morimoto, to the kitchen of the talented pastry chef Eric Bedoucha, as well as the fast-paced kitchen of Financier Patisserie. The hard work and long days only fueled her love for elegant pastry technique, and what better place to refine her skills than Paris.

Her proven tenacity, coupled with inherent passion and strive to continuously improve, and ultimately master, her craft continued to open doors in Paris. Hiroyo worked in several esteemed pastry shops in Paris, including the famed French Patisserie, Ladurée.

Eventually Hiroyo returned to New York City, the city she feels most embraces her international experience, innovation and style. While working in several of the top custom cake shops in the city (including Betty Bakery and Empire Cake) she was able to refine her cake sculpting and decorating skills, incorporating her years of experience in classic pastry technique.

A mother of two, Hiroyo understands the needs of her clients and the importance of the trust they place in her to create a unique experience, just for them. She loves and lives for every step of the process: baking delicious cakes, designing, sculpting, painting, and most importantly, making her clients smile with her meticulously crafted creations. She is honored and grateful to play a role in creating beautiful memories that call for cake.