The Sweet Life

Armed with a scraper and a box filled with decorative delights, Melissa du Plessis – owner and mastermind behind the bespoke cake studio Honey Bee Baker – is shaking up the industry, one exquisite creation at a time

- Roberta Thatcher

Bent over a freshly baked macaron, Melissa painstakingly coats her creation with meticulous golden brushstrokes. “Gold leaf makes everything look amazing,” she enthuses. And judging from her artwork, I completely agree.

When I ask Melissa if she’s naturally artistic, she bursts out laughing and exclaims: “Not at all! You should see my handwriting… it’s terrible.” I find this admission hard to believe as I watch her place macarons and sugar crystals atop a perfectly iced cake, standing back every now and again to assess her work of art. “I used to tell people that I’m not at all creative, but somehow with cakes, it just comes to me,” she says. “My sister sums it up well – she claims you first have to find your specific art form and, once you do, it will all come together.”

While baking is clearly her forté, selling cakes was never part of the plan for Melissa, who is actually a qualified industrial engineer. Having spent the past few years working for the family business – maintaining mines in Rustenburg – it was Melissa’s husband, Reinhardt, who spotted her talent in the kitchen and began punting her creations at work. “He kept sharing my cupcakes and muffins with his colleagues, and soon they were all asking for price lists,” she laughs.

Although hesitant at first, Melissa decided to take a leap of faith – thanks to Reinhardt’s encouragement – and sold her first cake in October 2016. “I thought to myself, ‘What? Someone is going to pay me for doing something I love? That’s so cool!’” she beams.