Rachel Z. Gulgen

Rachel Gulgen is a self taught cake designer living in Santa
Barbara, California, who specializes in custom wedding and special occasion
cakes. She has always had a passion for art and food. So much so that during
her childhood and teenage years, her mom would wake up to a messy kitchen and a
freshly baked cake (that may or may not have been half eaten). As she got older,
she would make cakes for friends and family just as a fun way to celebrate
life’s big moments.

Originally going to college to be an art teacher, Rachel was
able to develop her art skills in several areas. In doing so, she started
pushing boundaries and exploring ways that she could make her cakes more
interesting and unique. She began illustrating and sculpting them, trying new
techniques, and incorporating her knowledge of art into her passion for baking.
She devoured online videos and cake decorating shows as she started honing her
skill.

For a few years, Rachel had a small side business out of her
kitchen making cakes for friends and family, while working a full time job in a
hospital. It wasn’t until she moved to Santa Barbara, California in 2014
without a job lined up, that she decided to make cake decorating her priority and
dive in head first.

Over the years in Santa Barbara, Rachel has made thousands
of cakes, won several awards, and taken her career to new heights. She won the
title of Best Wedding Cake Shop in Santa Barbara 3 consecutive years, and
Couple’s Choice Award 2 years in a row.

In 2021 Rachel decided to open her own cake studio so she
can focus on the cakes that not only feed her passion, but also stand out as
unique, delicious works of art. Her love for cake designing continues to grow
and she is constantly looking for new ways to share her passion and creations.