Radio Cherry Bombe: The Cake Picnic Phenomenon With Founder Elisa Sunga

Today, we’re airing a Radio Cherry Bombe episode with amateur baker and Google UX expert Elisa Sunga, the founder of Cake Picnic. She was hoping 15 folks would attend the very first Cake Picnic; more than 300 folks RSVP’d. The first rule of Cake Picnic is simple: “No cake, no entry.” Today, people are DM’ing and emailing her from around the world, asking for Elisa to bring Cake Picnic to their town. She already has a 7,000-person waitlist for the gathering scheduled for New York. Elisa joins host Kerry Diamond to unpack the popularity of Cake Picnic and the unexpected momentum behind it. They explore how her background in UX design at Google informs her approach to community-building, her online persona, and the story behind the Bucket List Bake Club. Plus, she shares how Cake Picnic has become a reflection of a broader cultural hunger for joy, connection, and creative expression.Jubilee L.A. tickets are on sale now!Summer Tastemaker Tour in Nashville on 8/15Get The Power IssueVisit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Elisa: Instagram, Cake Picnic, Salted RyeMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Lisa Donovan, the award-winning writer, pastry chef, and food columnist for The New York Times. Lisa’s culinary career has redefined what it means to be a Southern baker and her acclaimed memoir, “Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger,” is a must-read.She joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her childhood as an “Army brat” traveling around Europe and the U.S. and how she fell in love with food from a young age. She discusses her culinary career, what Southern “church cakes” are, and why she loves long-form narrative writing. Then, the duo dive into Lisa’s strawberry layer cake—a simple, colorful dessert that carries the sweetness of nostalgia in every bite.Thank you to Nordic Ware for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. Use code CherryBombe15 for 15% off your order. Click here for Lisa’s Strawberry Layer Cake recipe.Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Jubilee L.A. tickets are on sale now!Get our Power Issue!Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Lisa: Instagram, recipes, “Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger” memoirMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Rebecca Firkser—a Brooklyn-based recipe developer, writer, and food stylist. Rebecca’s debut cookbook, “Galette!: Sweet and Savory Recipes as Easy as Pie,” was just released and it’s an ode to the endlessly adaptable, always impressive pastry she calls the most “riffable” of all. Rebecca joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her path through the food world, her first galette (a plum beauty), and the special role her mom played in shaping her love of baking. Then, they dive into Rebecca’s Sour Cherry & Campari Galette from “Galette!” It’s a rustic bake perfect for summer.Thank you to Nordic Ware for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. Use code CherryBombe15 for 15% off your order. Click here for Rebecca’s Sour Cherry & Campari Galette recipe.Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Get our Power Issue!Jubilee L.A. tickets go on sale July 1stVisit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Rebecca: Instagram, Substack, “Galette!” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Melanie Johnson, a baker, photographer, and food writer based in London. She’s also a columnist at Country Life magazine and the author of “Bundt: From Everyday Bakes to Fabulous Celebration Cakes.” Melanie joins host Jessie Sheehan to chat about her lifelong love of bundt cakes and why they’re the perfect baked good for beginner bakers. Then, the duo walk through Melanie’s Chocolate & Vanilla Marble Bundt with Milk Chocolate Glaze recipe, and she shares the secret to greasing your Bundt pan properly.Thank you to Nordic Ware for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. Use code CherryBombe15 for 15% off your order. Click here for Melanie’s Easiest Chocolate & Vanilla Marble Bundt with Milk Chocolate Glaze recipe.Summer Tastemaker Tour in Austin on 6/27Get The Power Issue!Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Sign up here for Jubilee L.A. updates.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Melanie: Instagram, Country Life Magazine column, “Bundt” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today, we welcome back award-winning pastry chef, cookbook author, and restaurateur Joanne Chang to the show! Joanne is the force behind the beloved Flour Bakery & Cafe, which now boasts 10 locations across the Boston/Cambridge area, and the co-owner of Myers + Chang, a celebrated Asian fusion restaurant in Boston’s South End.Joanne joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her path from a childhood with few sweets to becoming one of America’s most respected bakers, her evolving menu at Flour—including the new Milk & Honey Pound Cake and Embrace Chai Morning Bun—and the cookie-focused cookbook she’s currently working on, which will be out next year. Get our new Power Issue, out now! Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Sign up here for Jubilee L.A. updates.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Joanne: Instagram, Flour Bakery & Cafe, Myers + ChangMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Renato Poliafito, the creative force behind Ciao, Gloria, the beloved bakery and café in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and Pasta Night, its cozy pasta-slinging counterpart right across the street. A two-time James Beard Award nominee and co-author of multiple cookbooks, Renato released his first solo book, “Dolci!: American Baking with an Italian Accent,” last year as a tribute to his Italian American roots and his deep affection for Italy.Renato joins host Jessie Sheehan to chat about his childhood trips to Italy, the flavors that shaped his palate, and the evolution of his dessert style. Then, the duo walk through his recipe for Spumoni Loaf from “Dolci!”Click here for Renato’s Spumoni Loaf recipe.Get The Power Issue!Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Sign up here for Jubilee L.A. updates.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Renato: Instagram, Ciao, Gloria, “Dolci!” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Susan Sarich, founder and CEO of SusieCakes, the nostalgic bakery known for its made-from-scratch Americana desserts. Since opening the first SusieCakes’ location in 2006, Susan has expanded the brand across the U.S. with over 30 locations in California, Texas, and Tennessee. Susan joins host Jessie Sheehan to share the heartfelt story of how her two grandmothers inspired her baking career and her business. Then, the duo dives into SusieCakes’ signature Vanilla Celebration Cake recipe, a four-layer confetti-filled vanilla cake topped with the bakery’s signature retro-blue buttercream, which was inspired by Susan’s grandmother’s vintage Pyrex mixing bowl.Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine to get our summer issue!Sign up here for Jubilee L.A. updates.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Susan: Instagram, SusieCakesMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Bobbie Lloyd, the CEO and Chief Baking Officer of the legendary Magnolia Bakery in New York City. Bobbie is also a cookbook author, and her latest book, “The Magnolia Bakery Handbook Vol. 2: Icebox Desserts,” was released earlier this year.  Bobbie joins host Jessie Sheehan to share the origin story of the bakery and how it became a global dessert empire, including how the show “Sex and the City” turned it from a local cupcake shop to an international sensation. Bobbie also walks us through the recipe for Magnolia’s famous banana pudding—yes!—the recipe everyone can’t get enough of. Click here for the Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding recipe.Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Sign up here for Jubilee L.A. updates.Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine to get our summer issue!Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Bobbie: Instagram, Magnolia Bakery, ”The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is entrepreneur and ice cream queen Pooja Bavishi of Malai Ice Cream, a Brooklyn-based brand redefining frozen desserts with bold South Asian flavors. She’s also the author of the new cookbook “Malai: Frozen Desserts Inspired by South Asian flavors.” Pooja joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her chai-inspired “hybrid identity,” her passion for experimenting with unconventional flavor pairings, and the ginger and star anise ice creams that sparked the inspiration to create Malai. Then, the duo dive into her recipe for Malai Drumsticks from her book, which incorporates Spiced Peanut Crunch Ice Cream, Jaggery Cones, homemade Magic Shell, and Peanut Chikki. Click here for Pooja’s Malai Drumsticks recipe.Thank you to Ladurée for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine to get our Power Issue!Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Pooja: Instagram, Malai, “Malai” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Nicole Rucker, the award-winning pastry chef and owner of L.A.’s cult-favorite bakery Fat + Flour. Nicole is also the author of the new cookbook, “Fat + Flour: The Art of a Simple Bake.” Nicole joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about falling out of love with baking during the pandemic and how her new book helped her rediscover the joy in it. She breaks down her revolutionary “cold butter method” for foolproof pie dough and walks Jessie through her Blueberry with Lavender and Cream Cheese Crumble Pie recipe from “Fat + Flour.”Click here for Nicole’s Blueberry with Lavender and Cream Cheese Crumble Pie recipe. Thank you to Ladurée for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Sign up here for Jubilee L.A. updates.Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine to get our summer issue!Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Nicole: Instagram, Fat + Flour L.A., "Fat + Flour" cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes cookbook