Bringing Back Cakes of Dessert Past

Valerie Gordon, owner of Valerie Confections, is a dessert anthropologist who revives historic desserts. Her project began in 2009 when she was asked to recreate Blum's Coffee Crunch cake. Valerie's process involves researching old menus and gathering memories from locals to accurately recreate these desserts. Her work is driven by the emotional connection people have with these desserts, akin to reliving memories through music.

What is Valerie Gordon's profession besides owning Valerie Confections?

• Pastry Chef

• Dessert Anthropologist

• Dessert Historian

• Food Critic

Which cake did Valerie Gordon recreate for the Los Angeles Times magazine in 2009?

• Banana Shortcake

• Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake

• Blum's Coffee Crunch Cake

• Coffee Esta Sundae

How did the public react to the article about Blum's Coffee Crunch cake?

• They criticized the recipe

• They were indifferent

• They requested more recipes

• They made 125 phone calls expressing interest

Where does Valerie start her research process for resurrecting desserts?

• Local bakeries

• Old cookbooks

• Central Library's Menu Vault

• Online databases

What does Valerie find most fulfilling about her work?

• Creating new dessert recipes

• Gaining media attention

• Expanding her business

• Reliving sense memories and emotional connections