During the bleak month of December, a warmth filled the air on Teaneck’s Queen Anne Rd. as a new shop took over the space of the former Korn’s Bakery. Cake and Co., a custom cake boutique, delivers high-end cakes to the most discerning of customers.

The shop is founded and managed by Krystina Gianaris, a talented pastry chef who dreamed of opening a unique cake bakery. Krystina initially went to school for graphic and interior design, but was later inspired by her father, a chef, to return to school for a pastry arts degree. She furthered her studies with hands-on experience, interning at Pink Cake Box and then working at Carlos Bakery. Krystina also enjoyed competing in various competitions, and then met up with a private investor. Together, the concept of Cake and Co. was born. “We came up with this idea because there are no kosher, fancy cakes available,” Gianaris says. “We decided to fulfill this need.”

All cakes, cookies, cake-pops, and cupcakes are made-to-order, and Krystina’s talents and artistic abilities guarantee an original product. The bakery offers many options for flavor combinations, frosting colors, product design, and overall theme and style. No two cakes are ever the same.

“We accept up to five orders per weekend, and during the week, we work on those cakes,” Gianaris says, explaining the typical work-day in the bakery. It takes several days to complete the process from baking, to structure, then buttercreams or fillings, and finally the decorations. “One time it took us a month to prepare 150 mini, individual Grand Central clocks to crown a cake.” As a result of the meticulous process, orders must be given at least a week in advance.

Krystina does most of the work herself, although she does have a few interns working with her. All of the baking and decorating is done on premises, but the store is only open to customers by appointment only.

Cakes are dairy-free and nut-free, and gluten-free products can be made upon request. Cakes begin at $150. Cake pops start at $2.75 per piece, and cupcakes are $3.50 per piece, with a minimum order of around $50.00.

For more information, or to place an order, please visit www.cakeandconj.com.

By Sarah Abenaim