Meet London’s ‘dessert architect’ and founder of Dee’s Basement, Dee Omole

There’s always something supremely impressive about the phrase ‘self taught’, which when attached to a person doing something different, grants the beholder an impressive weight. At only 25, Londoner and founder of Dee’s Basement, Dee Omole, has already built up such a standing, slice by slice, with graphic smiley ‘bento’ cakes, personalised retro cherry and buttercream-clad towers, and distinctive, delicately painted and edible flower-adorned white chocolate covered madeleines — as well as collaborations with Liberty, Longchamp and House of Sunny.

So how does one realise they’ve got what it takes? For Omole, it was a little by chance.‘I studied business management and entrepreneurship, and my final year project was to start an actual business. I’d been making cakes for family and friends, so I thought that would be the easiest thing.’ After dabbling with the concept for a couple of years, the pandemic forced Omole out of her role as a restaurant pastry chef and into working on Dee’s Basement full time. She hasn’t looked back, and the self-titled ‘dessert architect’ has found her stride. ‘I would say my style is definitely a mix of nostalgic, traditional cake styles, but mixing it up and making it modern with Korean and Japanese influences.’

You can get your hands on Omole’s sought after concoctions via post nationwide, collection from E10, or find them at Jenki Matcha, Palm Vaults and Kuro Coffee. And don’t forget to keep an eye on her website for baking workshops, of which she’ll be launching more soon. (deesbasement.com)