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A Pinch of Spirit Baking Co. Reviews

A Pinch of Spirit Baking Co.

A Pinch of Spirit Baking Co.

Long Beach, CA
4.1 out of 5 rating, 14 Reviews
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Reviews

4.1 out of 5 rating
14 Reviews
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    4 out of 5 rating
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78% Recommended by couples

Awards

14
  • P
    Penelpoe Sent on 03/08/2009
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    My NEW HUSBAND :) and I were referred to APOS by a few friends that had cakes made and parties planned by these gals. I must say, Spirit is one of the most down-to-earth, sweet person you will probably meet in this business. My husband commented to me on her ability to make you feel welcomed and comfortable. We originally met for a cake tasting and later found that she and her sisters did prett much everything from cake to planning the entire wedding. As for the cake, it was AMAZINGLY delicious and by far, the moistest! We chose a clean modern design, and APOS niled it! They catered, did our centerpieces and bridal bouquets, invitations and thank you notes. We now cant wait for for our next cake... perhaps a babyshower cake!

    Spirit, if you read this, thank you so much for such a worry-free experience. You are awesome, good luck on your business!
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    Mariah Sent on 09/15/2008
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    Hi Spirit! This is Mariah and Lamont. We just wanted to say thatnk you so much for all of your hard work in making our cake such a success. We know we made alot of very last minute changes, but we want you to know that you were absolutely fabulous. Everyone kept asking us about the cake girl! Not only was it tall and beautiful like we asked, it was also magnificently delicious, just like we remembered. We look forward to our 1st year anniversary cake!

    Good luck to you and your business. We wish you much success in all of your endeavors. We totally recommend your services to brides, and everyone else who is reading this review. Take care Spirit!!!
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    Shantell Sent on 08/25/2008
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    Okay, so it took me all day to write this review because there are so many positive attributes that A Pinch of Spirit has obtained. All I could sum it up to was that Spirit is absolutely an answered prayer. She literally lives out her name. My fiance, now husband, and I found the perfect cake when we met this lady. Not only was she a professional, but she was amazingly sweet, patient and everything else you could pray for during this stressful time.

    We just got married this past weekend and what we saw when we made our entrance was a beautiful cake that EVERYONE kept raving about. It was sooooooo moist, delicious and beautiful. I have already recommended Spirit to a few of my girlfriends and family! I cant believe that anyone would attempt to sabotage Spirit and her business. As humans, no one is perfect, we all make mistakes. If this was the same Spirit that we met, we believe that no harm was inteneded!! So, if you want to see our wedding photo, please email me @shantell.dukain@gmail.com

    We wish her all of the luck in the world. Spirit, you are highly recommended by Josh and Shantell Dukain. Thank you so much for making our day even more magical.
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  • J
    Joyce Sent on 08/05/2009
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    Spirit is the best person ever to work with. Spirit answered all my prayers when it came to my wedding cake my sister and I went to the cake tasting and oh my God we were in love the cake was so good and moist the day of my wedding I walked in to see the most beautiful cake I have ever seen Spirit you are the bomb I have recommended all of my family and friends to Spirit and they have been satisfied with her cakes also I believe since Spirit has done my wedding cake I have got my kids bday cakes my bday cake my sister babyshower cake and on and on I will never go any where else to get my cake Spirit you are the bomb once again highly recommended.
  • M
    Marissa Sent on 02/04/2008
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    Wow! By reading the review below makes me wonder if we went to the same place. In spite of what was written, Spirit is absolutely great. When Nick and I met her, she was very personal and patient. We tought her portfolio was very nice! When we finally decided on what we wanted, we were blown away! RED VELVET! RED VELVET! Yes, that was our fav, red velvet. During the tasting, all of her cakes were delicious and the moistest we had tasted.

    When the cake arrived, it was better than what we expected. My guests are still inquiring... I would definitely reccommend Spirit to future brides, and unlike the previous bride, Muriel, I was completely satisfied. I was actually referred to A Pinch of Spirit by a friend of mine who also loves her cakes and with my experience, I will deinitely use her again. If you wish, please feel free to contact me, so that I may send you a photo of my fab cake. Good luck brides!
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    Jenny Sent on 05/13/2009
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    Spirit is a great person and a wonderful baker! My wedding cake was delicious and fresh. I could not give Spirit too much time to prepare my cake, but she did an awesome job in a short time. My husband, I, and all our guests loved the wedding cake.
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    Anna Sent on 03/05/2008
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    This is a long awaited acclamation for probably one of the best bakers out there. We all hear those horror stories of how crazy and hectic planning a wedding can be, especially when you are planning one on a budget. I was perhaps at the brink of a major breakdown trying to look for a beautiful and tasty wedding cake when I came across wedding wire. The catchiest name I saw was A Pinch of Spirit, and so I checked out her beautiful site. I already knew that I had too much respect already to comprimise the artistic talent for the cake budget I was looking for.

    I took a chance and sent in my information, and to my surprise a very kind voice calls me back. I explained to her my budget, and I just couldn't believe how understanding and helpful she was to me. She is really going to get really big with the talent she has. Not only do the cakes look gorgeous, but they taste "OH SO GOOD!!!" My relatives are still talking about how good the cake was, and that's pretty rare. She has a wide variety you could choose from, and a plethora of custom designs to fit what you want. She was sooo nice, and I really appreciate what she had done for me. She basically let me feel good about my wedding again.

    All I really needed and all one really does need is a Pinch of Spirit! Thanks again Spirit!!!!!
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    Jesse Sent on 07/20/2007
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    This was by far the moistest and delicious cake I have had! Spirit (the owner) is such a great person to work with. She is creative and very detail oriented, oh and very professional! :) She most importantly LISTENED to what my fiance and I were looking for in our wedding cake. Everything we discussed about the cake was exactly how we discussed when she and her team arrived to set it up. I can't wait to celebrate another occassion! She definitely has my business!

    Jesse P.
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    Ashley Sent on 07/13/2007
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    Finding the perfect cake was a breeze when I called A Pinch of Spirit Baking Services! She was very professional, and VERY affordable. She takes her time in preparing exactly what you requested with no pressure ordering! Her entreprenuership is inspiring. She made our cake tasting very comfortable and hassle free. The cakes were absolutely magnificent... the moistest cake we have ever tasted. I would and have recommended her to everyone we know!!!
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    Willow Sent on 07/27/2007
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    Highly Recommend. Everyone love it!

    A Pinch of Spirit Baking Co.'s reply:

    Good Morning!

    Thank you so much for the review! When did we provide services to you? It is great to be recommended by others!

    Enjoy your day,

    Spirit Wallace
    Owner
  • A
    Amber Sent on 07/31/2010
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    A Pinch of Spirit is yummy yummy. We had a beautiful 3 tier cake. Cream color with Black polka dots and red ribbon made a fondent. Absolutely stunning and it fit me perfectly. They were so nice and helpful when it came to the tasting. I am sooo picky and was probably a pain in their behinds.
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    Muriel Sent on 01/02/2008
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    Spirit is a good person, and was very nice while planning our wedding cake. She was very professional and worked within our budget. Her portfolio photography was not very good, nor descriptive of detail, but we took our chance. We knew we could not afford bakeries or pastry chefs of infamous notoriety with obviously exceptional quality to their work, and so decided to trust Spirit and help with her up and coming business. We own our own business and understand how difficult it can be to just get a chance to prove what you can do well. The cake was an important part to our wedding as the topper was very special and set off our entire theme; we are also people who pay attention to detail because we program and design for a living, and you probably understand how planning a wedding usually comes down to details.

    I am sad to say that on the day of the wedding, we were very disappointed. We had given Spirit a very specific cake to create; a basic copy of one I had found online. We wanted to design our own, but did not end up having time to give her the sketches, so we went with our favorite design and she said she could make it.

    I was told we would have a "beautiful cake"... We agreed on what would be changed from the photo (size, color, and "edible glitter" to match our cake topper). We were told we would have a cake stand and that the fondant layer would be "very thin" because she knew that we preferred buttercream. Buttercream was apparently not possible for a November wedding outdoors.

    As we walked into the reception area, the first thing we saw was the cake, and we both had the same reaction - shock and disappointment. Our first dance was taken up by us talking about what in heavens happened to it, that it was nothing like we wanted, and I told my new husband that I hope the photographer only takes shots of our gorgeous topper.

    Spirit was not able to do the design details at all; the glitter did not match the topper, but instead looked like ice cream sprinkles; the cake was crooked, not the right color, had a silver cardboard "plate" and not a stand; the fondant was much thicker than expected and guests commented on its taste (like we knew they would); and to top it off, I had to see macro photos of it afterwards.

    We had already paid her in full, we did not contact her for a refund, and we don't want one. I was hoping we would get a phone call, email, or letter explaining her side of the story - why did we not have the cake stand? why was it crooked? why was it not ivory, but almost a light shade of pink? why was the "glitter" actually *sprinkles*? why were the design details completely absent?

    We heard nothing from her, no apology, no explanation. So now I feel I needed to write this review so that others would pay close attention in doing business with her. This is not an attack on her as a person, but I suspect she should take it personally as her work is a reflection of her business.

    I'm sorry, but I would not recommend A Pinch of Spirit. If you wish, please feel free to contact me as I have photos of what we wanted and what we received.
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    Shantese Sent on 09/15/2008
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    *********DO NOT USE A PINCH OF SPIRIT BAKING COMPANY**********

    I used A Pinch of Spirit to do a babyshower cake, (just like the one shown in chocolate and white on this page, only i wanted pink and chocolate), in basic plain white cake with buttercream frosting. Well, the morning of the babyshower, 8:30 a.m., I got a call from Spirit, saying that its crunch time, and that I had to pick another cake flavor because the plain vanilla was not turning out right. Well, I chose yellow instead of the plain white. The babyshower started at 2:00 p.m., The told me that she would have the cake there no later than 2:00 p.m. Well, the cake didnt arrive until 4:15 p.m. That would have been fine, until when we cut into the first tier of the cake, and the cake was still raw, uncooked! How could a baker not know that the cake is not done?!?!?! As I began to cut into the second tier, I began to notice that the second tier of the cake was chocolate! Not only did i not get what i paid for, and it looked like she had done a rush job on my cake, as it looked nothing like the picture, as promised. it was a total disaster, as the mother-to-be is allergic to chocolate, and it was very embarrassing, to say the least. I immediately called Spirit to let her know, and she said that she would give me back my money, for delivering such a terrible product, but as of today, no money has been returned, nor is she returning any of my phone calls. Not only is she a phoney cake designer, she is a terrible businessperson. I have reported her to the Better Business Bureau, as well as having to take her to court to get my money back. It is a shame for any person to operate in the way that Spirit/A Pinch of Spirit has done. To take advantage of the people who have put faith in her and given her business, is well not having spirit at all.
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    Leah Sent on 06/18/2012
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    Spirit was hired to make my birthday cake for 05-27-12. I ordered a 3 tier cake and 3 dozen cupcakes. My cake was supposed to have very specific elements and was supposed to be amazing. Spirits sketches were awesome, and when I did the cake tasting with her the flavor was great.

    I decided to entrust Spirit in making my 30th Birthday cake.

    On the evening of my birthday, Spirit had some random guy deliver my cake 4 hours late. My cake did not arrive to my birthday party until 10:00 at night. The guy knew nothing about my cupcakes that were not included. Spirit assured my party planner that I would receive a refund in full, and that the guy would shortly return with my cupcakes. My cupcakes never arrived. The cake was nothing like the sketches. It was small, ugly, and tatse horrible. I did not even have enough cake to feed my guests. Even after all of my planning, and all of the money I had invested, My 30th birthday was ruined and I was embarrased. Here we are one month later and SPIRIT has not returned any of my phone calls. She has not returned any of my planners phone calls. I have not received my refund in the amount of $500 either. This lady is a complete fraud. She has no respect for business nor her own craft. DO NOT TRUST HER! DO NOT HIRE HER! DO NOT RECCOMMEND HER TO ANYONE! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR YOUR MONEY!