By Abigail Headley
Nicketa Alphonso, a former airline employee, found herself facing an uncertain future when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country. With flights suspended and her job on hold, Alphonso decided to turn her lifelong love for cooking and baking into a stable income. Thus flowed the heartwarming tale of resilience and determination that is Creamy Creations.
“I was always in the kitchen with my grandmother and from a very young age I developed a love for cooking and baking,” Alphonso said during a virtual interview with Stabroek News.
What sets Creamy Creations apart from other dessert shops is Alphonso’s unwavering commitment to consistently producing high-quality cheesecakes. Added to this are the delightful and unique toppings that she creates in various hybrid flavours. Each topping adds a special twist to the cheesecakes, making them truly one-of-a-kind.
Creamy Creations caters to customers with different preferences and needs by offering cheesecakes in a range of sizes. Whether it’s a personal treat or a dessert for a gathering, customers can choose from 4-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch sizes, each priced accordingly. This ensures that there is an option suitable for every occasion and budget.
“I firmly believe that the quality of my ingredients should never be compromised, regardless of rising costs or any other factors,” she asserted.
Alphonso’s attention to detail and dedication to her craft are evident in the lengthy process of cheesecake making. She explained that weeks in advance, she preps various components of the cake like the crust and sauce, storing them until needed. The actual cheesecake is baked the day before it’s assembled and topped, then refrigerated for 8-12 hours to ensure the perfect texture.
“My list of ingredients varies for cheesecakes because I’ve expanded to meet the needs of my customers and now offer non-dairy and vegan cheesecakes,” she told us.
Always looking for ways to incorporate local products and flavors, Alphonso adds a touch of Guyanese identity to her cheesecakes. From fruits grown in the region to cookies from Banks DIH for the crust and flavour extracts from Fulaflava, made right in Guyana, Creamy Creations truly celebrates its roots.
With flavours ranging from the popular lemon lime swank to the distinctively Guyanese passion fruit, each slice of cheesecake leaves a lasting impression.
“Unique and truly Guyanese, the mild sour flavour cuts through the rich decadence of the cheesecake. It’s a highly requested flavour along with passion fruit,” she noted.
Starting a business from home posed its challenges for Alphonso, particularly regarding time constraints. “Customers would find it difficult to honour pickup times, throwing off my routine,” she explained. However, her recent partnership with Babe Cave World has provided a more flexible pickup location, easing the strain on her schedule.
Word of mouth and the power of social media have played significant roles in Creamy Creations’ success. One of her main means of advertising during the pandemic was Instagram, and this has continued to be one of the sources of attracting customers.
“Most of my customers came by recommendation and stayed because of the quality of the cakes,” she proudly said.
But it’s not only the business that has enriched Alphonso’s life; it’s the connections she’s made along the way. “I’ve met a lot of wonderful people who have become like family,” she shared. “They check in with me, send daily inspirational messages, and offer words of encouragement.”
While expansion is on Alphonso’s mind, she remains meticulous about finding individuals who share her attention to detail and goal-oriented mindset. This keen focus on maintaining the high standards she has set for herself and her business ensures that every cheesecake leaving Creamy Creations is of exceptional quality.
Alphonso mostly works alone to ensure she’s aware of every ingredient that goes into her cheesecakes; she hasn’t faced any major challenges in scaling up production to meet growing demands. While she has no children of her own, she hopes her five lovely nieces will carry on the business in the future.
Her advice to those aspiring to start a similar business is: “Consistency and passion are key. Work hard and take risks. Let your product speak for itself.”
With four years of success under her belt, Alphonso’s main pickup location at Babe Cave Guyana continues to serve as a hub for walk-in and delivery customers alike. The dedicated phone line, 600-2118, connects cheesecake enthusiasts to the delightful creations crafted with love.
In a world filled with uncertainty, Alphonso’s passion for food and dedication to her craft have brought joy to countless individuals. From struggling to find stable employment during a global crisis to creating a thriving business, her story is an inspiration to all those with a dream. And as long as there are cheesecakes to be made, Nicketa Alphonso’s Creamy Creations will continue to fill hearts and stomachs with delight.
