Page 9 - SD Woman Glace Ziperovich Issue

Women of Distinction

Adapting Through Changing military equipment for those on the
Circumstances front lines. She’s also directed sales
from her online classes and cake
As her business has grown, this ev- molds to the efforts in her home coun-
er-more experienced pastry chef has try. So far her fundraising has gar-
learned what types of forms work best nered over $65,000, which she’s used
as well as what customers like. “It’s to purchase food, medicine, supplies,
not only about what I want to do, but and evacuation transport in devastat-
it’s about what people want to have.” ed Ukrainian communities. (To learn
Understanding customer demand and more about her work, contribute to
allowing it to fuse with her own vision fundraising or order cake molds, visit
The mold can be filled with a va- have really propelled her forward on her website dinarakasko.com.)
riety of ingredients—typically lined the world market. Locally, she has
with a mousse and layered with fruit often taken requests for one-of-a-kind Hope in Resilience
purées, nuts, cake, cookie, or brown- desserts that clients could help dream
ie. After it’s chilled and set, the cake up themselves, and some of her special If others ask Dinara Kasko for advice,
is carefully removed from the mold projects have been for top pastry she’ll tell them, “Do not be afraid, take
and Kasko adds any external finish- magazines. risks, find like-minded people and get
ing touches. This might be a shiny In February, though, everything creative.” Her outlook is aptly suited
glaze, a finely airbrushed gradient of changed for Dinara Kasko. She has not only to business and baking, but
colors, or edible handmade em- heart-achingly watched as her previ- now to the broader circumstance of
bellishments The result is a dessert ously vibrant home city of Kharkiv has war in Ukraine as well. Sometimes
that’s as interesting to the palette as turned into a war zone, with beloved creativity can be harnessed for un-
it is to the eyes. landmarks and neighborhoods expected situations. And sometimes
destroyed before her eyes. A country innovation is more than trying new
under attack has made her reevaluate things—it’s also forging connections,
how she can best put her talents to use. building pathways, and rising up to
Within the current environ- meet the most difficult changes. Even
ment, Kasko has shifted much of her under awful conditions, progress can
3D-printing work away from pastry be made. Whatever happens, Kasko
design in order to make medical and says, “the key is not to stop.”

Kasko with cakes
from some of her
best-selling molds

It’s a process that takes imagina-
tion, hi-tech equipment, and a good
amount of time. Chefs both amateur
and professional who’ve wanted to
try out these unique pastry shapes
have been able to use her molds and
personalize their contents’ colors and
flavors.
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