The Oven Affairs by Elma Dsouza

I go MIA here a Lottt. I know 😬
Truth be told, it’s been a wild ride figuring out what life has been bringing at my doorstep.My husband and I were going through a rough time ever since he lost his job in March.

It was the same time around that I had begun to take up bigger projects as a food photographer and also got placed as an Art Stylist at a Marketing Agency.
It left me with barely any time to take on Cake and Dessert orders.
But I kept going with whatever energy I had in me since bringing money to the table was so important given there were so many responsibilities that we had to fulfill as parents.
Pretty much every one we knew said passively “Something good will come out of it “
Nothing did. All that did were long periods of silence, frustration and depression that we couldn’t even express to the world since life today is nothing but a bunch of emojis.
Thankfully things are slowly back on track now,the husband got placed again and that sword which has been hanging above our heads is finally no more.
To those small bunch of people who cared to follow up on us and really prayed for our distress to dissolve..Thankyou 🙏
The past four months have been hard for me to smile and stay focused and positive.When I look back to the terrible times of my past, this felt difficult in a different way.Every big trauma I have been facing ever since adulting kickstarted has been a saga of sorts and this too will be one such to put behind and move on.

My Cakes have always been around making beautiful
short stories of their own in the lives of the people they have graced.
But the BROWNIES ! Hands down have been highly commended for the quality and experience in each bite 🥹
All that in less than three years of it’s first launch.

If you have been a client of mine I would love for you to share this post on your stories or talk about it to a friend here in Kuwait and spread the word… As a lot of food connoisseurs say, YOU GOTTA TRY THEM TO BELIEVE THEM 😀

We all don’t start out as Stars at what we do best. Here’s to holding on to the fact that having to start all over again each year isn’t a sign of weakness or bad planning. I hope you take each day as it comes to discover the real star within you.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year ✨

It’s nearly a year and a half since I began juggling between cakes and a different line of paid work which is Food Photography.

I don’t think I would have dived so deep if it weren’t for that inner voice to style and shoot my cakes and desserts to build a portfolio as a Cake designer.

If you fancy watching food photography from my perspective, you can catch up with all of my work on
See you on the other side ❣️

The Oven Affairs wishes you a Merry Christmas loaded with lots of delicious cakes and munchies ✨
I have been so kicked about starting client cakes this Christmas season and it has been a great start.
Many thanks to all who purchased the fruit cakes and made my Christmas special with heartwarming feedback ❣️
Aiming to do more in the year to come 🥰

I began baking Gingerbread Cookies in 2017. It was only after this blessed cookie I realized what I had been missing all along.
I understand that the texture and flavour profile is more profound with those who like to experiment and imbibe an acquired palate.
I even thought back then that if I ever had a child,would he or she like to eat them.
Turns out,there’s not been a single Christmas since then that has occurred without Ginger bread at home as my girl loves it so much 😁
Featuring some beautiful snowflake cookies made with the embosser from
This year the cookies were not for sale as I’m new here and didn’t quite know how to make my presence felt loud enough for these cookies.
But if you like to try them out I would love to make them any time of the year starting from 2023😊
They are just as good and delicious as my Christmas fruit cakes 🫠

Ask me for a cheesecake and I’ll give you back much more 🍁
In frame : A decorated Cheesecake bowl done in Autumn 🍂 theme.
Happy Thanksgiving you all 🍁

Memories of a phenomenal Eid-Al-Adha 🤩
An all edible handcrafted cookie
Circa 2020

Baked and Decorated by Yours Truly
Styled and Photographed by Yours Truly

I’m finally wrapping up with featuring all the deco cakes I did till date out here on the gram.
I have lost nearly a hundred followers ever since my relocation.
For a change I know deep down that this number game has never ever worked in my favor as opposed to the variety of cakes and clientele I have had from the Middle East and India.

However what will always work is spreading the word.It would mean a lot if you all could do what you can to let your followers,friends and family know about this new Cake Lady in town catering to Kuwait 🇰🇼

I am still in the stage of putting my studio together and it’s painfully slow sometimes annoying too ( 💵💵💵 )

I do have a launch date and if all goes well I hope to share that here next month 😊

Here is a Cake I made for my sister in law earlier this year in February.
So many textures and experimentation with asymmetric wafer bows ✨
Yayy or Nayy ? ⬇️

Work-life balance is a huuuggeee myth 😒
Been incredibly busy with work at and am grateful for everyday being a school day at shooting (literally)
Treating you to some detailed images of a cake from last year ✨
How is work-life balance killing your sanity? Rant below 🤪👇

MINI CAKES

Not all cakes go fully dressed in ganache,buttercream and flowers.
Some like it naked,with a little cream and prettiness better known as Mini Cakes.
They don’t require a long notice period and are easy on the pocket for simple celebrations.

Do you have a favorite?Comment ⬇️

The Oven Affairs by Elma Dsouza updated their phone number.

*TAKE A TIP HOME*
Cowork with your client.

This is one of my well seasoned traits that helps me strike a chord with planning the look of cakes and desserts.
The reason I say seasoned is because it took me a while to recognize my potential and train my thought process.
When you have any form of conversation with your client
DO YOU ⬇️
- Ask about the mood,vibe or theme of the event
- Ask about the colour palette for the day
- Ask about table setting,display and backdrops
- Ask what the client as a hostess truly wants to express on her big day

Asking leading questions like the above will most likely ⬇️
- Open up opportunities to design your cakes and desserts in a new fashion
- Give clarity to you and client on what the end product should look like
- Break down the process of cake design in to simpler steps than having to run in circles.
- Build confidence in your self and also empowers the client in knowing that her Bakes are in good hands

Now, was that useful ?
Leave a 🙌 if you think so

In Frame- Decorated Brownies from New Year’s Eve 2020
Theme- Steam Punk and Baroque
Client-

Swipe to see the final setup and the above written content will make sense 😊

That totally recognizable thing from your favorite soap of yesteryears!
While this accent has been used as a popular design for many cakes I thought it would be great to have it as a standalone edible accent over a cheesecake bowl.
Yes I have this weird craze to do my cheesecake bowls like that 😬

F.R. I.E.N.D.S

Circa 2021 I made this two tiered classy piece inspired by a design from work.

I wanted the skyline template to have a more crude hand painted look hence the smudged effect if you zoom in.
To make it truly in line with the popular soap, I created a 2-D sofa,rug and lamp sitting righttt at the top 😬

So! What do you think?

Helooo !
Long time no see 🙈 I went out for a lot longer than I thought I would.Truth be told I haven’t been upto any good.Turns out breaks are not my thing 😬 Yet this forced break for the sake of relocating will go for another few months so that I can start well on a blank canvas in Kuwait 🤞

In frame: Handpainted tiled brownies in FRIENDS theme

My mood right now because it’s time to get packing for another war of a relocation 😅🙄🤓
( check out my stories about what you need to do to make the most out my goodies in the next few weeks )
And I loved doing this one for your boy 😘

“Sinful” - A new Cake flavour that was added recently to the menu and Why?
Because eggless !
I never had eggless recipes on the menu all along until now because there weren’t so many enquirers before unlike Bangalore.
After several trials, I was so excited to have a great tasting end product that an ardent client pushed me to get working on.

And it goes without saying, she was my first eggless cake client✨

Thankyou Kalpa for trusting me with this birthday cake for your sibling 💗

So glad to know it vanished so soon 😅

Anyone else here who would like to taste my eggless chocolate cake?
Get in touch with me via Dm 📩

India ! My third country for
Thankyou for the positively overwhelming response to the brand here🥳
2021 has been a year of big risks and decisions.A trip to Bangalore to start off therapy for my musculoskeletal defects had me day dreaming whilst driving around the flower clad stone walls.”I can totally bake here, and make great photos too”
While the story of how I came to understanding the damage that can’t be undone yet can be managed to live a life of a Cake designer and Photographer is for another day…. Let me send you a gentle reminder that a limping me transitioned to an almost natural gait at snail pace.It is Mother Nature, good habit building,plenty of prayers and infinite blessings from the Lord that has helped me sail through.

So so grateful for all the crap that I have endured because that has only helped me step back and focus over my purpose ✨

I pray and hope that 2022 brings in a wave of hope,good health and positivity amongst us all.
Stay safe and happy you beautiful people.

Happy New Year 🎊
Love, Elma
The Oven Affairs

The Oven Affairs wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas 🎄

It has been a rough three month long preparation to put on this show and I am so happy to have touched the finish line earlier today 🥳

A huge shout out to all you lovely people who trusted my work and purchased the products.

I cannot really enclose everything in a carousel post so I am guessing I’ll be back another day next week to show you more from the busiest season of the year.
If you have received my products and enjoyed the experience,please do tag on your posts and stories❣️

Featuring the plum cake designs for this year above and the various packaging styles done as a DIY project that was well received by sooo many of you.

I started off dreaming big and fancy boxes and came down to keeping it as simple and organic as possible.That way you clients recieve a more reusable and less waste packaging that bore vintage Christmas stamps for the much needed nostalgia.
The stamping was done at home over many nights while the tree branch accents were easily available from the community we live in. I personally felt the recipients might feel inspired to repurpose every bit of it in their homes.

Packaging partners:

CHRISTMAS HAMPER MENU 🎁

As promised,introducing a Christmas hamper for the very first time at the
Kindly find the product details of the hamper in the images and caption 👇

*Decorated Brownie
One Large Classic Brownie decorated
with edible Christmas decor

*Edible Christmas Bauble
One Handcrafted Chocolate shell
filled with Rich fruit cake and
chocolate ganache

*Gingerbread
Four Gingerbread cookies decorated
with eggless royal icing

*Cheesecake jar
One NewYork style cheesecake jar
topped with homemade Raspberry
compote

Serves 2-4 | Priced at INR 1500/-
Bookings close on 18th December

To Book, Kindly Contact
ELMA - +919632084292

PS- Please note that this is a limited edition so I urge you book at the earliest before stocks run out ❣️

Merry Christmas 🎄

GINGERBREAD COOKIE BOX

Yes all yours for this 🎄
It couldn’t get merrier innit☺️

You can mix and match or take the whole lot showcased here.The choice is all yours.They are petite,dainty and make for a cute little gift for friends and family.

And you know how it’s done.Send me a Dm to get booking them ❣️

Sharing the Christmas hamper menu tomorrow and you really don’t want to misssss that 💃🏻 Stay tuned people !

EDIBLE CHRISTMAS BAUBLE CAKE

I’m so happy to announce the launch of these Limited edition Baubles for this year’s Christmas collection.

Handcrafted chocolate shells encasing the Traditional rich fruit cake laced with chocolate ganache.

Perfect for Gifting or adding up to your Christmas hampers/ Centrepieces at home.

Available in :
Gold with Holly and berries
Silver with Baroque
Rose gold with vintage lace

Size-3 inch diameter
Serves-1 to 2 pax

Bookings are open starting from today until the 21st of December.

Since this is a Limited edition, I urge you to book at the earliest before stocks run out.Trust me you don’t want to miss these for 🎄

Send me a Dm for more details ✨

EDIBLE CHRISTMAS BAUBLE CAKE

I’m so happy to announce the launch of these Limited edition Baubles for this year’s Christmas collection.

Handcrafted chocolate shells encasing the Traditional rich fruit cake laced with chocolate ganache.

Perfect for Gifting or adding up to your Christmas hampers/ Centrepieces at home.

Available in :
Gold with Holly and berries (Pictured)
Silver with Baroque
Rose gold with vintage lace

Size-3 inch diameter
Serves-1 to 2 pax

Bookings are open starting from today until the 21st of December.

Since this is a Limited edition, I urge you to book at the earliest before stocks run out.Trust me you don’t want to miss these for 🎄

Send me a Dm for more details ✨

7 YEARS OF THE OVEN AFFAIRS

I am rewriting an old post because as the years go by nothing will change the story of why The Oven Affairs came to be…

“The Oven Affairs began as a slow growing hobby in Dubai that became a need of the hour when I was seeing dead ends with the profession I painstakingly sought after for 7 years.

Back then, growing a family amidst all the other commitments we had was unimaginable with the meagre turnover we drew. My first six months with cakes had an ailing profit margin and I gave it plenty of time to climb.
One of the many goals when I began saving from my turnover was to be able to support my first pregnancy and a little beyond.The day I left Dubai I had the exact amount I had hoped for and my joy was unparalleled in knowing I have secured a little life for the near future.

7 years of The Oven Affairs and despite all odds and stunted growth I stand tall and bold with my creations, this time around with my little daughter, the cause without which my cakes wouldn't exist.

Thankyou for the support and love. I also thank the copius bouts of ignorance and lack of support as it has toughened me up and taught me to hold my head high and breathe ! We all don't get there at the same pace....“

It wouldn’t be fair to take all the credits for this brand as my husband has taken a serious step in delegating tasks that helped me take bigger risks in branching out the brand into and
When I began to raise Emira, I went the hard way- I never considered handing over a gadget in her hand or stuffing her with cakes or junk to get my work done. A kind client corrected me in a way that was humbling-“ you didn’t go the hard way, but you went the right way “
Naturally my speed of working and creativity had to slow down and it had me experiencing blocks.

Despite all that,If you have been a supportive client of my work, then know that you have also extended help to make my little human a reality 💛
Thankyou all for making this brand Thrive❣️

The table needed a map.
Yes I am not kidding you 😅 but with so so much going on to a massive one getting the placement right was crucial.Each time I did a map I was also doing a mock up (you can see the bts of this in the previous posts)
I wanted to be sure that I was in love with every bit of the Tablescape styling I was doing.
Hence, you take any image or angle of it for instance, you get a unique perspective without drifting from the color palette. I guess my favorite chunk was the offset placement of the cake with the cupcakes in the immediate vicinity of the base of the cake stand.
Speaking of which,this is theeee Cake.
A four inch wide and 9 inch tall Earl Grey Cake layered with Citrus custard that bore textured buttercream and lots of handcrafted wafer flowers and foliage.
My client and I had a lot of love for dried flowers so that was the drive to craft these dry versions of Rananculus,Purple Eucalyptus,Peach Hydrangeas and some fantasy fillers in off white and yellow.
Did the simplicity of this cake catch your attention ? Let me know in the comments below

A Glance at the other desserts done for the event. Incase you have no idea what I am talking about,refer the previous posts.
Carrot cupcakes with hydrangea piping,mini Pumpkin Pies with Wafer accents,Classic brownies with Wafer hydrangeas and Banana bread were the rest of the clan.
Will show you the star of the show aka the Cake tomorrow 😍

All the floral and rustic elements that were chosen first off the color palette- Burgundy, Teal, Deep Purple,Nerium Pink, Deep Red,Sage green and lots of woody brown to name a few.
Each picture speaks volumes about how much attention was given to be in sync with the spectrum- warm,moody and dramatic.The drapes for the tables were layered up by utilizing left over curtain material, Kashmiri shawls, Linen stoles and Lace Tablespreads.

Flowers were arranged in an unconventional fashion to set a casual mood when the guests walked in.

This task had me going to the local markets to compare prices and exploring different areas of where I lived for the freshest produce to lay out for that day ( definitely not comfort zone chores for a mom )
I would love to hear your thoughts on the approach used to decorate the place. Do leave a Comment 👇

Also wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving Day🦃🎃