Funky, Classy, Trashy, Nostalgic: Party Girl Bake Club
“I find solace in the fact that I have my grandmothers’ recipes and that I can share them with others. My two most prized cake recipes are my Granny’s vanilla cake and my great grandmother’s chocolate cake. Her flour frosting recipe is so nostalgic and old school af. You can find these on my menu at different points throughout the year.”
Interview by Sue Liedke with Mallory Valvano
Mallory Valvano is a marketing coordinator at a North Philly metal refinery by day, but by night? She dons an apron as the force behind Party Girl Bake Club. Her cakes are instantly recognizable and have become a bit of a hot commodity in South Philly. I was a fangirl of her work before I even got to taste one (and wasn’t disappointed once I did try a bite!) Mallory and I took a dive into the past to see what family traditions lurk beneath the technicolor frosting dreamscapes you can see on her popular Instagram page.
With your skill set, there are so many desserts that I’m sure you could be making! Why cakes?
It didn't start with cakes, exactly. I had been perfecting my cheesecake recipes and it eventually evolved into cakes. Now it has morphed into something more. I like the idea of cake flavors that wouldn't necessarily be offered by a normal pastry chef. I add my funky, classy, trashy, and nostalgic flair to each cake either by the flavor or by the decor.
I had a very box-cake-mix type introduction to cakes growing up, but it sounds like yours was very different. Can you tell me about one of the first special cakes you remember?
I have a few varying memories, and all of these desserts are iconic to me in one way or another:
First - My grandmother, on my fathers side, we called her by the cutest name, “Granny Baby”, was a housewife and made wedding cakes as her hustle. I remember her giving us the cake ends which were like the most perfect yellow cake you can think of.
Granny Baby with wedding cake
Second - my great grandmother on my mothers side, used to cook family dinner every friday and sunday. Friday was pizza and pasta fagioli, and Sunday was a big pot of sauce, meatballs, and pasta. Without fail this woman would have a full Italian spread including her famous chocolate cake with ermine frosting.
And lastly - For family birthday outings, we would either go to ChiChi’s for the fried ice cream, or get Dairy Queen ice cream cakes. These are without fail delicious and consistent. Rest in Peace, ChiChi’s.
I would guess that the first thing that draws people to your work is your over-the-top approach to decorating your cakes. You style and document your work, and the photos of your cakes are pieces of art themselves. Can you share how your style has evolved, and what you use for inspiration?
I’ve always been into art in one way or another. I have always been a maker, and the medium evolves throughout my life, dictated by what art I am into at the time.
I went to college for textile manufacturing and working with those materials when I was in the fashion industry. And then in my late 20’s I started getting into architecture and interior design. Food was always there in the back of my mind though. Being brought up in a family that congregates social gatherings around food will do that to you! Now I pull inspiration from all those artforms and tie them together with the vintage cakes my grandmothers used to make.
I like to make what I want to eat, and what makes me happy thinking about simpler times as a kid, like the yoohoo cake, or the banana split cake. My father and I still go out for banana splits when I visit him in my hometown.
I think when I style my cakes it’s a culmination of all these things as well. For instance, I made a textured wedding cake that was inspired by Italian venetian plaster, so the cake itself was gorgeous and then the art played off that vibe to include italian busts and sculptures.
You had some truly talented women in your family! Can you tell me how their traditions have influenced your cake and frosting recipes?
My grandmother made a lot of wedding cakes and I have a photo album I flip through for inspiration. It’s really fun for me to be able to share that passion so to speak…
I wish I had more time with my grandmothers so that I can really pick their brains now that I'm older and more into baking than before. But for now I find solace in the fact that I have their recipes and that I can share them with others. My two most prized cake recipes are my Granny’s vanilla cake and my great grandmother’s chocolate cake. Her flour frosting recipe is so nostalgic and old school af. You can find these on my menu at different points throughout the year.
I love vintage clothes, furniture, dishes, houses…and I think I’m drawn to your work because it gives a nod to the past. Do you think this contributes to the popularity of your cakes?
Yes totally! Nostalgia is usually associated with fond memories so it's nice to see people connecting that childhood moment with the flavor and decor.
It seems like some of your influence is historic, but your color palette and decorating style read as very contemporary. From where else do you draw inspiration?
I've always had my hand in the design world whether it be in fashion or textile design, sculpture, amateur furniture design, crafts…I am literally always working on something. I draw inspiration from classic americana, vintage foods, bodegas and grocery stores, fashion, travel, textures in the streets.
I read a comment on your Instagram - someone had enjoyed their cake so much, they asked if you would recreate the flavor for them down the road so they could revisit it on an anniversary. How does it feel to become a part of someone else’s traditions?
I'm grateful! It's truly satisfying to see the smile when they see their special cake. Especially when it is customized to their palate.
What does baking look like in your future?
I want to continue to push the boundary on fun and nostalgic flavors, cake shapes, and decor. And would like to continue having pop ups, evolving what I can do. I hope I can grow within the artform, while honoring my family’s recipes in the best way I can think of - sharing them with others.
See what Mallory is baking at @partygirlbakeclub!
Interview by Sue Liedke
Images courtesy of Mallory Valvano
