An Interview with Jodi Rhoden of Short Street Cakes, Asheville, NC

I mentioned in a previous post that I had the recent pleasure to chat with Jodi Rhoden of Short Street Cakes. As promised, here is the first of three in a series of interviews with her. Jodi discusses what got her into cake baking, her ingredients philosophy for using local, organic ingredients whenever possible, and what couples can expect at a cake tasting with Jodi. Enjoy!

P.S. Jodi is going on the road to research her new book about Southern Cake Ladies (How fantastic is that?!). If you know any Southern Cake Ladies, contact Jodi. See below for details.

Interview with Jodi Rhoden of Short Street Cakes from Hindsight Bride on Vimeo.

Cake Ladies Questionnaire!
Copy it! Print it! Hang it on bulletin boards! Fill it out! Re-Post to your blog and your facebook!

And please return it to:

Jodi Rhoden
[email protected]
Or mail to:

Cake Ladies
225 Haywood Road
Asheville, NC 28806

My name is Jodi and I'm writing a book about Southern Cake Ladies for Lark Books. I am seeking contact information and introductions for Cake Ladies to interview. If you think I should meet a cake lady from your town or community, please fill out and return the following questionnaire to me at the address above. Specifically, I am interested in meeting and interviewing women in and/or from the Southeastern US who bake cakes; professionals and amateurs, young and old, of every racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic background. I am interested in women for whom cake baking is a meaningful part of their family and community lives, and livelihoods. Please note that I am only interested in women who bake traditional, scratch-made cakes. While cake design and decorating using boxed mixes, fondant, and food coloring is a worthy discipline, it is not the subject of my study. I am interested in traditional table layer cakes of the various cultures of the American South.

Your Name:
Your Address:
Your Phone:
Your Email:

Cake Lady Name:
Her Address:
Her Phone Number:
Her email (if applicable):

What is your favorite cake that she makes?

What is unique about her or her story?

Please give some biographical information- (age, ethnicity, etcetera)

May I contact this person and let her know that you referred me to her?

Are there any barriers that I should be aware of (language, literacy, disability, geographical access, etc?) I am committed to meeting a very diverse group of women, and I will work to accommodate special needs in order to do so.

Gratefully,
Jodi Rhoden