Rie, who lives in Portlethen on the outskirts of Aberdeen with husband Preston and their two children is a self-taught baker who grew up in Kyoto, Japan.
Specialising in light and fluffy authentic Japanese baking, as well as specialist bespoke celebration cakes, she is kept busy with a sea of regular orders that sees her edible works of art travel across the region and further afield.
Pictured: A Cotton cheesecake from Our Little Corner Cakes (Image: Supplied) Preston describes his wife’s attitude to baking as “kodawari”, a Japanese term reflecting a personal pursuit of excellence and meticulous attention to quality and detail. Rie’s passion for perfection and ensuring everything she makes is delivered to the highest of standards doesn’t go unnoticed by customers.
Our Little Corner Cakes boasts 118 Facebook reviews, all marked as 100% recommended.
Her time studying Japanese traditional arts at the renowned Arts College in Kyoto, Japan focusing on illustration, colour blending, lacquering and restoration has also contributed to the success of her refined creations, of which some take days to make.
While in Scotland, cake is usually purchased for a celebration or as a treat, in Japan it is common to snack on a light and airy slice at any time of day.
Our Little Corner Cakes’ most popular product is the strawberry shortcake, which is also a very popular wedding cake in Japan, closely followed by the choux cream puffs and the cotton cheesecake.
Rie, who started baking at 10 years old, said: “Japanese bakes are light and airy. They melt in your mouth and are not heavy or sweet, they are well balanced, and I think that is why our products are so popular with our customers – because they are quite different to baked goods in the UK.”
The strawberry shortcake is made with smooth fresh cream and juicy strawberries while the choux cream puffs, also known as shu cream, are light choux shells filled with custard and enjoyed chilled.
As for the cotton cheesecake, it is as soft as a cloud, almost like a soufflé, and is the perfect combination of cake and cheesecake. They are all cakes you’d typically find in a local Japanese cafe or patisserie.
But what led a small home baking business to partner with a national restaurant chain?
A mutual love for good, quality food.
Pictured: Preston and Rie Gan of Our Little Corner Cakes (Image: Julia Bryce)
Preston said: “I previously organised Aberdeen’s Japan Day in 2018, a city-wide annual celebration of Japanese culture, heritage and its connections to the north-east of Scotland.
“My wife and I would regularly visit Maki and Ramen in Edinburgh when we were in the city, and I had formed a close friendship with Teddy Lee, the restaurant group’s CEO before he founded Maki and Ramen. The 2018 Japan Day event in Aberdeen marked our first collaboration with Maki and Ramen as they took a stand at the festival –and the rest is history.”
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It was only a matter of time before Teddy would be convinced to open his 13th restaurant in the UK in Aberdeen. Seven years following their first collaboration.
“We were so excited to hear that the restaurant was opening in Aberdeen,” added Preston.
“When Maki and Ramen agreed to sell our range of three desserts alongside their own in the restaurant we were over the moon. It really is an incredible achievement and we’re the first local business they have ever worked with in this way which is a huge compliment. Rie is so talented and to see her bakes being enjoyed by their customers is brilliant.”
Pictured: Japanese strawberry shortcake (Image: Supplied) Preston confirms all of the cakes provided to the restaurant group’s Aberdeen venue are selling out daily, proving the local partnership fruitful.
The couple have ambitions to expand the business and the range of products they offer, however, are conscious of the impact the increase in capacity would have on Rie, Preston and their family.
Juggling work, family and their own small business, the couple are unsure what their immediate plans are for the future but endeavour to have their own commercial space to create and share more Japanese delights.
Rie said: “We want to create a lasting impression with our products, where lightness, elegance, and joy come together in every creation.
“We create cakes that are more than just desserts – they are moments of joy, crafted with intention and care, and we love sharing our culture with others, too.”
AloJapan.com