If you’re looking for a sweet treat visit Sift Dessert Bar located at 2411 California Street. Employee Gabbi McDaniel has the inside scoop!
Q: What does a typical day look like?
A: The opening shift lead starts at 8 AM and is in charge of the back of house (BOH). This person frosts and decorates all the cupcakes so they’re ready when the front of house (FOH) person comes in around 9-9:30 AM. Our cupcakes are actually made at our commissary in Santa Rosa and shipped to us 4 times a week. That way all the cupcakes at each location actually taste the same and because San Francisco retail just doesn’t permit us to have a proper kitchen. Then when the FOH comes in, it’s that person’s responsibility to put out all the cupcakes, restock other products, and basically make sure the front of house is presentable.
Q: What is your favorite part about working for Sift Dessert Bar?
A: OOOH! Lets see, other than loving my coworkers, I’ve really enjoyed seeing loyal customers come in often. It’s great developing relationships with them and getting to know a little bit about their lives through our interactions a few times every week.
Q: If you had to sum up the environment of Sift Dessert Bar in a few words what would they be?
A: Cheerful, Creative, and Compassionate
Q: What is something that customers may not know or expect when walking into Sift Dessert Bar?
A: Honestly, we can basically do whatever customers want. As a company we’ve started trying to say “yes” to everything (as long as its feasibly possible and somewhat reasonable). For example, we have every type of cake flavor in our BOH and every type of frosting, lets say you wanted a coconut cupcake but with strawberry cream cheese frosting and a chocolate drizzle on top, we can make it in about 2 minutes for you. I have some customers come in who know they want something different that we don’t typically put out and they’re always so surprised when I tell them we can make it happen.
Q: Which cupcake is a must have if you had to pick one?
A: Our Pink Champagne is our best seller and one of the three cupcakes we won on Cupcake Wars for (along with Samoa and Battle Royale). Also, we have this Strawberry Good Cheesecake that is here for the month of February and it is INCREDIBLE. It’s a vanilla cake on top of a graham cracker crust, filled with strawberry compote, and topped with a strawberry cream cheese frosting. If you visit us before March 1st, get the Strawberry Good Cheesecake before it’s gone for a year again.
Q: Anything else you think potential customers should know about Sift Dessert Bar or why they should stop on by?
A: One of my favorite aspects of Sift is just how truly important exceptional customer service is to each of us. As “Co-Stars” we try to ensure that every single customer leaves our store happy with their purchase and excited to come back and try something else. On top of that, I love that we’re a family owned business. The owners of our company are a married couple and when they were planning their wedding, the wife was disappointed with options for dessert catering. So she ultimately decided to create her own dessert. Later on, her and her best friend went on to compete in and win Cupcake Wars. Since then the company has grown to 5 locations (San Francisco, Napa, Cotati, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa) and maintains a small family feeling within each location.
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Don’t wait! Go and grab yourself one of the seasonal cupcakes before they’re gone and see for yourself what all the hype is about!
[Editor’s Note: As part of my commitment to San Francisco and the greater good of all residents in this wonderful city, I have teamed up with some USF Journalism students to allow them to get their feet wet with writing/blogging/marketing on a larger scale. Written by Kianna Fernandez.]