Marla Ottar, a 34-year-old Jamaican Quality and Compliance Manager and Data Protection Officer has seamlessly blended her demanding full-time career with her love for baking. By day, she navigates the intricacies of quality and compliance as a manager in a demanding corporate environment. However, when the sun sets and the city winds down, Ottar transforms into a culinary artist, crafting cakes and pastries that reflect her Jamaican roots and passion for baking.
Marla’s baking journey
Ottar’s journey into baking started in her Adventist home, where her grandmother’s sweet potato pudding was a weekly Sabbath delight.
Determined to create her own sweet masterpieces, Ottar began experimenting with recipes during her teenage years, honing her skills in Home Economics classes.
However, it wasn’t until 2020, during her Master’s studies, that she embraced baking seriously under the tutelage of Jamaican “Cake Doctor”, Denise Cargill.
She enrolled in classes, completing levels 1 and 2 in cake baking and decorating by 2022.
The inception of her business
Interestingly, this baker doesn’t have a liking for cakes. While she made efforts to develop her skills, she expressed that her happiness lies in crafting delicious treats for her family and friends.
“Even though I’m baker, I don’t eat much cake. So oftentimes when I made cakes in class or tried new recipes on my own I would give them to family and friends,” she told the Caribbean National Weekly.
The inspiration to turn her baking hobby into a business came from the encouragement of family and friends who couldn’t get enough of Ottar’s creations.
“Girl, yuh need fi bake and sell these cakes man, people would pay good money for them,” they would say.
With a nudge from her best friend, “Baked by Divine Pagie’s” was born, paying homage to her grandmother, Pagie.
The pastry palette
Ottar’s pastry repertoire spans birthday and wedding cakes to traditional Jamaican delights like gizzardas, drops, cocktail patties, cupcakes, plantain tarts, and more.
Each creation carries the essence of Jamaican flavors, offering customers a taste of the island’s rich culinary heritage.
The balancing act
Managing a full-time job and a baking business is no easy feat, but Ottar has found her rhythm.
The self-proclaimed “night Baker,” said she dedicates her evenings, typically between 7 pm and midnight, to crafting the delicious treats that have garnered a loyal following.
Reflecting on her journey balancing dual roles, she shared a memorable challenge that revealed her hard work and dedication to both her jobs.
A last-minute cheesecake order tested her time-management skills to the limit. Balancing the baking process with urgent work documentation, she delivered smooth cheesecake to her customer just in the nick of time.
From these experiences, Ottar realized that her dual roles complement each other professionally. She said her background in quality and chemistry ensures her pastries stand out, offering a unique experience to customers.
“As a Quality practitioner with a Bachelor’s in Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Food safety, product quality, and enhancing the over taste and look of cakes and pastries are differentiating attributes. In aiming to please my customers, I ensure Quality ingredients are used in my recipes and each customer’s experience is uniquely customized with scrumptious flavors creating a repeat customer base,” Ottar said.
She also shared that she has cultivated patience and tenacity, essential traits in both domains.
“On a professional basis, I found that I am becoming more patient and tenacious….baking takes patience, tenacity and endurance…to the marriage of both roles have definitely heightened my personal development,” she added.
Spreading Christmas joy
As Christmas day approaches, Ottar is prepared to provide rich Jamaican fruit cakes for her family, a concoction of blended fruits soaked in wine and rum.
This tradition reflects her commitment to quality and unique flavors.
Ottar plans to share her love for baking this Christmas by gifting cakes to coworkers and friends. Her delectable creations will undoubtedly grace many festive tables, bringing joy and sweetness to the holiday season.
As Marla Ottar continues to weave her way through the demands of compliance management and the joy of baking, Baked by Divine Pagie’s stands as a testament to her passion, resilience, and the irresistible allure of Jamaican flavors.
With each cake, she not only satisfies sweet cravings but also inspires others to pursue their culinary dreams, no matter how demanding the journey may be.
