Today, we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Drews.
Hi Vanessa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As I’m sure many people can relate, I feel like the past 10 years has been full of moments I never imagined. Looking back on how everything led me to now, it truly started when I had the amazing opportunity to work for Prince.
In 2013, I found myself during the day working in what I loved, my career as a Senior Paralegal. Combined with many nights a week (at times) working inside the walls of Paisley Park, helping to welcome people from all over the world to dance parties. My love for baking cheesecakes led me to put cheesecakes in the fridge at Paisley Park for employees and band members to enjoy.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that Prince himself would find my cheesecakes in the fridge, eat them, and enjoy every last bite and crumb. The thought alone makes me smile, knowing that I brought a little joy to his Rock Star world by baking his coined name, Cheesecake Funk.
That being said, currently, I spend my days baking cheesecakes and running a ghost kitchen – all for restaurants and wonderful customers who preorder through my website. In addition, Cheesecake Funk is available daily to fans and guests who visit Paisley Park daily. What a journey and path, but I’m so thankful for this path.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The path has not always been smooth – what path is? What I try to tell myself daily is that no matter what, keep going. My love for baking cheesecakes has been within me for many years. After it became clear that Prince tried my cheesecakes, and began calling them Cheesecake Funk, I knew I had to dig deeper in this passion of mine and go into business for myself.
As the world and everyone who knew him personally learned of his devastating passing, I began rethinking my career and goals I wanted for myself. I kept hearing, “bakery, bakery.” So, in 2019, I resigned from my amazing team at Robins Kaplan LLP, and became a licensed Food Processor/Manufacturer – providing cheesecakes to many restaurants across the Twin Cities, and directly to customers who preorder from my website.
Leaving the stability of a nearly 20 year career, to running my own business in August of 2019 was the biggest bet on myself, but I was (and still am) determined to grow Cheesecake Funk across Minnesota and one day beyond. March 16, 2020 my entire operation was shut down due to the pandemic.
However, even though making a way out of this difficult time, Cheesecake Funk is still here and ready for your dessert needs! I hope to bake for the champs in the food world – Food Network, Bon Appetite Magazine, James Beard Foundation, the great Minnesota State Fair, etc! I have been through a great deal, but now, more than ever, I can’t wait to bake for the next great opportunity!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My kitchen is within the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest Hotel in Minnetonka, Minnesota. I spend my days baking delicious cheesecakes for restaurants and customers each day, which just amazes me.
It gives me great joy to create amazing desserts for customers, restaurants, and weddings throughout Minnesota. My goal with growing Cheesecake Funk is to connect with ALL dessert lovers – even better if you don’t like cheesecake! My cheesecakes will be THE best you’ll ever have, I promise! I bake cheesecakes out of pure love and passion for creating a dessert you’ll never forget.
I am so thankful that Prince believed in me and enjoyed my creations as well. My continued goals always remain: connecting with dessert lovers visiting and within Minnesota, become a brand known all around the world and become THE go-to dessert location for Minnesota weddings!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The hospitality industry is ever evolving, and resilient. My hope and knowing is that people within the industry will continue to create memorable moments for people via food, beverage, etc., in all stages of life.
Food is what we live for, and I certainly will do everything in my power to show hospitality to everyone I come in contact with who loves and supports a delicious brand of food, especially Cheesecake Funk.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cheesecakefunk.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheesecakefunk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheesecakeFunk/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/68272216/admin/dashboard/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheesecakefunkmn
Image Credits
Cheesecake Funk
