Photography by Albert Yee
R E NA IS S A NCE PA ST RY, Artisan Exchange, West Chester
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moist, fluffy chocolate cake. White frosting with a hint of sparkle. Black fondant adorned with one single sugar flower. There’s something timeless about a Renaissance Pastry cake. “I don’t follow trends,” founder Nancy Berill says, “and I like to stick to the basics made from scratch.” The model is certainly working. A nurse practitioner by trade, Nancy always dreamed of starting her own business. Her pastry journey started after her mom’s passing a few years ago. Coming home from work every evening, she turned to the one activity that gave her comfort. “Baking is my therapy,” she says, “it just takes your mind away.” As her skills improved and spirits lifted, Nancy felt drawn to cake decorating. “Something kept pushing me in that direction,” she says. Encouraged by her close friends and family, she eventually launched her custom cake company, Renaissance Pastry. The name, her fiancé Joe’s idea, is a nod to the world of art which heavily influences her work. After starting her business in Maryland, she moved her operations to the Artisan Exchange Market in West Chester last spring to be closer to her customers. In less than six months, she’s developed a following drawn to her
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