Kenneth and Tamara Williams are a dynamic husband and wife team who are the driving force behind Royal Cheesecake & Varieties. Their culinary journey is rooted in family traditions and a shared passion for baking. They started from a humble kiosk and have built a thriving bakery and dessert empire in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Kenneth, a certified culinary baker, refined his baking skills under the guidance of his mother while creating pies from apples harvested from the tree in their backyard in Detroit. Tamara, who holds a certification from her grandmother, was inspired by the baking techniques of her grandmother, who hailed from Mississippi. Together, they embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, founding Royal Cheesecake & Varieties at a kiosk in Northgate Mall in Durham in 2013.
After the initial success at the mall, Kenneth and Tamara expanded their reach by participating in various farmer’s markets, festivals, and events, including the African American Cultural Festival, Black Farmers Market, Got To Be NC, and the North Carolina State Fair. Their delicious desserts quickly gained popularity, and in 2021, they won a grant that allowed them to purchase and outfit a dessert truck, enabling them to bring their treats to different areas of North Carolina.
Kenneth and Tamara expanded their business using a grant, personal funds, and an SBA loan. They established a physical location, a second food truck, and a commercial kitchen in Raleigh, NC.
What do you feel has contributed to the success of operating your business thus far?
Having faith in God, and being consistent by creating and maintaining our own lane. We bake the common cheesecake/cake flavors such as Strawberry Cheesecake, Turtle Cheesecake, and Lemon Pound Cake. However, we have created unique flavors including our famous Chicken & Waffle Cheesecake, Banana Pudding Cheesecake, Watermelon Cheesecake, NC Sweet Potato Pound Cake, and more.
What is your favorite cheesecake to make and what would you say makes a great tasting cheesecake?
My favorite cheesecake to make is our Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake. We cut up our strawberries and macerate them. We also drizzle a made-from-scratch strawberry glaze on the cheesecake and then put the fresh strawberries on top. What makes a great-tasting cheesecake is the creamy texture, utilizing produce from a local farmer (when available) and the crust.
How does it feel to work beside the one you love?
It feels good. Being able to build something from the ground up, with dedication, God, love, and communication; it’s great.
Tell us about a few of the things that set your business, Royal Cheesecake & Varieties apart from others.
A few things that set our business apart from others are:
*Commitment to excellent presentation of our products
*Consistent great customer service
*Demonstrating and stating our faith in God
*Having great pricing of our products; customers appreciate the size and quality of our desserts.
How do you both feel knowing that you are providing the world with a taste of traditional methods that were passed down to you from your family’s history?
Tamara- It’s amazing. A week ago, I was completing an order for a banana pudding. I had to pause for a moment. Someone was paying me to make a homemade banana pudding with the meringue that I learned from my mother. It’s humbling and a blessing because I get to share a delicious dessert that’s over 50 years old.
Ken- It feels good to be able to use the products that my mom grew on their farm as a little girl. I am able to take those products and infuse them in the cheesecake and share it with the world; it makes me feel close to her.
Today, their customers can visit their bakery, and dessert truck, or order online for nationwide delivery. Royal Cheesecake & Varieties offers a wide range of mouthwatering cheesecakes and Wedding Cakes, all made with love and a commitment to quality. Their desserts are a testament to the rich culinary heritage passed down through generations and the dedication of this talented couple.
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