A RECOMMENDATION from Graham Norton has given Schull baker Jessica Lauren Mulcahy’s business a nice boost.

Jessica, who went to Schull Community College and did a degree in culinary arts and advanced pastry at MTU, was asked by the TV star’s personal assistant to bake a birthday cake for Graham’s mother-in-law.

Jessica, who runs her own baking business from Schull and also works full-time as the pastry chef in Baby Hannah’s in Skibbereen, was more than happy to oblige.

The request was for a lemon sponge cake with raspberry preserve and lemon curd, decorated in pink and white colours. 

The baker said she had offered to deliver it to the BBC star’s home on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula, but was delighted to meet him in person, and be given an appreciative handshake, when he called to collect it from Baby Hannah’s last Friday.

‘He said the cake looked lovely and he thanked me,’ said Jessica. ‘Then, his assistant sent me a personal message saying they were all very happy with it. She also put a good review on my Facebook page.’

The review read: ‘Jess was amazing. She helped us out with the most beautiful cake at short notice. She was so helpful and went above and beyond to accommodate us. Her communication was fantastic. We knew we were in safe hands. and then when we saw the cake it was just incredible – so gorgeous and it tasted absolutely amazing too.’

Although her business ‘Baked by Jessica Lauren’ is small, as a baker – specialising in decorating, cupcakes and wedding cakes – it gives Jessica an outlet for her creative talents.

‘I prefer doing specialised cakes,’ she said. ‘I plan to keep my fulltime job, but the intention is to one day open my own shop.’