It began with a dream about desserts. Sweet Obsession Cakes & Pastries is aptly named for the passion that motivated former retail fashion buyer Lorne Tyczenski to open his own pastry shop and cafe in 1993. He persuaded partner Stephen Greenham to leave behind his own career and join him in the creative venture. The two have never looked back.

Tyczenski is a self-trained pastry chef, who began his career heading in another direction. A graduate of Vancouver Community College’s Clothing Design Program, he had worked previously as a men’s clothing buyer and later as manager at the upscale boutique Stephane de Raucourt. But he was constantly baking at home and eventually for others.

He spent two years making wedding cakes and pastries for a pastry shop in West Vancouver before Chef Adam Busby at Bishop’s became his first restaurant client. Today, Sweet Obsession Cakes & Pastries supplies special occasion cakes on request for several fine restaurants around the city.

Stephen Greenham, who holds degrees in psychology and social work, now runs many aspects of Sweet Obsession’s production kitchen and cafe. He has become a creative force of his own, designing the fresh floral and sugared fruit arrangements for Sweet Obsession’s spectacular flans, tortes and wedding cakes. His dramatic floral wedding cake designs have become well-known in the city.

With Pastry Chef Tracy Kadonoff as the talent in the kitchen and Stephen Greenham as the equally skilled floral designer, Sweet Obsession wedding cakes are elegant works of art – each one as individual as the bridal couple it reflects.

Sweet Obsession also provides desserts for its partner operation, Trafalgars Bistro, which was recognized for “Best Dessert Course” in Where Vancouver magazine’s Most Memorable Meals 2005 issue and was nominated again in 2006.

Visit Trafalgars Bistro website.