Mrs. Pearls Cakes & Pies

My story begins in New Orleans in the 1980s, in a small kitchen filled with the smell of home cooking that my mother was preparing as she worked in the kitchen. Her name was Gladys, and watching her cook is where my love for food truly began. She was a quiet, shy woman by nature, but something beautiful happened when she stood over that stove. Her whole face would light up watching people enjoy what she made. That smile is the reason I fell in love with cooking.

By the time I was 15, I couldn't stay out of her kitchen anymore. I started experimenting with New Orleans flavors right alongside her, learning by watching, tasting, and asking questions. Cooking was more than food in our house, it was how my mother expressed her love. It was how she gathered her family close and kept them near, even when words didn't come easy for her. Every meal was her way of saying "I love you" without having to say it at all. I've carried that gift with me ever since, along with a knack for keeping a dozen things going in the kitchen at once.

Signature Creations

Each dish is a thoughtful reduction of heirloom ingredients, transformed by disciplined prep and wood-fired nuance.

Seared Scallops

Wood-Fired Duck

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Perfectly seared scallops with a delicate herb emulsion, showcasing precision and seasonal bounty.

Crisp-skinned duck breast, slow-roasted over oak, served with a berry reduction and root vegetables.

A vibrant salad of heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, dressed with aged balsamic.

The Road That Brought Us Here

Building 2 legacies in Jacksonville, Fl.

In 2010, I moved to Jacksonville, Florida, not knowing that I was about to meet someone who would change my life and become like a second mother to me. Her name is Mrs. Pearl, and from the moment we met, something just clicked. She was known around town for the treats she created at her beloved bakery, Cakes Galore, at 48th and Main. I was studying at the Culinary Art Institute at the time, and Mrs. Pearl took me under her wing like I was one of her own. She taught me everything. I learned every trick, every technique, every ounce of love that went into her baking. I eventually became her head baker and assistant manager. While she still created recipes for Publix grocery stores.

Mrs. Pearl had a heart as big as her talent. She could be tough but a true perfectionist. Everyone around her knew it came from a place of deep caring. She is a master at designing cakes, and buttercream was her signature gift. I'll never forget the day she taught me how to sculpt the Eiffel Tower out of chocolate and buttercream, patiently guiding my hands until I got it just right. I was ecstatic because that was my 1st $5,000 creation and from there I knew I would only get better.

None of Mrs. Pearl's own children shared her passion for the kitchen. But she saw something in me and we considered each other family. She trusted me with her most treasured buttercream cake recipes, the ones she'd spent a lifetime perfecting and passed it on to me. That trust is something I carry with me every single day and something I want to live on with this new business.

Now, through “Mrs. Pearl Cakes & Pies”, I get to keep her legacy alive, one cake, one pie, one recipe at a time.

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Book Your Private Culinary Experience

Elevate your next event with a tasting menu crafted by Chef Robert Claiborne. Consultations for private residences and exclusive pop-up tables are available.