Meet Dorrin Shahsavari of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorrin Shahsavari

Hi Dorrin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Tummy depot originally started as a private Instagram page where I documented the savory and sweet dishes I was making with my friends. Prior to that, I had worked at a bakery where I was fortunate enough to observe my talented coworkers, especially their cake decorating skills. I learned a lot just by watching them, and sometimes they’d share their techniques, like piping and crumb coating. Eventually, I decided to try making my own cake at home—though it turned out pretty badly at first. But I kept at it, making cakes for friends and family, and over time, it started to slowly grow. I found myself making cakes for people I didn’t even know. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has followed along with my journey and trusted me to create something special for them.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, and honestly, one of my biggest struggles has been battling imposter syndrome. Sometimes, I really have to push past those feelings to keep growing and creating new designs. I always joke that I wish I could gift people better cakes than the ones I made in my early days. When you’re starting out, especially with baking, so many things can go wrong. But I’ve learned so much from every bake—whether it’s a cake or bread. Patience and attention to detail can truly change everything. Balancing a small business with a day job can be overwhelming, but working for yourself is a big risk that’s also incredibly rewarding. I feel so lucky to make even a few cakes each month, and I never take that for granted.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I never imagined I’d be making cakes. I actually studied film with the intention of going into documentary and journalism. Filmmaking is still something I’m passionate about, but life has a funny way of changing your path.
When it comes to my cakes, they often feel like little experiments. There are so many incredible cake artists in LA, like Chariot_LA (aka Rosalee) and Mitra Kim, and the list goes on. Honestly, it’s tough to pinpoint what sets me apart. I think with any art form, it’s not necessarily about being different, but about being part of a larger community of people who share your love for the craft. Every artist brings their own style, and that style resonates with different spaces, events, and people. For me, I love creating elegant chaotic designs. I love looking at building designs to get inspired for piping. For stacked cakes, you truly are creating a structure that needs support similar to a building so I just always gravitate towards architecture as inspiration. I think what sets anyone apart is how they approach a specific project and bring their own unique touch to it. Sometimes it’s a hit, sometimes it’s a miss, but that’s part of the creative process. I will say though, I don’t love a super sweet cake.

What are your plans for the future?
It’s hard to say. I do think about my future but also try to take it a day at a time. So stay tuned.

Pricing:

• I do like to make my cakes affordable
• I usually work with sliding scale

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Tummydepot

Image Credits
The only image that is not mine is the blue cyanotype print of a cake. His name is Christian Cuevas Caro