You'll Never Trust Your Eyes Again

Alison Chan from Dear Harley has caused a sensation with her illusion cakes that are designed to look like everyday objects, tempting celebrities like Carina Lau and Anita Yuen, and even the American chat show host Jimmy Kimmel .

- Tara Sobti

Tell us about your journey to becoming a confectioner.

I never imagined I would become a confectioner. Baking and cake decorating were always things I liked doing but I wouldn’t say I was passionate about them. I was a news reporter for a local broadcasting station for two years before joining my family’s business. Realising the job did not feed my passion, I struggled to find satisfaction. That was when I started exploring baking and cake decorating. I started taking orders online, creating my own recipes and improving my handicraft skills and techniques. Making creative cakes is so rewarding and satisfying. It totally filled the missing puzzle piece in my life.

Do you have a background in design?

I studied Spanish at the University of Hong Kong and I do not have any background in art or design. I am mostly self-taught from reading, watching videos and experimenting.

How many people are there on your team?

I run the cake shop with my partner Cony [Lam], who is also a professional dancer. She works closely with me on the decoration. I also hire part-time workers to help with repetitive tasks such as baking cake layers and cleaning.