About Us
Who We are, how we came to Be, and how we are different
From Concertos to Confections:
A Pianist Couple’s Harmonious Journey
In a quiet suburb of Toronto, far from the grand concert halls, the delicate strains of Rachmaninov and the aroma of fresh-baked cakes now share the same air.
The home of Irina and Ruslan, classically trained pianists and Moscow Conservatory alumni, has become a unique blend of music and culinary art — a testament to resilience, reinvention, and enduring passion. For years, Irina and Ruslan performed as PIANO SYNERGY DUO on international stages and guided students through the rigorous traditions of Russian piano pedagogy. Their PIANO SYNERGY studio, steeped in discipline and Romantic expressiveness, attracted students of all ages with dreams of following in their footsteps. But life, like music, demands improvisation. When the concert schedule slowed and the world grew uncertain, the couple turned to another shared love — cooking and baking.
What began as weekend experiments in their kitchen — flaky pirozhki, rich cheesecakes, delicate pasta — soon evolved into a small home-based bakery, CAKES and PASTA. Each creation was crafted with the same precision and artistry they brought to the keyboard. Their cakes, truffles and pasta were named after composers and reflected musical forms.
Their customers were drawn in not just by flavor but by the story — the artistry behind every bite. Despite their growing success as bakers, Irina and Ruslan never gave up their first calling. The music studio remains the soul of their home. Students arrive daily, weaving through the scent of cinnamon and espresso to sit at the same piano where Brahms and Chopin still live.
Teaching, like baking, is an act of love and devotion. Together, Irina and Ruslan have composed a life that blends the rigors of classical training with the joy of creative expression. Whether through the poetry of a nocturne or the pleasure of a decadent truffle, their work continues to nourish the senses — and the soul.