Her Story

The sudden death of her husband forced new mother Yonelle Drakes to cope with her grief by immersing herself in the art of baking. What started out as a coping mechanism has evolved into a full-fledged business today.

“It was a means of escape because the grief was so intense,” she remembers about the period when her 31-year-old husband Osei Drakes died suddenly leaving her widowed and with a six-month-old baby.

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Her story of creating her business, Nellè Gâteau, is even more inspiring because throughout the process she had a full-time, day job as a customs officer.

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With the support of her parents, five sisters, family members and friends, she rallied through what felt like the most devastating time of her life. 

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After attending the Carnegie School of Home Economics in 2014, her desire to expand her repertoire of skills to capture the impending foreign cake market in Guyana activated her interest in learning French baking and designing techniques. Hence, Yonelle enrolled with the International Culinary Center (ICC) in Manhattan USA in 2018 with the aim of being a first mover to introduce French techniques to the local cake designing industry in Guyana. 

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Yonelle graduated at the top of her class with distinction in culinary academia. To date, Nelle Gateau is a premier cake designing company located in Georgetown, Guyana. It is the home of superior quality customised cakes and cupcakes in assorted flavourings and fillings executed through various English and French cake techniques. 

Chef Yonelle’s academic achievements include a Diploma in Cake Techniques and Design, with honours from the International Culinary Center (ICC). She also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Australia Institute of Business, a Business Management Degree from the University of Guyana, and a Diploma in Accountancy from the University of Guyana.