Caspar Haydar and Elle Daftarian cant stop giggling. Or interrupting each other. Or gushing over everything.

Who could blame the best-friend, event-planning duo, who are not only celebrating one-and-a-half years in their quaint Summerhill store, but starring roles in an upcoming Food Network show SugarStars, a behind the scenes look at their event planning and catering business.

Located on a quiet leafy street in the affluent neighbourhood, Haydar and Daftarian said Petite & Sweet started as a haphazard sweets and events business operating out of Daftarians basement six years ago.

The pair met through mutual friends in the fashion industry. And after talking about getting into event planning together for some time, Daftarian finally convinced Haydar to jump in.

Since then, employing their fashion sensibilities for colour and style to food and fun has meant securing contracts for some of Torontos largest private and corporate events. Their work ranges from catering hot food, to cakes and sweets, and their job is to find the best of everything in town to meet clients needs and expectations. The two dont aim to do everything themselves, instead drawing on the professionals to assist them in making each event a success.

One, for example, is Yolanda Gampp, their expert cake-maker and co-star on SugarStars.

Working out of Daftarians basement for five years initially, the pair set their sights on retail space as clients were asking where they could pick up gifts and sweets last minute.

Two weeks after spotting an unused storefront around the corner from the house, they moved in.

Now, a year and a half later, the space is bright, the shelves are stocked with specialty items often picked up on their travels: vases filled with silk flowers; seashells and gumballs; Depression-era platters, and soaps and candles delicately packed and stocked from Paris and New York.

The pair handle everything under one roof planning every last detail of the lavish events that include catered food, floral arrangements and ornate sweets tables that range from the dramatic to whimsical.

Original post:
Food Network’s new SugarStars find friendship and success at Toronto shop