Thank you for the terrific article! I wanted to add that in addition to all of Melody's cakes being gluten free and some being vegan, some of them are also Paleo. I recently moved from East Palo Alto to Zürich and wish I could come to her shop as soon as it opens.

I’m a very loyal Gunn alumnus so I will give it the old school try to help this entrepreneur out.

Mochi is Japanese.
Over the past 25 years, many pastry shops in Asia have melded Mochi and various gel glaze toppings, with adaptations of European / western cakes.
In Asia, these deserts are lovely to look at, but not really popular with the locals, and not rich and sweet enough for Western palates.
Good-luck - another Chinese bakery shop in the area.

Paleo is just another name for a very healthy California diet! Why the fancy name? Anyway, I hope this new bakery succeeds. Personally, I prefer a real french bakery. But good luck!

Having been fortunate to enjoy many of Melody’s creations, I’m overjoyed at her brave decision to open a bakery one could stop by. She is incredibly clever in her recipes and very skilled in the art of deserts, striking many flavorful notes with somewhat muted sweetness, a unique and highly addictive experience.