Network & Cake Tasting with Chefs Lauri and Ruth, co-owners, The Cake Atelier

We had a blast! It was great meeting members we hadn't met before and seeing familiar faces of my cake buddies.The Chefs were gracious and sharing and frankly answered all questions asked. There was a great deal of focus on the pros and cons of starting a legal cake decorating business in NYC and NJ; focusing on your business niche--what are your standards and the type of client you are going after; and practical tips such as the logistics of moving a wedding cake; the importance of proper doweling, and the perils of working with buttercream in humid conditions. The cake tasting was fabulous!! Chef Lori who has over 20 years experience as a Chef from C.I.A. and who currently instructs at the French Culinary Institute, made an absolutely delicious white chocolate cake. As a kick-off for the New Year, there were 3 raffles at this meetup. The first two---cupcake stands and a book by Debbie Brown were donated by Elsa a former Staten Island Wilton Method Instructor who now teaches cake decorating and sugarcraft in California.

The prize for the "Show Me Your Photos Contest" was donated by Carmen Abercrombie of A Scentimental Journey in Staten Island. Carmen handcrafted sweet soaps and candles that smell good enough to eat: a cupcake shaped soap, cinnamon cookie linen spray and gingersnap cookie candle are my favorites. She also threw in a bar of pink buttercream frosting soap made by Jacqua (ummm smells just like icing) and a humerous mini- book about a chocolate chip cookie. Carmen makes perfumes and lotions like pink sugar and gives the most decadent chocolate facials. Visit her at http://www.ascentimentaljourney.com/

There were two members from New Jersey named Jessica who entered the contest: Jessica from Springfield NJ won the prize and has been notified. There were no male members who uploaded photos for the contest. Had they, the prize, obviously, would have been more generic. Due to the enthusiastic turnout, the Chefs are willing to conduct demos at future meetups on topics of interest to our members.

The Cake Atelier hopes to launch a sugarcraft school in the near future with a strong focus on gumpaste flowers, and will be featured in a reality show on wedding cake businesses to air on the Women's Channel (WE) in June 2008. Two episodes have already been filmed. Visit our friends, The Cake Atelier at http://www.thecakeatelier.com/