Greater Washington Area Cake Show!

For more information about this fabulous event, visit their website: gwacc.wordpress.com

Lisa Mansour Competes in Best Cake Decorator Contest!

Sponsor Lisa Mansour, NY Cake, and cake artists Amy Noelle and Chef Benny Rivera, owner City Cakes, are competing in "America's Best Cake Decorator" contest on the Baking Channel's new original series "Cake Show". Check out the article about Lisa on Jewish Voice! 

Casting Call for Food Network's Halloween Wars!

Food Network's Halloween Wars Looking for Highly Skilled 3D Custom Cake sculptors! Casting for Season 3! Check it out!

Super Delicious is NOW CASTING Season 3 of FOOD NETWORK'S 'HALLOWEEN WARS'! They are looking for the most passionate and skilled PUMPKIN CARVERS, CAKE SCULPTORS, and SUGAR ARTISTS this country has to offer!

Are you COMPETITIVE? Do you LOVE a challenge? Do you want the opportunity to compete on a TEAM for the chance to win $50,000? For more information or to apply, email casting with your name, city, specialty, and why you'd be great for the show! Also send photos of yourself and your artwork.

HALLOWEENWARS3@SUPERDELICIOUS.NET

A Slice of Cake Workshop!

This cake was designed by cake artist and instructor Zakia Hassan.

Join the NYC Cake Decorators for this fabulous "3D Slice of Cake" workshop on September 29th in the Bronx, New York. Only $62.10 per person for a 4hr. class!  You do not have to be a member of our group to join us. If interested, contact me asap!

Duff Launches Cakemix!

Duff Goldman has gone West to LA opening up Cakemix, a unique cake decorating store where the public can select from an assortment of ready made cakes and cupcakes and get to decorating! There's also a catering truck for parties and Charm City Cakes West Bakery next door. Ge the full scoop at Cakewire.

Baking & Cake Decorating Garage Sale!

These delicious cupcakes were made by member Roseann.

Looking for some cool cake stuff? What better way to get a bargain than to travel up to 107 Oak Hull Road, Ithaca, New York 14850  this Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. for a great cake decorating garage sale!  There will be tons of baking and cake decorating items from a former wedding cake business: vintage Wilton books, molds, separator plates, figurines, tools and more.  Any questions or directions contact Donna at 607-591-0999.

GBV Edible Creations

Hello Kitty Cake pops created by Gladys Malpasso.

Need edible images and need them fast? GBV Creations to the rescue! Gladys Malpasso, owner of GBV Creations, also makes custom cakes, cupcakes, cakepops, cake balls, and lollipops.

Birthday cake I made with GBV edible image.

When she is not baking she is taking care of three little ones. Whew! Gladys is busy. You can contact her at 347-528-8261 or visit her website GBV Edible Creations.

CAKE Push Ups!

Does anyone remember ice cream push ups? Well, Kitchen Krafts is selling a new product  where you can layer bite-sized pieces of cake, filling, and icing in a push up cylinder tube. The round cylinder part is 1-3/4” in diameter x 3” long. Each push up tube comes with a plastic domed cap to keep your desserts protected before serving. Caps are 1/2” deep. Set of 10 cylinders and caps.

FREE Sugar Art DEMOS at NY Cake and Baking Supply!

We all know how expensive Sugar Artist Demos can be.  Well, now we can all save a few pennies and gain important knowledge in cake decorating!

Starting September 26, 2011, and every Tuesday, thereafter, the NY Cake Academy at NY Cake and Baking Supply will offer FREE weekly in store Demonstrations, every Tuesday from 1:30pm - 2:30pm. Pretty sweet deal, huh?

"Cake Travels with Bronwen" A New Cake Adventure Web Series!

Follow Bronwen and Francois as they sample cake, explore, and teach cake decorating around the world in the latest web series by Caljava. In the following two episodes, Bronwen and Francois travel to Jakarta, Indonesia!

Episode One

Episode Two

Prominent Cake Baker Tawny Ong Has Passed

I was deeply saddened to learn today that our dear friend Tawny Ong has passed.  Tawny was a very talented and very generous person.  She was a true blessing to our group and gave several fabulous opportunities to our members. The fact that Tawny was young makes her passing so very difficult to fathom.

For those who have met Tawny, worked with Tawny, or who were fortunate to sample her wonderful desserts, I have provided a link to her family's virtual memorial: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/DignityMemorial/guestbook.aspx?n=tawny-chan-ong&pid=151108852

Our heartfelt and sincere condolences and prayers go out to Tawny's family.

Baby gender reveal parties

Photo on ivillage.com

Baby gender reveal parties seem to be the latest trend these days.  The cake designer/baker creates the cake which when cut reveals through pink or blue cake the gender of the child.  Have any of you received a cake order for a baby gender reveal cake?

City Cakes NY Showcased on "Fabulous Cakes"!

I couldn't wait to see the third installment of Fabulous Cakes this week!

Member Chefs Benny Rivera and Marc Matthias, City Cakes NY (formerly Diverse Desserts), amazing cakes were among three upscale custom cake businesses showcased in this week's episode. Benny and Marc create a four-foot-long alligator cake for a surprise twenty-third birthday party, and a five-tiered sculpted cake for the New York City Gay Men's Chorus's thirtieth anniversary party, including a replica made out of cake of the house where the party will be held.
Other cake artists of note featured on the New York episode are Kate Sullivan and Michelle Doll.

The Cake Lady has Passed

It gives me great sadness to announce that Frances Kuyper, the CAKE LADY™ has passed. Frances was a pioneer in American cake decorating and anyone who has covered a cake with fondant or played with an airbrush owes a huge debt to her.

Frances Kuyper inspired me to learn and continue to develop as a cake designer. Although I was not able to visit her or her Mini-Cake Museum in California, I am fortunate to possess autographed copies of her cake books thanks to esteemed cake designer Diane Shavin.

Please send cards and notes to Frances' daughter in care of the following address: Carol Thomas C/O 5964 Whisperlodge Way, Roseville, CA 95747. The Memorial service will be at Hollenbeck Palms (Chapel ), 573 So. Boyle Av, Los Angeles, Ca 90033 on Sat, July 31 at 1:30 P M. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Hollenbeck Palms/ Building Fund. They are a non-profit, and are raising funds to build a new Alzheimer Facility. Frances' husband had Alzheimer's and passed away at Hollenbeck as well.

Cakegirls Bakery burns to the ground..How YOU can help!

I think all of us cakers were saddened to learn that the Cakegirls bakery burned to the ground on March 29th.

Each of us can help Brenda and Mary materially by going to their website Cake Girls and purchasing a Cakegirls T-Shirt. Keep them also in your thoughts and prayers to help them spiritually through this stressful time. NYC Cake Decorators Organizers will be purchasing T-shirts in support of Brenda and Mary. Why not you too?

Neat Idea for Coloring Easter Eggs

Photo courtesy of Cake 'n Crumbs

NYC Cake Decorators love sharing neat ideas for saving money in the kitchen, and Cake 'n Crumbs has a sweet idea for food color gel pastes that we just had to pass it along.

Did you know that you can use Gel Paste Colors to dye your Easter Eggs? Get your Gel Pastes and make the coolest colored eggs in town! Need spring color gel pastes? Ditch the crowded subways and purchase your gels online!

Coloring Easter Eggs:

For each desired color, place these ingredients into cups and stir well:

1-1/2 Teaspoons Vinegar

1 Cup Boiling Water (Cold water can be used as well but the colors don't dissolve as well)

1/8 Teaspoon Gel Paste Color (or use your own amount depending on the shade you desire)

Place hard boiled eggs into cups and let set for 5 minutes or until the desired shade of color is achieved. Shown here are the Electric Gel Paste Colors - these are so cool! For additional, creative ideas on how to decorate your Easter Eggs, go to Cake 'n Crumbs Recipes page.

Cake 'n Crumbs has a sweet opportunity for anyone who wants to make extra money teaching cake, cookie, candy, and cupcake decorating. Now through May 31st, Cake 'n Crumbs is running a very Sweet Deal for New Instructors. Get the scoop at kendra@cakencrumbs.com. You can also follow Cake 'n Crumbs on Facebook.

Members Medal at Garden State Cake Show!

NYC Cake Decorators member/instructor Chef Janet Ben-Ami, Hey! Cookie, won 1st Place, Professional Division at the Garden State Cake Show for her spectacular Sand Castle cake.

Member Melissa Lusk also won the Decorators Choice Award for her whimsical and creative campfire cake. Can't you just smell the marshmallows crackling in the fire? The theme, "Summer Fun" really shines through in these two amazing cakes.

Congrats Janet and Melissa!

The Adventures of Cakediva

The Wedding Library Bridal Expo!

Photo Courtesy of Ruth Drennan, (l-r) Ruth Drennan and members Nicolle, Jessica, and Melissa

Members Nicolle, Jessica, and Melissa had a great time assisting Chef Ruth Drennan, Ruth Drennan Cakes, at the Wedding Library Bridal Expo held at the NY Palace Hotel. Chef Ruth is known for her extraordinary sugar flowers, and the lucky few have learned some of her techniques at her school, NY Sugar Art.

Objects of Desire: New Gadgets to Die-For!

NYC Cake Decorators visited Chef Lauri DiTunno at Cake Alchemy's studio last Sunday for demo on blown and pulled sugar. As a special treat, Lauri's assistant Christine showed us how to use ShowPeels. ShowPeels are one of the most fun gadgets ever! Melt isomalt to a dipping consistency, carefully "dip" a food safe mold into the sugar mixture, wipe off the excess sugar, and leave to set. When the sugar is set, carefully pull back the mold to reveal a sparking sugar piece. It's easy enough for beginners! Chicago School of Mold Making has a variety of ShowPeels for sale on their website, and also has a neat video on how to use the product.



While surfing their website, I came across instructions on how to create a custom textured mat, and how to create a textured rolling pin. A downloadable copy for the textured rolling pin is also available on NYC Cake Decorators Meetup website. Just click Files.

And for all you cakers who want to make champagne bottles to adorn your cakes, Chicago School of Mold Making also sells champagne bottle molds.