Member Assists City Cakes on Food Network Challenge July 24th!

Cake designed by member Iva.

Member Iva will be assisting Chef Benny from City Cakes on Food Networks Challenge Smurf Movie Cakes, July 24th @8pm. Can I get a woot, woot? Congrats, Iva!

Member Spotlight - Sweet Grace, Cake Designs

Two Members Compete on WeTV's "Iced with Sylvia Weinstock"!

Danielle Moore, Founder of NYC Cake Decorators, and member Amelia Monis will compete to win a coveted internship with the grand dame of cake designers, Sylvia Weinstock!

Photo courtesy of Pastry Chef Danielle Moore, Founder, NYC Cake Decorators Meetup.

Danielle Moore is the owner of Annie Mae's Cheesecakes in Harlem, New York, and also conducts cookie decorating classes for children and adults.

Photo courtesy of member Amelia Monis.

Member Amelia Monis is the owner of Amelias Cakes and Favors. Congratulations, ladies! Woo-Hoo! Wishing you both the very best!

Sachiko Winbiel, Martha's "Doer of the Week"!

Member Sachiko Winbiel is one lucky caker.  Martha Stewart selected her business to profile as "Doer of the Week"!

Sachiko creates beautiful cupcake toppers and cupcake stands. Check out the article at http://dreamers.marthastewart.com/page/doer-of-the-week-sachiko?xg_source=facebookshare. Congratulations, Sachiko!

Sugar Peonies Accepted by Historical Society

I can't believe it but my sugar flower arrangement has been accepted by the Chief Curator, Staten Island Historical Society, as a permanent part of their Collections.

Hundreds of folks who visit Historic Richmond Town in Staten Island may get an upclose look at my sugarflowers, how they were made, and my inspiration.

Sweet Regards,

Dina

Member Featured in American Cake Decorating Magazine!

Guess who's article was published in the current issue of American Cake Decorating Magazine?

Jacqueline McSpedon was the lucky member who was selected to review Chef Toba Garrett's new book, Wedding Cake Art and Design: A Professional Approach, and take on an actual project in the book. Congrats Jacque!


Watch Wedding Cake Art and Design: A Professional Approach in Educational & How-To | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Pink Little Cake Debuts on TLC's Cake Crew!

Our own Kathia Castro, Pink Little Cake, has the honor of being one of a handful of bloggers selected for TLC's Cake Crew!

Lemon Strawberry Breeze Dessert from Kathia Castro on Vimeo.

Member, City Cakes NY, Featured on TLC's "Fabulous Cakes"!

Good news for us cakers! It seems like America can't get enough of cake and cake designers! Cake Buzz has it that members Chef Benny Rivera and Chef Marc Matthias, owners City Cakes NY (formerly Diverse Desserts) will be featured in a new summer series on TLC called "Fabulous Cakes". City Cakes NY is one of three businesses featured on the show.

City Cakes NY is a custom cake business located at 251 West 18th Street Lower Level, New York NY 10011 . They produce amazing sculpted cakes, wedding cakes, cupcakes and cookies by appointment. City Cakes NY also offers selected classes in cake decorating and sugar art.

Chef Marc Matthias was one of the judges of our in-house Sugar Art Show in 2009. For info visit, City Cakes NY or email info@citycakesny.com.

Member Published in American Cake Decorating Magazine!

Member Natalie Johnson, owner A World of Cakes, LLC, was selected to work on a project for American Cake Decorating Magazine's "By the Book".

Natalie's thorough book review of "The Art of Royal Icing" by Eddie Spence MBE can be read in the current issue of American Cake Decorating Magazine.

Natalie took on one of the cake projects presented in the book and created a fabulous piped Fan cake. Natalie also offered tips along the way. A must read! Kudos, Natalie!

Blogger Kathia Castro Selected by TLC for a Project!

NYC Cake Decorators is so excited to announce that member Kathia Castro's blog, Little Pink Cake, was chosen by TLC for a special project! Kathia was one of fifteen lucky cake decorator bloggers selected.

Kathia does not have all the details yet, but she stated that all the selectees should receive a "Welcome Kit" shortly along with exclusive opportunities.

Congratulations and Best Wishes, Kathia!

NYC Cake Decorators Tips Mentioned in ACD Magazine!

NYC Cake Decorators McGuyver tips for saving money and time in cake decorating got a shout out in the current issue of American Cake Decorating Magazine! YAY!!! THANK YOU ACD MAGAZINE!

An article about Staten Island Sugar Arts and the kids decorating classes was published today in the Staten Island Advance.


Dina, Organizer of NYC Cake Decorators, taught cake decorating at the College of Staten Island Continuing Education, University Settlement Youth STRIDE Program, and is currently teaching senior citizens at University Settlement Senior HEART Program. Lynn, member of NYC Cake Decorators, has held kids cake decorating private parties for a number of years and taught children classes at the NY Cake Convention, January 2010. Both ladies have developed a sweet partnership and are looking forward to a bright future. Check out their website, Sugar Arts Classes, when you have the chance!

Member Cathy Wins "Best of Show" at Atlantic Baking Expo!

Cathy Olate, Jacy Cakes, has been on fire this year with a win at the NY Cake Convention and more recently, a win at the Atlantic City Baking Expo and Cake Competition last month.

Cathy's enchanting and artful take on "Wonderland" won "Best in Show"!

Cathy is a Tim Burton fan and her cake is inspired by Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" film. Check out Cathy's other awesome creations at Jacy Cakes.

Member Annette's Edible Creations To Be Published!

Several of member Annette Villaverde's yummy edible creations will be published in 1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes! The book is scheduled to be released in November 2010.

Annette is an extremely talented and creative cookie, cupcake, and cake designer. Her hedgehog cupcake was selected as Martha Stewart's cutest cupcake in 2009 and her business Ladybugluggage is receiving a lot of local press.

Annette is scheduled to teach a Cookie Couture Class at our 3rd Annual Day of Sharing, August 28, 2010. Contact Dina at nyccakedecorators@yahoo.com for more information and to register.

Member Spotlight: The Cake & Cookie Closet: All Dolled up In Sugar

Our new member Debra J. Mosely, is an author, teacher, and caterer who just loves playing with sugar!

Come with Debra into her cake and cookie closet where you'll find easy to make cake and sugar cookie designs that will be a feast to your eyes and make your tummy happy.

Debra's book The Cake & Cookie Closet: All Dolled Up In Sugar, is scheduled to release this spring, and includes both buttercream and fondant cake designs and sugar cookie designs. Satin Ice and Fondarific fondant were used exclusively for the sugar cookies to make decorating quick and simple. Debra's book features edible doll cakes, beautiful hat cupcakes and cookies, dress cookies, shoe cookies, purse cookies, pants cakes and cookies, and diamond ring sugar cookies (Debra could not forget the bling) and chocolate shoes.

Whether you want to surprise a special woman with tasty treats or celebrate a birthday or other event, you will find something that will suit your needs. When you get a chance, check out Debra's website at www.thecakeandcookiecloset.com and her fan page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheCakeandCookieCloset.

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!

Cake Buzz: The "Cooperative Kitchen's" Recipe for Success!

Congratulations to member, Annette Villaverde, owner Ladybugluggage Gourmet Cookies and Cakes! Annette and five other small businesses who share 1,475 sq.ft of commercial kitchen space at Wooden Spoon Catering Company, Princeton, NJ, made the cover of their local newspaper February 10, 2010 issue!

Confectionately called "The Cooperative Kitchen", Wooden Spoon Catering Company, owned by Chris Crawford, has become an incubator kitchen for member Annette Villaverde (wearing the cap), Ladybugluggage Gourmet Cookies and Cakes, Nicole Wilkins Bergman, Simply Nic's Artisanal Shortbread, Jen Carson, Jen's Cakes & Pastries, co-owners Marilyn Besner and Pirosca Toth, Moonlight Bakers, and Pamela Giggie-Accetta, La Bella Cakery. The fact that these savvy women entrepreneurs are all small business owners, wives, and mothers is a common ground that has proved to be a recipe for success.

Annette learned about the availability of commercial space at Wooden Spoon Catering Company through word of mouth at her son's school. It was the right opportunity at the right time; Annette had honed her decorating skills with Colette Peters, Colette Cakes, Lauri Ditunno, Cake Alchemy, and Ruth Drennan, Ruth Drennan Cakes, and was ready to take her fledging business to the next level. In addition, Annette's hedgehog cupcakes were selected as a winning design for Martha Stewart's 2009 Cutest Cupcake Contest.

NYC Cake Decorators Meetup wishes "The Cooperative Kitchen" much success. And to our readers, we invite you to read the inspirational article about the "Cooperative Kitchen" written by Pat Tanner, "7 Women, 1 Kitchen: Savoring the Business of Food".

Member Spotlight: Cathy Olate's Cupcakes Take the Cake!

Member Cathy Olate happened to stumble upon cake decorating as a job to help pay the rent. It soon became her passion, prompting her to embark upon a culinary arts degree in pastry and baking, an externship with Ron Ben Israel, and finally to open Jacy Cakes, LLC., with co-owner Josh Whitney.

Cathy takes great pleasure in perfecting the details of every cake she makes. It drives everything she does. She's crazy about cake and wouldn't want it any other way!

When Cathy heard about a "Cupcake vs. Cake" contest at NY Cake Convention, January 2010, her creative juices and humor really started to flow. She pictured an actual fight between cupcakes and cake and designed her "cupcake vs. cake" throwdown cake to reflect that vision.


Cupcakes try to attack a cake and tag their signature with an airbrush gun on the top tier. The face on the top tier is sad because it is getting a beat down from the cupcakes. The large cupcake on top has actually pushed the face partially "off" its tier!

The face on the bottom tier has an evil grin because as the biggest tier it was strong enough to sprout arms and fight back. That big, bad tier smooshes the icing of one cupcake and gives another cupcake a wedgie.

Cathy's original design featured more cupcakes climbing up to attack the cake, but she ultimately had to edit her design to allow herself enough time to finish this cake as well as take cake orders. Not a surprise that Cathy won First Prize for her creative, fun, and outstanding cake design.

Kimmy's Kakes Wins Brides' Choice Awards 2010!

Member Kimmy Buchanan, owner Kimmy's Kakes was one of several custom cake designers voted Brides' Choice, wedding cake category, Northern New Jersey, Wedding Wire's Bride Choice Awards 2010.

Kimmy is well known in NYC Cake Decorators Meetup for her outstanding 3D cakes as well. Follow Kimmy's Kakes on Facebook!

Member Spotlight: Irene Likokas Launches Cake Biz in Bay Ridge!

The dream of many cake designers is to one day open their own custom cake, cupcake, or cookie business. With the support of family and friends, member Irene Likokas (Adven68 on Cake Central), was able to realize her dream when she recently launched her custom cake business, Sweet Irene.

Sweet Irene is a jewel box located along a highly trafficked shopping district in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn: 8811 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11209, 718-921-1307.

Irene's extraordinary signature topsy-turvy cakes and 3D cakes developed a strong customer base over the years, and despite the slow economy, Irene is happily experiencing no lack of business from loyal fans and customers.

NYC Cake Decorators Meetup was fortunate to have Irene teach several techniques for members over the past two years, including a topsy-turvy cake, pillow-cake, designer shopping bag, and designer handbag cake class. All classes have received rave reviews from members who are excited to learn from such a talented and gracious lady.

Besides cake design, Irene is a talented fine artist in several mediums. Irene is proficient in stained glass work and her murals have been commissioned by well known corporate clients such as Metro Tech BID in Brooklyn. Check out her amazing cake designs and fine art at her website, The Painted Eye.

A "Man's Shirt & Designer Tie in a Box" cake class, is in the works. NYC Cake Decorators hopes to offer the workshop just in time for Father's Day, June 2010.