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About Me

I am NOT a chef, culinary student, professional pastry chef or any other formally trained food manipulator. I am the co-owner of Crucial Element Productions and CAKE! Dessert Design Studio. I can plan it, cook it, bake it and make it look pretty. Did I mention I love to eat?! If they had a 12 step program for Cakaholism I'd probably need about 15 to kick the habit. Decided to let my addiction become my pastime and eventually my paycheck.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

CakeWatch 2010: Maryland Cake Convention May 1-2

So.....
I know it's almost May and 2010 is reaching the halfway mark and I should've BEEN talking about the cake shows but better late than never. Besides, cake season is just picking up with wedding season kickin' into gear, graduations and all of the summer's many reasons to celebrate. So MAYBE I'm right on time lol!

The Maryland chapter of ICES - International Cake Explorers Societe (more about them tomorrow) is hosting its annual Great American Cake Show & Wedding Competition at the Shipley Arena of the Carroll County Agricultural Center, Westminster, MD. Formerly the Mid-Atlantic Cake Show, this event will consist of classes, demos, and competitions from cake greats such as Colette Peters and Silvina Barboza (she taught me how to scuplt!). There are also competition categories open to the public. They even have a teen division! I wish I had started that young lol. Well, it wasn't THAT long ago....I digress.

The event runs from 9am-5pm on both May 1 & 2 and is open to the public. Admission is more than reasonable:

$8 ages 12 and up
$5 ages 11 to 4
Children 3 and under are FREE (one of my favorite words)
$14 for a 2 day pass

Stop by if you're in the area or go make a mini vaca out of it. Either way I'm sure you'll learn a lot and have a great time.

Stay Cakin'!

Monday, April 26, 2010

CakeDDS Cake Contest!

CAKE! Dessert Design Studio is running a logo design contest!

Now through July 1st enter your logo design or sketch for a chance to win the grand prize of a custom designed novelty cake (valued at $400 USD) from our studio! Take a look at our work at CAKE! A Dessert Design Stdio on Facebook. All entries must be received by 12pm July 1, 2010.

1. About CAKE! :
We are a new design studio intent on taking standard cakes to the next level. Our company prides itself on delivering awesome cakes that look amazing and taste even better. All of our cakes and products are handmade from scratch and finished pieces nearly 100% edible. Our company’s primary colors of purple, black and silver must be incorporated into the design. THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX!!!!! Please note that we are a boutique, not your typical Main St USA bakery. We deal exclusively with custom cake and dessert orders and like to challenge preconceived ideas of food in our designs. We pride ourselves on being innovative and we want our logo or symbol to reflect that as well as have a sense of youth, individuality, style and swagger.
DO NOT CALL US A BAKERY……we’re a DESIGN STUDIO.

2. How to enter:
To be eligible to win, contestants must submit their design or design sketch no later than 12:00 pm July 1, 2010.

3. What to submit:

You must submit a finished logo design or concept along with your name, email address and telephone number via the internet to CAKEDDS@GMAIL.COM or by mail to:

CAKE! Dessert Design Studio
370 W Pleasantview Ave Suite 2281
Hackensack, NJ 07601.

All computer generated entries must be submitted in one of the following formats: Photoshop, .jpg, .tiff, .png, .pct, .bmp, or .pdf.
Hard copies submitted by mail may be no larger than 8.5x11.

Entries MAY NOT include:
• Quotes or other plagiarized elements
• Previously copyrighted text or artwork
• False and/or deceptive entries that are not the original work of the contestant
• 3rd party stock photography or video elements, aside from what is provided on the CAKE! Facebook page.


To be eligible for selection as the final logo designs may not refer to any of the following:
weapons/guns; offensive language and/or gestures; drugs or drug paraphernalia; mutilations; depictions offensive to ethnic, minority, or religious groups; child abuse; violence; animal cruelty; bodily functions; venereal diseases; physical handicaps; cadavers; rape or molestations; lavatory or lavatory jokes; nudity; threats to national security; defamation of character; any illegal, indecent, or obscene activity.

CAKE! will be the final judge for all content. Anything deemed indecent as judged by community standards will be immediately disqualified.

The grand prize winner will be announced via our Facebook page and notified by email on August 1, 2010.

4. Legal Stuff:
* No purchase necessary.
* All entries become the sole property of CAKE! and will not be returned.
* There will be only one grand prize winner.
* Only the winning contestant may accept the grand prize as stated in contest rules. No other substitutions allowed. Failure to comply with this provision will result in forfeiture of the grand prize by the winner.
* The grand prize is non- transferable and not redeemable for cash.
* The grand prize winner must agree to all terms and meet all requirements stated in these rules or forfeit the grand prize.
* The grand prize winner must sign and return to CAKE! a release waiving any rights to further compensation prior to delivery of the grand prize.
* All other entries and entrants are not entitled to any compensation whatsoever.
* CAKE! Dessert Design Studio reserves the right to use any entries as it deems fit.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Stay Cakin’!

Kid CAKE! Season


The Backyardigans like you've never seen them before. Had fun this weekend getting some practice on figure sculpting. And it's 99% edible!

Cake Class Update


One thing that can not be stressed enough with any skill is practice. Cakin' is no different. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Thank God cake practice is SO much fun!

Here's a short list of some of A-list classes coming to the NY/NJ area:

Colette Peters:

Thursday, May 6: Brush Embroidery Portrait and Plaque
Learn how to make a perfect likeness of any face using royal icing and a brush. Also, we will make a beautiful picture using brush embroidery and gumpaste cutouts. Both of these techniques can be made on a cake or made in advance and put on a cake later. No experience needed. All supplies will be provided.
Cost: $250 Time: 10am-4pm

Friday, May 7: Piping and Stringwork
Learn all about piping and making stringwork on a dummy cake. No experience needed. All materials will be provided.
Cost: $225 Time: 10am-3:30 pm

Saturday May 8: Gumpaste Flowers and Leaves
Learn how to make beautiful and lifelike flowers and leaves and a sugarmold vase to place them in. No experience needed and all materials will be provided.
Cost: $250 Time: 10am-4pm

All classes will be held at Colette's Cake Studio 681 Washington St New York, NY 10014. You can register on Colette's site at www.colettescakes.com.

I've had the pleasure and privilege of taking classes with Colette and believe me she is A-Mazing! Worth all the effort and every penny.

I also STRONGLY suggest looking into joining Meetup groups. They offer incredible classes for a fraction of the price. I live and breathe them. I just took a great sugar art class last weekend through them so keep a look out for some new elements in our work.

And for those that are just starting out, look into the Wilton classes at your local craft store. I've taken them at both Michael's and AC Moore (if you're not familiar with either of these stores you will be the minute you begin decorating).

I will keep you posted as more things become available and remember to check out the CakeDDS Facebook fanpage.

Stay Cakin'!