SYDNEY

While my friend, Willow, was giving me a great haircut, she asked if I would be willing to do a birthday cake for her teenage daughter. Syndey loves to watch the cake shows and wants to explore the possibility of working with food as a career. She would like a cake that is fun and whimsical, just like on TV.
Well, of course I wanted to make her a cake! But, anyone who knows me knows that I have mixed feelings about working with fondant. To quote my assistant, Monique, "It is like trying to eat cake with chewing gum in your mouth!" But I love to do fun, lighthearted cakes. Where is the compromise? Gumpaste is great to work with and doesn't get in the way of the enjoyment of eating cake, which in the end, to me, is the most important thing.
Sydney's party was Hawaiian themed, so Monique (who is from Hawaii, lucky lady) and I came up with this design. Vanilla buttercream waves, lapping over a graham cracker crumb beach with a gumpaste lei of plumeria flowers (individually made and painted) and gumpaste flip flops.
This cake was a blast to make!!! Thank you Sydney and Willow for getting my creative juices flowing. I am already thinking about next year. Maybe we can make it together!