The Mona Lisa Could Be a Decadent Delight.
Who doesn’t love cake? Apart from being a work of culinary art, a slice of rich, delicious, moist cake with silky smooth butter cream frosting is a reliable comfort food that can almost guarantee any situation to be a little bit better. In their oldest form, these desserts were fried breads or cheesecakes in a round shape. Today, the baking process has been simplified with electric equipment and premixed ingredients from a box, making cakes a more prevalent form of dessert. True cake aficionados appreciate the art form of making these pastries from scratch – batter through icing. Every city has a handful of artisan bakeries that rely on decades old family recipes rather than succumbing to the “factory” approach of so many commercial bakeries.
Even one look at the finished product proves that cake decorating is a true art form. Television shows like Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes delve into the hustle and bustle of the industry, giving us a behind the scenes look at what inspires their creations. These bakery teams have built everything from a replica of Yankee Stadium to Mount Rushmore. In the presence of a fully decorated cake, it is often times difficult to remember that a baked and shaped, it is a blank canvas for an artist. Although just about anyone can appreciate the beauty of an iced and decorated cake, it is inspiring to see the intricate detail of the process.
While cake is certainly artistic, it is also nostalgic. The sight of a decorated cake with or without candles is like a time machine transporting us to our youth. Whether it is a wedding, a birthday celebration or a rainy day, this dessert unifies friends and loved ones, creating happy memories for a lifetime. Unlike many good things in life, cake very rarely holds a negative connotation.
Think back to a time you have eaten cake. What was the occasion? Who were you with? What flavor was it? And most importantly, how did it make you feel? There’s probably an open bakery in your neighborhood…..
Tags: Ace of Cakes, baking, cake, Cake Boss, desserts