Entering the IDDBA Cake Challenge

Well, wish me luck! I submitted a portfolio to the IDDBA in Madison, Wisconsin to be considered to be one of the three professional store level cake decorators for their annual competition. This year it will be held in June in Anaheim, Calif. and I'm hoping to be one of the few picked to compete! I am originally from L.A. and would love to be able to compete on my home turf. They asked that you submit many pictures, more than fifty if you can...pictures that show your diversity and abilities. The competition itself is run over three days. Day one you make a wedding cake, the next day you fill a bakery case with a variety of cakes and the third day you make three special occasion cakes. I should hear in March if I'm one of the three selected! (eeek!) Publix decorators have participated, and even won the competition before, so it would be a huge honor!

Trip to NYC

I have some exciting news! I was able to be one of the first people to try
the zero grams transfat per serving Crisco on a recent trip to NYC.

I was able to use it to make some icing and it performed just like the Crisco
product I know and trust. I'm looking forward to using it in the Professional
Division at the National Pie Competition in Celebration, Florida in April.
What was really exciting was to know that it will be available in butter
flavor, which I prefer.

I wasn't the only National Pie Champion that went! Phyllis Bartholomew was
also invited. We had an exciting time. We even got to go to a Cake store
where we got to shop and I was able to get more of those Morello Cherries from
a new Trader Joe's location that opened just off of 14th and Union Square.
I'll have to create a new recipe with it featuring those wonderful cherries,
because I can't use the same winning recipe.

The day began arriving in La Guardia airport at 1030am and a driver was
waiting to take me to the test kitchen. NYC is just as you expect, lots of
people and the busyness of the city humming. I'm from L.A. and I LOVE the
city, so for me it was very exciting and invigorating.
What an honor to be a part of something so groundbreaking! It was a thrill
and something I know I'll remember for many years to come.

Valarie