"There are no such things as beginner cake decorating supplies, only beginner cake decorators," Duff Goldman said to a crowd of eager aspiring cake designers at a demonstration of the Ace of Cakes' new line of do-it-yourself cake decorating tools Thursday. I certainly felt like a beginner as I rolled out fondant in an oblong shape that looked more like a teardrop than the circular sheet of sugary goodness that would soon cover the mini cake on its pedestal before me. I couldn't wait to try out all the cake prettifiers: edible tattoos in funky designs, fondant cutters of all shapes and sizes, frosting in every color of the rainbow, sprinkles galore and twirly wire antennas to stick in curly cues cascading off the cakes.
The Food Channel star and founder of Charm City Cakes in Baltimore produced his line of supplies with Gartner Studios so people at home could feel like pros using the same tools he wields in his bakery, he said, strolling among workstations in his personalized UConn jersey that made him look more like a football player than a chef. The affordable easy-to-use products, including patterned cake tattoos, cake graffiti, and decorating tools can be found at Michaels stores nationwide.
I looked up from my operating table to check out the other attempts. There were girly cakes with flowers and glitter, a cake with a more macho skull-and-crossbones tattooed motif, and one or two cakes with elaborate twisted braids and patterns that hinted at much more capable hands. I put the wire cutters down and picked up a heart-shaped fondant cutter.
I nibbled a piece of fondant, and as the sugar rushed to my head, I finally let loose and blazed my poor tortured cake with sweet spray from the graffiti paint can. After all, it's like Goldman said, "Cake can't be ugly; it's delicious."
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