Minnesota Wedding Cake Chefs
September 29, 2009
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Minneapolis/St. Paul
• 0 Comments
For some in the MN baking scene, to become a wedding cake chef is to reach the apex of the profession. Building wedding cakes is as much an art form as it is a skill that can be learned in a culinary school. Not only must the cake in question be delicious, it must also be beautiful and perhaps most importantly, meet the expectations and design requirements of the bride and groom.
Not Just Baking
Wedding cake chefs occupy a unique niche in the world of Minnesota food service. The Twin Cities abound with excellent bakeries, but what sets this type of baking apart is the fact that the chefs must not only be adept in the kitchen but also excellent communicators and listeners. This is because they are not ensconced in their kitchens, protected from patrons like they would be at a restaurant, but instead they deal directly with their clients on a face to face basis. Given that the demands of soon to be newlyweds might not jive with the realities of modern cake construction, wedding cake chefs must be as diplomatic as they are skilled with the pots and pans.
Food for Celebration
Regardless of the wishes of the baker, ultimately what is most important when putting together a wedding cake is making sure that the customers are completely happy. MN baking is renowned for high levels of customer satisfaction, but baking a wedding cake means going the extra mile to make sure that the big day is as memorable for the eyes and the stomach as it is for the heart. This means that not only must a cake be finished on time and within spec, but it also needs to be delivered safely and cared for properly until it is time for the grand unveiling.
Environment is a Consideration
Heat, transportation, and weight are all considerations a cake baker must take into consideration when making a cake. As so many weddings take place in the summer, and heat is often the enemy in Minnesota, chefs looking to preserve their delicately sculpted icing requires an ability to strategize their MN baking efforts. In addition, Minnesota chefs require some physical abilities too.
An Outlet for Artistry
Wedding cakes are some of the most elaborately constructed items that will ever come out of a bakery shop. Putting together a beautiful cake is about more than just icing and a cute little plastic bride and groom at the top—it is about making a statement that everyone who attends the wedding will remember for the rest of their lives.
Pastry chefs who devote themselves to designing and executing professional wedding cakes have to keep up with the latest trends in cake strengthening, decoration, and styles. The traditional three-tiered structure remains popular, but there are a number of other cake variations to choose from too.