On Monday, July 20, I started designing my idea for the ACF Cold Salon Competition that was to take place on July 31. I was having a hard time trying to figure out an idea so I called the first person that I always think of to help me out, my mom. She was to be my “so called” client and tell me what she would want for a wedding cake. She couldn’t think of anything either so I decided to do a replica of my parents’ wedding cake but modernized (since they got married in 1978). I remembered pictures of my parents wedding and that their colors were white and yellow and the cake had yellow roses, but no leaves. So, from that idea I decided to do a three tiered cake with white fondant, olive green fondant trim, and yellow, gum paste roses. Also, my parents love coffee, so that was going to be the flavor of the cake. After I had sketched out my idea, the baking began. All throughout that first week, I baked off my cakes, filled them with hazelnut and chocolate buttercream, crumb coated the cakes, and put them in the freezer. Now, began the process of making the gum paste roses. I hadn’t really practiced making flowers, so it took me a couple of days to get the hang of it and really perfect the process. This was the hardest part of the whole cake. Because I just started making them and I wasn’t very fast at it, I only made about three to four roses a day. Therefore, I finally finished my roses and the total amount I made was thirteen. Next came putting the cake all together. Once all the cakes were coated with fondant and the trim was put onto the cake, I began placing the roses on to the cake. Once that was all done, I was finally finished with my cake! BUT—I finished rather early and was bored for about an hour when I finally decided I was going to enter another cake. I hadn’t thought about making another whatsoever, so I went home for about an hour to gather some ideas. By the time I came back to class it was about 10:30 p.m., but plenty awake and excited to challenge myself. I started mixing my batter at 11:00 p.m. and I finished the whole, three tiered wedding cake by 3:00 a.m. I have to say, baking and decorating in four hours in the middle of the night is quite exhausting. I had no time to even think about the competition or to even get nervous about it, all I wanted to do was go to sleep. The next morning, after only four hours of sleep, the competition was to begin. All the competitors brought out their fabulous pieces and out came the judges. So, now the impatient wait was to come. We waited about an hour to an hour and a half and it was time to be critiqued. Once this was over, everyone was handed out their participation certificates and also medals. 

            This competition was not only challenging but FUN! It was a great way to push yourself and get to know what a real competition was all about. I would like to congratulate all the people that participated in the competition and everything turned out exquisite.