Fabulous NYC Cake Decorator Needed

[mags]

My shop will be throwing a big party at the end of April, and I want to commission an elaborate cake -- probably in the shape of a pile of books (since it's a bookshop) -- for about 200 people. Anybody have any recommendations in the NYC area? I'm looking for something beautiful, yummy, and (ideally) not so expensive that I have to ummm...toss off motorists on the West Side Highway to pay the freight (with apologies to Tony).

[bourdain]

Sylvia Weinstock.

[eatingwitheddie]

Sylvia Weinstock.

212 925-6698

[Comfort Me]

Charmaine Jones at Outrageous Cakes

212-722-0678

Outrageous Cakes

[Suzanne F]

Ellen Baumwoll ellen@bijouxdoux.com

Amy Berg (may only do cookies) 718-871-1314 (w)

Susan Chiusano susanchiusano@yahoo.com

Cheryl Kleinman 718-237-2271 (w)

Anne McManus (exec pastry chef somewhere)

Colette Peters cakecolet@aol.com

Marie Sheil Regusis 718-898-1649 (h)

Jeanne Voltz jvoltz@nyc.rr.com

These are all member of the NY Women's Culinary Alliance.

[Steve Klc]

Let's see--beautiful, yummy and not-so-expensive. You're going to have a tough time getting all three, since the top echelon of cake people have been in the top echelon for a long time and charge accordingly. In fact, even getting one or two of the three might be tough, depending on your standards and level of expectation. Some artists work better in certain mediums--say fondant or buttercream--and less well in other mediums--like chocolate. Some have taste to match their visual styling, some don't.

Of cake artists, I admire and recommend Ron Ben-Israel, Margaret Braun, Colette Peters, Toba Garrett, Rosemary Littman and Ellen Baumwoll for different reasons and for different clients and projects. You'll have to see who is a better fit for you. On the pastry chef side for large cakes, you might consider Biagio Settepani of Bruno Bakery or Martin Howard here:

http://www.martinhowardcakes.com/

eespecially if you wanted to work chocolate into the cake.

Good luck!

[tommy]

Back Street Bakers, Glen Rock, NJ (northern NJ)

201 652 7259

[Cleo]

Gail Watson Cakes

Don't know about the prices, but very beautiful and delicious.

[sherribabee]

Confetti Cakes

Her specialty cakes are AMAZING!

Edited January 1, 2004 by sherribabee (log)

[mags]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. The options I've seen look amazing. One more question: How much of a design do I need to have in order to get a price-quote? I ask because I'm about as handy with a pencil as ummm.....as someone who really can't draw, and I'm hoping these folks can come up with a design based on the elements I'd like to include.

[rhubarbz]

As a NY Women's Culinary Alliance board member, i heartily applaud Suzanne's recommendations! (you're the best Suzanne!!). I also want to endorse Steve's recommendations of Biagio Settepani and Martin Howard. I've worked with Biagio & Martin in the past, and they're great guys. In fact, Martin did my wedding cake, which was other-worldly and ethereal and utterly delicious. Sylvia Weinstock's cakes are genius but VERY pricey.

[peripatetic]

Weinstock is very good.

[Amuse Bouche]

I know you've gotten a lot of suggestions, but having recently tasted a lot of cake (a rash of friends just got married or are getting married), I have to recommend Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken. The cakes are delicious and beautifully decorated, and much less expensive than Sylvia Weinstock or Gail Watson.

www.carlosbakery.com

[marthapook]

Sylvia Weinstock.

i'm suprised

Ron Ben-Israel is way better

[ellenesk]

Try gail watson custom cakes. Gailwatsoncakes.com