| Lunch with New York Cake Legend Sylvia Weinstock! |
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| Tuesday, 22 September 2009 10:14 | |||
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To anyone who isn't familiar with Sylvia Weinstock, she is the official 'Queen of Cakes' - just search her name in Google images and see what you come up with! This week was off to an exciting start as we visited with the infamous Mrs. Weinstock at a NACE luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel in Tampa, Florida. Walking into the ballroom gave you the feeling you had entered an Oprah Show set, with a glowing stage accessorized with bright white leather couches and vibrant colored pillows and flowers, and flanked by large slideshow screens. I had a front-row seat at one of the beautiful garden-themed tables piled with olive Dupioni silk linens with candy-colored roses and dahlias spilling out of the centerpiece. I knew I was in for quite a treat.  As I excused myself down the hall during setup I found myself face to face with the sugar-flower-guru herself, getting off the hotel elevator and asking for directions to the main ballroom. The hotel concierge had no idea this was a high-profile client. I sauntered up to her and said, "Good morning Mrs. Weinstock! I'm heading to the main ballroom; I'd be happy to take you there!" Although Sylvia is finely matured over 80s years in age, she has a sharp whit and a unique style; her thick black glasses have literally become her signature (each cake she completes is adorned with this small painted icon) and had she not been wearing them I might not have recognized her. As we walked to the ballroom she told me how much she had enjoyed her visit so far. She had such a down-to-earth demeanor; even during her presentation she stood directly in front of our dining tables instead of on the stage which was far too assuming for her! : )  We listened and watched as she showed us pictures of her various masterpieces, explaining the intricate detail that went into each, or each celebrity client for whom it was created. One tidbit I found interesting was the fact that Sylvia refused to work with fondant; "I won't work with it - I won't eat it" she declared. It gives you a whole new appreciation for her work knowing it is created entirely in buttercream and sugar paste! She spoke of how her cakes were the most delicious around, made with the finest butter, the freshest eggs, and imported chocolates. They are usually baked only the day before the delivery to ensure the freshest product - can you imagine how they can possibly assemble many of these cakes in less than 2 days? When speaking of the pricing of her cakes, she did not indicate the actual cost of her cakes, but instead stated "You cannot make filet mignon with stew meat." I agree Sylvia!  To echo her unassuming nature, she gave us her phone number at her bakery, and told us to call anytime if we had any questions or needed any advice. She mentioned that sharing resources should be a key element among event professionals (something I completely agree with), so it should be no surprise that her beautiful book "Sensational Cakes" features all the recipes for her most popular and well-known cakes and fillings; even her signature Buttercream Icing! If you haven't had the pleasure of thumbing through this book, pick it up next time you're in the store; I was sure to have my copy personally autographed by Sylvia during my visit! While signing the inside cover she asked me, "So what do you do honey?" to which I replied, "I'm the owner and lead event planner at Winsor Event Studio here in Tampa." She then said, "Well you be sure to call me if you ever need a cake; we ship our cakes you know?" - You bet Sylvia; you'll be the first person I call when I need a fabulous, high-profile cake!!  Sylvia prefers to work directly with event planners. If you're interested in commissioning her for a fabulous confectionery creation for your event, please contact us; we can make your fantasy a reality!
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