NEW YORKERS INFORMATION

I love your idea - I often wish people would post their location. Maybe we should ask Jackie for "regional" discussion topics too. I'm in California, but I travel often and am always looking for interesting resources to visit.

Keep posting!

Tazalexis...hi....I'm also from the NYC area....

Kerekes baking supply in Brooklyn is great for just about all your decorating equipment....they also have an easy-to-use website.....

Pattycakes in Queens also has everything...also classes and a website.

Lastly, Jo-mart in Brooklyn also offers classes and has some supplies. They have a website but it's just info about their store. I know there are tons of stores in Manhattan but w/2 young kids it's really hard for me to get to.

I started decorating this year and I fell head over heels....I LOVE this craft. I have delved into just about everything you can do with your hands...but I get such a great feeling when people see my cakes...I'm sure most of the members feel the same way. (I am a painter at heart..I studied at School of Visual Arts). I'm actually in the middle of my first paying order. I'll post a picture when it's done tomorrow.

Anyway...let me know of any NY info that you think is helpful and I'll do the same....

good luck!



Do you have any idea what it takes to get licensed as a home-baker in NY?

I live in New York, but I'm on Long Island.

There's a great shop in Farmingdale called The Chocolate Duck. I'm not sure if they offer classes, but they have every single supply you could possibly need for cake and chocolate decorating.

There's also a smaller shop called Grandma's Candy Kitchen in Wantagh that's great for basic cake decorating supplies, but is much more geared towards chocolate.

Hi again...thanks for the info...
is it dark and dreary in your part of town? I hope it doesn't rain...I'm delivering my first almost-paid-for cake tonight and I don't know how I could cover the thing if it rains (take a look at the photo). By almost-paid-for means that I charged just enough to cover my expenses. It's for a close friend and it will be seen by a lot of potential customers at a catering hall so I didn't charge her.

Talk to you again....

from Bay Ridge....

(now it's raining!) boo hoo

adven68 I love that cake! You did an awesome job on it. I can't wait to hear details on how it is put together, expecially that writting!

Thanks so much for the kind words about this cake....I'll post the finished pictures in the galleries.....it's actually not hard to do....it just needs to planned out well. This is only maybe the 5th fondant cake I have done....so I think about what I need (gambling theme) and then I surf the net for ideas. There was not much out there...but I knew I liked the "whimsical" look. So I baked and froze the actually cake and then I started on the decorations days in advance because it's been soooo humid in NY that and I needed them to dry....
The lettering is actually gum paste that I rolled out long and thin...like fat noodles and I shaped them into the words. They dried for a couple of days and then I sprayed them with the blue food coloring (Wilton sells them in spray cans..those work great if you don't have an airbrush) and then I finished them off with lustre dust. I also made all the suits from a deck of cards in the same way and I painted them gold. Those came out really nice....
The king is made entirely out of gum paste. I took a king from a playing card, simplified and enlarged the drawing (they are usually very ornate and detailed) and then I traced it on to wax paper which I cut into each part and used as stencils. I rolled out the gum pasted, cut out each stencil, paint it whatever color and then put it all together with royal icing. It took some time, but the only thing that stops me when I'm working is if I fall asleep. I have worked practically through the night many times without realizing the time. It's true that you must love what you do to be happy. I'm sure you'll all agree that the reactions of our cakes gives you a wonderful feeling!
I plan on starting a business in September. The kids will be in school and I will have a couple of hours a day to work.

Take care all.....

Taz.. the guy in NY that you mentioned (cakes by design) is Scott Woolley. I was lucky to have taken a 3 hour course he gave at my local supplier here in NJ (Sweet and Fancy, Cranford NJ) I was thrilled with the flowers that I was able to make in that short time. I have wanted to attend one of his classes in the city, but have not had the time (or the extra $$$) lol. But maybe someday!

Hi Tazalexis,
I am in Laurelton, Queens which is about 10 minutes from JFK. I love Meadows. It is where the cakebug bit me. Their prices are reasonable and they offer the classes but their scheduling leaves much to be desired for a stay home mom with days free and evenings tied up with 3 little ones.
AC Moore in Garden City and Michaels in 5 Towns also have the classes. AC Moore's prices are a little better than Michaels and they will take the Michaels 40% coupons.
I am new to cake decorating. Got started after I have been doing lollipops for the children's school events for the longest. I love the ideas and instructions I get from everyone on this site.

Have a great day,
Taisha

HI I AM FROM PORT JERVIS, NY. THAT IS WHERE NY, NJ, AND PA ALL COME TOGETHER (ABOUT 90 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE CITY). AC MOORE IS IN MIDDLETOWN WHICH IS ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM HERE. I USUALLY GET MY BOXES AND BOARDS FROM WELLS WHICH IS A LOCAL TOBACCO AND CANDY STORE. THE PRICES ARE PRETTY GOOD. I CAN ALSO ORDER THINGS THROUGH THE ICE CREAM STAND THAT I WORKED FOR IF I CAN'T FIND IT IN WELLS. THE "POLAR BEAR" WILL HELP ME OUT. THERE IS ALSO A STORE IN MILFORD, PA, THAT HAS PANS TO RENT AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS FOR CAKES. IT ALSO HAS CANDY MOLDS AND THAT STUFF.