Watch out Cake Boss...

I just got cable TV a couple of weeks ago, so I'm new to these cake shows. The first show I really wanted to watch was Cake Boss.

Buddy Valestro has a huge staff of artists and decorators and builders and sculptors and bakers.

We don't.

We have a small staff of bakers and decorators. But our cake shop is in Downtown Northport, Alabama, home base to lots of artists and sculptors and builders.

So while we don't have our own workshops to make all the mechanical stuff they put into their cakes, we *know people* who do.

Yesterday's Elvis cake is a perfect example of the collaborative teamwork possible in a small town full of creative people that allow us to create engineering masterpieces.

See that guitar neck sticking out of the cake? It's a real, life sized guitar neck, coated in chocolate. Way too heavy and awkward to just stick into cake.

The cake is first built on a stand with a large pole running up the center. We don't need the entire stand, just the base and pole for support, but we still have to figure out how to attach the guitar neck.

So we head over to Ander's Hardware, one of the coolest, old fashioned hardware stores around, looking for hardware to make it work.

Their guys weed through the hundreds of boxes of nuts and bolts and fasteners to find us just the right one. I pick up a few extras, just in case.

Then across the street to Kentuck, a world-class folk art center, to see resident metalsmith, Steve Davis. Steve owns Sunheart Metalworks and is an absolutely incredible artist. He made our sign and has baled us out of engineering conundrums many times.

Five minutes with his tools, and we've attached the hardware to the neck.

Did I mention the cake needs to travel, fully assembled, halfway to Birmingham?

Finished product... This neck is not going anywhere.

Comments

[Kindra Leomiti]

I love watching Cake Boss on TLC! The way they make cakes for parties and weddings is just amazing! I wish I can let them make the cake for my future wedding.

[Marys Cakes]

Thanks!

[cdmcake]

I'm a Cake Boss fan, and I have to say that this cake is easily the equal of anything the crew there turns out. Beautiful work!