Cakes to Dream On
Colette Peters has been around quite a while, and can be credited for starting the trend towards big, crazy, wildly-colored, wacky-shaped cakes – man they are something to behold! Her innovative and amusing gravity-defying cakes are definite attention-grabbers, and her techniques are quite interesting.
I have to say, though, that many of her designs leave me stumped – why would I want a cake that looks like stacked box-spring mattresses?
from Colleen Peters 'Cakes to Dream On'
Others are densely designed, packing many ideas and colors onto a single work; I sometimes think she aspires to be the Gaudi of cake. This isn’t criticism – my creative style is different, that’s all, and I am both bemused and amused by her work. Her influence in cake design is considerable, prodding other designers to creative highs and lows.
I am fond of this book, both for its imagery and her techniques, and respect Colette’s bold risk-taking and success. Recommended for those interested in the history of cake art, and aspiring cake designers curious about the range of design possibilities; not particularly useful for a pastry chef or a home cook.