Icing on the cake

What say you on the issue below?

A cake designer talks about her new book and the inspiration behind her beautiful creations.

THANK you so much for making our wedding day so stunning ... Your cakes were truly amazing!” gush fashion designer Stella McCartney and her husband, Alasdhair Willis, on www.peggyporschen.com.

The site belongs to none other than cake designer extrodinaire Peggy Porschen, who is in person a little shy, unassuming and soft-spoken. The German lass is London-based, and counts superstars Elton John, Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna among her heavyweight celebrity clients.

Peggy Porschen with her delectable creations.

She was in Kuala Lumpure earlier in the year to promote her latest book, Cake Chic, and also to run a three-day course on cake decorating at the International Centre of Cake Artistry (ICCA) in Kota Damansara, Selangor.

Porschen, 33, is a qualified Cordon Blue pastry chef and has 10 years of experience under her belt. After leaving home for an apprenticeship at Le Cordon Bleu London, the renowned patisserie and culinary school, she stayed put in the city and worked as a pastry chef for Lanesborough Hotel and caterers Rhubarb Food Design. She was also a cake decorator for Konditor & Cook, a bakery with a cult following amongst London’s cake lovers.

After honing her skills, she set up her own cake business in 2003, working from her flat and specialising in special occasion cakes.

Her first major order was from Fortnum & Mason, a renowned luxury food store in London, which remains a customer to this day. As orders became bigger, Porschen found herself unable to cope as a “home” baker.

In 2005, she set up her studio in Battersea, London, and was joined by her friend and partner Bryn Morrow, a successful chef. In the same year, she published her first book Pretty Party Cakes, which caused a sensation in the baking world.

“In 2003, I participated in a Christmas fair in London and was spotted by a publisher, who liked my work. So we started working on a book.

“All my books reflect who I am at that moment in time. For my first book, I was 28, young and carefree, and you will see that my cake designs reflect that,” says Porschen.

The success of her book drove even more people to her shop, inundating her with orders.

She worked on her second book, Romantic Cakes, whilst she was preparing for her wedding to her business partner and sweetheart Morrow (they got married last year). That book, needless to say, was another runaway hit.

She refers to their partnership as a “dream team’’.

“Both of us understand the importance of quality and service,” she says. “Also, I tend to get a little stressed and nervous and he keeps me grounded.”

As her books reflect the stages in her life, could we be expecting a children’s cake decorating book next?

Porschen laughs and says it could be a possibility. For now, though, her attention is on her current book, Cake Chic. The photography is superb (as always) and there is great step-by-step photography to guide the reader through the seemingly tedious process.

Porschen tries to accommodate the beginner, but she says that about 15% of the book involves intricate designs that are more suited for the advanced decorator.

“I have built my reputation on design work, so I want the book to reflect that. But like any craft, cake decorating requires a lot of practice and patience, so if people are new to this, even those who have never baked before, they can start with the easier items in the book, and work their way to the more difficult,” says Porschen.

She also emphasises the flavour of her cakes. She says it is important that the cake tastes as good as they look. For that, she provides the recipes for a variety of cake flavours at the back of her book.

A look through Cake Chic yields an amazing array of designs. Porschen draws inspiration from many things – fashion, lifestyle, wallpaper, fabric.

As her business grows, she is thinking of taking that big step into television.

“There is interest from television companies,” she says. “The challenge is to create a show that will appeal to the masses. What I do is not considered mass enough, yet I do not want to dilute my brand and put out a show just for the sake of putting out a show. So we’re working on it.”

While she mulls over fame on the silver screen, she is planning a line of products and accessories.

“Again, we’re looking to produce mainstream products like crockery and stationery, and not necessarily just baking utensils,” she says.

For now, fans will have their hands full trying to emulate the beautiful creations in her latest book. This talented baker has certainly come a long way since she baked her first cake at 14.

‘Cake Chic’ is priced at RM110 and is available at all major bookstores.