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Go behind the scenes of a high-end custom cake business in Aspen, Colorado, where the "cake maker for the rich and famous" will take you on a rollercoaster ride through cakes and clients that defy the imagination!
"What the heck was I thinking?"
That is what Sandy Hargrave often asks herself, looking back over some of the more ostentatious designs throughout her twenty-five-year career as a cake decorator for the world's most prestigious clients. From cakes transported on crowded airplanes, to a 3D design on the Food Network Cake Challenge, and even to a cake that traveled up a ski gondola during a blizzard, Sandy's confections have gone on some wild rides.
Making large custom cakes is so much more than just eggs and flour. Sandy's storied journey has involved crazy adventures, ridiculous mishaps, and countless OMG moments. The Real Stories Behind The Pretty Cakes gives a rare look behind the scenes of an international legend in the cake decorating industry. With twenty handpicked, never-before-told stories, get ready to be shocked, entertained, and enlightened about the things that sugar can do-with a little imagination, a lot of love, and just a dash of willingness to test the odds.
This is the story of a woman who went from looking in cake shop windows wondering how they did that stuff to becoming one of the top cake decorators in the world. Perfect for fans of baking shows and cake competitions, and for anyone who's ever dreamed of the most epic wedding or birthday cake imaginable, The Real Stories Behind The Pretty Cakes is your ticket to the secret inner world of the tastiest career on the planet.
About the author
Sandy Hargrave, also known as the cake decorator for the "rich and famous," owned and operated Classic Cakes of Aspen, Inc., in Aspen, CO. for 20+ years. Sandy was known for designing exquisite "Edible Art for Unforgettable Memories" using a variety of techniques, including her signature style, White Chocolate Draping. She developed a national, and an international clientele. Her cakes have been featured as the focal point for a vast array of gatherings, from simple to "over-the-top" celebrity events, for presidents and foreign dignitaries from around the world.Sandy, who holds the Certified Master Sugar Artist distinction, traveled frequently, judging cake competitions, teaching technique, product design and business building. Sandy taught a variety of Sugar Art classes, from 3-D Cupcakes to Elegant Wedding Cakes, from novice to seasoned professional. She taught at many I.C.E.S. events, the Wilton School of Cake Decorating in Chicago, the Art Institute of Denver, and numerous cake clubs and bakeries. She was renowned for being the world's top authority on White Chocolate Draping and published two cake decorating books: White Chocolate Draping and Groom's Cakes. Her creations have been featured in: Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Denver Post, Confetti, Modern Bride, InStyle, Aspen Sojourner, Food and Wine, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Colorado Brides, American Cake Decorating, Australian Sugar Craft, Wild Blue Yonder, Edible Aspen, and Aspen Peak magazines. Sandy, along with Nan Cutler, were participants on the Food Network Mystery Cake Challenge.
