We are living through what appears to be a renaissance of sorts—people everywhere are becoming increasingly interested in matters of the kitchen. Simply switch on the nearest television set and you will find whole channels dedicated to the art of cooking and baking and preparing scrumptious meals. This is a move away from the long-standing trend of creating fast, simple meals that were meant more as fuel than to be enjoyed. However, the attention has gradually shifted away from matters of convenience to matters of wholesome and beautiful food.

The Slow Food Movement Comes to America

The slow food movement began to take root in Europe many years ago, as the fast pace of modern life began to attack many people where it hurt the most: at the dinner table. This movement focuses on shifting away from food as fuel to food as something to be truly enjoyed. The slow food movement, in part, may be able to explain the resurgence of what for awhile appeared to be a lost art: the sugar craft that is otherwise known as cake decoration.

Sugarcraft, Pastry Art, Cake Design – Call it What You Will

The growing popularity of cake decoration can be seen merely in the growing amount of adjectives that there are for it: pastry art, sugar craft, etc, all are a symptom of a larger phenomenon: the return of cake decorating. Cake decorating has always been a popular hobby among those gourmands who cannot resist a silken or shimmering dessert, but it did go through a rather prolonged period where interest in cake decoration waned. But now, after a long sleep, cake decoration has returned with a vengeance. Many people, both women and men, have expressed a desire in cooking and baking, and no where is this more evident than in cake design and decoration.

Cake Decorating - The Ultimate in Edible Art

Why has cake decorating become such a popular hobby as of late? The main argument appears to be that cake decorating has surged in popularity because, of all the edible arts, it is the one that is closest to what we think of traditional art. After all, professional cake decorators have to know a lot about design, decorative work, elaborate script work, color and even sculpture. Cake decorating, one can argue, involves all of the senses: touch, sense, smell and sight. Some would argue that there is no lovelier food than a beautifully decorated cake.

The Challenge of the Well-Decorated Cake

Another major aspect of the appeal of cake decorating appears to be that it is not easy. That is, many people are drawn to cake decoration because they understand that it will be a challenge to them. Much as a person might be inclined to sign up to run a marathon in order to challenge themselves, another person might be inclined to sign up for a cake decorating class in order to challenge themselves in the kitchen. In this sense, the well-decorated cake is much like the holy grail of the kitchen—it is something for all passionate chefs and pastry artists to strive for.

Eating Your Mistakes Away

If cake decorating is something that you have always wanted to try, but have never dared to try, now is the time. There are many cake decorating classes being offered at local community colleges throughout the country, and there are many thriving culinary academies that allow you to study for a certificate or diploma in the pastry arts, and more specifically, cake decorating. If you are interested in cake decorating, remember that the magical cake does not appear all on its own—someone must take the time to put it together, sugar crystal by sugar crystal. Why can't this person be you?