Beautiful and delicious desserts can be the capstone to an elegant dinner party, a bridal shower, or even an anniversary celebration. But the task of creating that signature finish can be a daunting proposition, and many hosts are most comfortable leaving this aspect in the hands of professional bakers or caterers. With a little pre-planning and defining a realistic budget, every host should find the perfect finish to their grand event, when they utilize the resources provided by the professionals.
Working with Your Caterer or Baker
Communication is critical for getting the desired product from your catering professional. Collect photographs of unique cakes and desserts that your baker could replicate. If your anniversary party or shower event has a special theme, start to collect images that represent the theme. These pieces of information can be useful in the brainstorming session with your pastry professional.
Quantity and Serving Size
This detail should be handled by your baker. Communicate the number of guests you will be serving, whether there will be other food provided to your guests, and if you want to have leftovers. Your baker can determine the correct amount of cake or dessert to fulfill these needs. Remember to advise your baker of any unusual circumstances pertaining to your guests eating habits (dietary requirements, allergies, religious food constraints).
Suggestions from a Professional Baker
Karina Kappel, an award-winning baker of custom cakes and cookies at The Artful Baker in Naperville, Illinois, offers these suggestions for a healthy relationship between customer and catering professional.
- Start with a consultation where the client provides the baker with the details of the event, i.e. the colors, style, and theme.
- Photos of favorite cakes and favorite styles provided by the client can lead to a productive brainstorming session. In addition to photos, share the event invitation and fabric swatches with your baker to provide additional inspiration.
- Ask the baker to provide a few sketches based on your initial consultation, and work out the final details from these sketches.
Unique Endings to Your Elegant Event
Take advantage of the unique talents of your pastry professional. If your baker has a special dessert or decorating style, consider incorporating it into your menu. For instance, with Ms. Kappel's Master's Degree in Scientific and Medical Illustration, her botanically-correct flowers and perfectly-recreated butterflies bring her desserts to a whole new level of beauty. Any nature-inspired event would benefit from incorporating her artful baking onto the dessert table.
Janice Benoit - I'm Janice Benoit and I live in suburban Chicago. I have worked in most facets of the hospitality industry -- from hotel front desk to ...
