The Well-Decorated Cake

by Toba Garrett

Book Overview

As a Master Cake Designer and featured instructor at the prestigious Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, Toba Garrett has taught top industry professionals her decorating secrets. Now,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402717733
• ISBN13: 9781402717734
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Sterling
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.7" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

The Best Cake Decorating Book Ever!!!

I have been doing cake decorating for about 35 years. My first venture into the world of cakes began with a castle cake that I just had to create for my son's first birthday. I found a frosting that was called Royal Icing, sounded impressive enough for MY son. Not bothering to read too much about the final product I made & covered his cake entirely out of this Royal Icing, nice & thick too. The party centered around the guests trying to chisel out enough chocolate cake to taste this divine creation. Over the years I have learned so much more from a few classes nad from Wilton cake books.However I LEARNED MORE IN 20 MINUTES OF READING Ms Toba Garrett's "THE WELL DECORATED CAKE" THEN I HAVE LEARNED IN 30 YEARS OF DECORATING. SHE IS JUST THE BEST. AND I WOULD LOVE TO STUDY UNDER HER GUIDANCE

If only it were possible to give 10 stars ...

FINALLY, of all the cake decorating books I own, a new one comes along that could almost make ALL the others obsolete -- it's that good. A recent review of Collette Peters' "Cakes To Dream On" (a book which claims in its subtitle to be a "A Master Class in Decorating") says, and I quote: "While I concede that this book is stunning to look at, Colette Peters does not want you to learn how to make these cakes. The cake decorating instructions are vague and absurdly simplistic in the extreme; general discussion of technique ... is either absent or useless in its brevity... This is another narcissistic venture by Colette Peters." Well, Ms. Garrett, on the other hand, is REALLY offering you 'a master class in decorating'. Unlike Ms. Peters, Ms. Garrett DOES want you to learn how to make these cakes and DOES want to help you do so. I am overcome with admiration for her for that fact alone. She'd have every right in the world to be narcissistic and stuck-up, to jealously guard all her professional skills and secrets ... and yet she's not and she doesn't. She gives the real deal in this book and it's worth every penny and more of its purchase price. Books like Ms. Peters' various books which may in truth, despite claims to the contrary, serve only as inspiration rather than instruction, still meet a very real need -- and I don't mean to imply otherwise. However, what's so admirable about "The Well-Decorated Cake" is that in it, Ms. Garrett -- a seriously skilled decorator -- offers BOTH: real, hard-core instruction on sophisticated, professional techniques, AND inspiration and ideas galore thanks to the numerous photos of completed cakes. Would this book be appropriate for absolute beginners? I'm not entirely sure -- it aims high and assumes at least a working familiarity with the fundamental components involved. Still, it spells out any number of details carefully and thoroughly -- far more carefully and thoroughly than any number of books and/or articles I've read in my years of researching this subject. She teaches professionals and it shows. By the way, I purchased the paperback edition and am more than pleased with its quality. The paper is heavy and smooth and the font crisp and clear. Add to that truly superb photographs in abundance and lovely line drawings and diagrams. This book is, undeniably, a winner. Congratulations, Ms. Garrett, and THANK YOU! P.S. (April 2006) I see Ms. Garrett is coming out this September with another book on cake decorating (Professional Cake Decorating, Wiley publisher) intended for professional students. Betcha it'll be really comprehensive and solid. Keep your eyes open!

Building on the basics

I just received my book yesterday after waiting 3 months and it was worth the wait. I have an extensive collection of cake decorating books and this ranks among the best. As a Wilton Method teacher I can attest that the work displayed in this book is attainable by students who have mastered the basics. There is indeed something wonderful about having a piping bag in your hand. I highly recomend this book.

More room on the pedestal please!!!

That pedestal is getting pretty crowded but I think that it'll have room for Ms. Garrett!! Having been thoroughly enchanted with the creative gems of her first book, "Creative Cookies", I waited (and waited and waited a verrrrry long time) with bated breath for this new book, and it was well worth it. She can be placed with the likes of Colette Peters, Dede Wilson, good ol' Martha, and Anna Von Marburg, just to name a few, as incredible women of creativity in cakes!! Lovely and sharp photography accompany her easygoing and clear teaching method of helping even the most novice of bakers to attempt these wonderful creations. The hints and tips that she gives are both insightful, yet simple, and you can truly feel that you are attempting something within your realm of ability, regardless of experience. Thank you Ms. Garrett!!