Bake, bake and away
Benoni businessman Paul Vieira has produced something very close to his heart: an aircraft - one made of cake.
Vieira was asked to bake a celebratory cake to mark the 20-year partnership of Comair and British Airways.
The ‘plane’ was unveiled at O R Tambo International Airport on October 28.
The Cake Extreme owner crafted a British Airways (operated by Comair) Boeing 737-800 cake and labelled it his ‘top one’.
The masterpiece was four metres in length and weighed 500kg – which included all the navigation lights and both engines which had an electric motor for the turbines.
The ingredients included: 1 575 eggs (52, 2kg), 90kg of cake flour, 60kg white sugar, 4.5kg baking powder, 45l of cooking oil, 30l of water, 500ml vanilla essence, 30kg white margarine, 20kg icing sugar, 50kg butter cream and 80kg colour fondant to cover the entire cake.
Vieira is no stranger to large cakes.
“I have twice made a life-size car of 4,8m in length; and the replica of a shopping mall that measured 5,5m by 3,6m,” Vieira said.
The baker said he had “some big surprises” and complicated challenges with the aircraft.
“The cake took a lot of engineering, skills and thought,” he said.
It took two weeks of preparation for the structure, four hours of baking and five hours of assembly.
The design is close to Vieira’s heart.
“I have always had a passion for aircraft; I still believe they are the best machines ever invented,” he explained.
“Not even the new technology of today, has impressed me like that of an aircraft.”
Baking this cake has also motivated Vieira to look for bigger challenges.
“I’m hoping to find someone with a bigger challenge,” Vieira added.
“I want to show the world that the sky is not the limit.
“I also want to help people who don’t have food someday.”
Not only did Vieira bake a memorable cake, he has also learned a lot from his experience.
“I found new techniques for making huge cakes.”
He draws inspiration from the Cake Boss: Buddy Valastro.
Also read:
Special cake for a special newspaper relaunch
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