Lovers of cake art are in for a treat this month when Benoni’s Cake Decorators Network hosts world-renowned cake decorator and international tutor Claudia Prati, who will be visiting all the way from Italy.
This is not the first time the Cake Decorators Network has hosted a prestigious master of the craft.
In 2020, they hosted Kelvin Chua, the 2018 Cake Masters Royal Icing Champion to do training in South Africa.
Tania Riley, a Cake Decorators Network member and owner of Cake Arts in Farrarmere, explains that Claudia will be hosted to train interested cake decorators and chefs in a series of workshops between March 23 and 27 at the International Hotel School in Rynfield.
“Cake Arts, Rolkem SA, Chipkins Puratos and Sugar and Crafts are sponsors of her visit, and we are very excited about the classes Claudia will be offering,” she said.
Not only is Claudia the author of an award-winning cake design book, a gold medallist and an international tutor, in 2017 she developed a cake decorating method that involves the use of painting, palette knife and royal icing that she called “Materika”.
This is her personal reinterpretation of the classic acrylic/stucco painting repeated in a “sweet” key using edible medium such as royal icing/butter cream and food colouring. Nowadays Claudia travels around the world to teach her particular technique.
“It is very expensive to go to Italy to do a class with Claudia, so interested parties need to take full advantage of her five one-day day classes while she is in Benoni,” Tania said.
What’s coming up with Claudia:
March 22: Cake Decorators Network monthly meeting, Baptist Church, Wordsworth Road, Farrarmere, 18:30 – strictly members only. R30 at the door to watch Claudia demonstrate her sunflower cake. Free samples, lucky draws for hampers and two lucky members can win seats to either of Claudia’s classes on March 23 or 24.
At International Hotel School:
* March 23: Protea cake demonstration.
* March 24: Orchid cake demonstration.
* March 25: Violet rose demonstration.
* March 26: Rose wreath demonstration.
* March 27: Spring cake demonstration.
The classes vary in cost. Members of the Cake Decorators Network get 25% discount.
How to join the Cake Decorators Network
The network is a strictly volunteer organisation and operates on a not-for-profit basis. The mission of the network is to help build people skills in cake decoration and allied fields of interest.
• Annual membership fee is R350.
• Members only are allowed to attend monthly meetings (fourth Wednesday of each month) in Farrarmere.
• Door fee for demonstrations is R30.
• Hands-on training workshops are R180.
• WhatsApp Tania on 082 931 6200 to join.
WIN! Book a class and win a voucher
Tania Riley of Cake Arts is giving away a voucher for a one-day class in how to make sugar flowers to every Benoni City Times reader who books a seat at one of Claudia’s classes and states they read about her visit to South Africa in the BCT. Whatsapp Tania: 082 931 6200.
