Anne Heap Makes Amazing Cakes!!!
Anne competes in the Food Network Wedding Cake Challenges and simply put makes amazing cakes!!! Lorelie-Anne you started in a restaurant kitchen and then moved into your own space. Do you have any stories to share about your experiences in that kitchen? When did you know it was time to open your own place? Anne-I started working as a pastry chef in an Italian restaurant after graduation from culinary school. While I was there, I started my business, making cakes during my off hours. After one of my fondant cakes 'flopped' in the restaurant's humid refrigerator, I knew it was time to go out on my own! Lorelie-Can you tell us more about your creative self prior to making amazing cakes and opening The Pink Cake Box? Do you have an arts and crafts background? Anne-I studied English, with a concentration in Creative Writing at Boston College. After college, I worked in Advertising. I painted on the side, for fun, but have had no formal artistic training. The creativity inside me wasn't fulfilled however, which led me to culinary school. Lorelie-Speaking of studying, what was it like learning with Ron Ben Israel? (who also makes amazing cakes!) Anne-Studying with Ron Ben-Israel was an amazing experience. I learned a lot and discovered my true passion for artistry in cake!
Lorelie-How exciting it must be to compete on the Food Network Challenge. Knowing how much work it is to make wedding cakes let alone amazing ones, I can imagine how stressful those challenges must be. Can you give us a little insider scoop, some TLC backstage tidbits perhaps? Anne-Competing on the Food Network and TLC cake challenges is exciting, nerve-wracking and fun all at the same time! One of the hardest parts is trying to finish your cake with cameras bumping into you. Sometimes you just want to scream "I'm trying to make a cake here!" but then remember you are being filmed :) Lorelie-I have to say Anne, watching you on the challenge, you appeared to be very calm.
Lorelie-Your Guinness Beer grooms cake is one of my (and my husbands) favorites of your amazing cakes. It looks so real. Do you have a most memorable cake that you or your staff have made and why is it special?
Anne-We recently did a Wall Street Bull cake. It was very challenging structurally and artistically - so it stands out in my mind. I also really love doing the dress cakes - it makes me feel like a fashion designer for a day :) Lorelie-I like the way you focus on a Pink Cake Boxer of the month. Your staff must love having you as a boss. What is it like working in your bakery and what does it take to land a job there? Anne-I really try to foster a fun work environment. We work hard, but have a good time doing it! Pink Cake Box is a busy workplace comprised of 95% women. We sing, dance, laugh and act silly quite often. All of my employees are either pastry chefs, or are artists who have worked in sugar previously. Lorelie-Wow it sounds like a blast! I like the sing, dance and acting silly part the best! Lorelie-Like the signature blue Tiffany box your pink cake box with brown ribbon is your signature. Obviously your marketing experience has helped you to grow your business. Do you have words of wisdom for aspiring bakers, cake decorators and pastrychefs? Anne-My advice is to follow your dreams, but do so intelligently. Calculated risks will pay off, where as jumping in head first to a field like pastry can be daunting. It's important to either work in the field, or go to school, to make sure the career is for you. Lorelie-That is great advice! It can be quite daunting at times!
Lorelie-How many cakes do you produce in a week? And how much time does a bride and groom need to order a cake from you. Do you travel with your cakes? Anne-We take on about 20 orders per week, give or take a few depending on the difficulty of the order. We encourage brides to contact us at least 6 months prior to their wedding. We deliver all over New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York metro area. Lorelie-What is the craziest combination of cake flavors that you have been asked to do? And what is your favorite combination? Anne-My favorite flavor is carrot cake with lemon cream cheese and classic vanilla with chocolate filling. Some of our fun combination's have been pistachio cake with chai tea buttercream filling, pink champagne cake with chocolate and raspberry ganache and Meyer lemon cake with boysenberry mousse. Lorelie-YUMMY!I think I need to take a trip down to New Jersey and try these amazing cakes.
Lorelie-You have achieved such a high level, do you feel like your still learning and improving? Anne-I am constantly learning and improving every day. I think it's all relative. I always feel like I still have so much to learn! Lorelie-I just have to know...Did you own an easy bake oven as a kid? Anne-I loved baking as a child! However, I used the real oven :) No easy bake ovens for me! Lorelie-lololol! One last question, which has nothing to do with your amazing cakes, but as a personal trainer (my other profession)I am curious to know. Lorelie- How do you stay in shape while being surrounded by buttercream and delicious amazing cakes all day long. I see that you enjoy running, (on Facebook) and you obviously work to stay fit. Have you ever run races? Do you do any other sort of workouts? Anne-I try to work out or run at 3-4 days per week, more if I have time. I enjoy running and kick-boxing - they are both really great stress relievers! I used to run long distance races, but haven't had the time to commit to training lately. Thank you Anne for sharing a little about yourself and your business with myself and my readers. To see all of Anne's amazing cakes subscribe to her Pink Cake Box Blog or RSS feed and you will be updated whenever she makes a new cake.
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