The Perfect Wedding Cake [Hardcover]

Kate Manchester (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

The crowning moment of any wedding reception comes when the bride and groom join hands to slice that first piece of wedding cake. Whether the cake of choice is a multiple-tiered extravaganza with spun sugar and marzipans or a simple round layer cake adorned with flowers, it is always the centerpiece of the party. The Perfect Wedding Cake is an inspirational guide for the bride and groom on how to choose a wedding cake that reflects the style of their wedding. 'It covers everything they need to know, including how to select a cake design and baker, when to cut and serve the cake, and how to choose delicious flavor combinations and a cake to complement the season. For those who want to bake their cake at home, the book includes basic but delicious cake and frosting recipes created by a leading pastry chef that can be executed in a home kitchen. Thirty-five full-color photographs of gorgeous wedding cakes showcase a wide variety of inspirational styles and types - from traditional tiered cakes to contemporary alternatives such as jewel-like single-serving cakes - created by some of the most respected chefs working today, including Sylvia Weinstock, Francois Payard, Gail Watson, and Ron Ben-Israel. Black-and-white photographs of enduring rituals, from the bride and groom kissing to the cutting of the cake, set the mood. An extensive resource guide of the top wedding cake bakers in the United States completes the book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kate Manchester is a food writer and a private chef. She is coauthor of Sylvia Weinstock's Sweet Celebrations (Simon & Schuster), and her articles have appeared in Martha Stewart Living, Outside, and Vermont Life magazines. Zeva Oelbaum, is a New York-based still life and food photographer, who contributes to the New York Times. Bon Appetit, and Metropolitan Home. She has photographed many books, including Perfect Vinaigrettes (Stewart, Tabori & Chang). The Sutter Home Napa Valley Cookbook (Chronicle), and My Favorite Dessert Company Cookbook (HarperCollins).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 111 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang; First Edition edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584790849
• ISBN-13: 978-1584790846
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #97 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Cooking by Ingredient > Meat, Poultry & Seafood > Seafood

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Wedding Cake, June 16, 2006

By 

Bramblewood on the Lane "Vici" (NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Perfect Wedding Cake (Hardcover)

As an experienced cake decorator looking for new ideas, I was not impressed with this book. The examples were a bit staid. I would not even recommend it for new bakers since there are no explicit guidelines for making the decorations, constructing the cakes, etc. I would recommend The Well Decorated Cake by Toba Garrett. The instructions are simple and easy to follow even for the novice. And the recipes are wonderful. I have tested almost every one and had great results the first time.

32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not impressed, July 1, 2003

By 

Jane Gruph (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Perfect Wedding Cake (Hardcover)

Sadly, I was extremely underwhelmed by this book. It is just a collection of some above-average cake decorating. There are no instructions on how to make the sugar paste flowers or decorations. A better book would be Margaret Braun's Cakewalk. This book, however, is great for beginners or clueless brides. For us pastry folks, I recommend you pass on it.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wedding Cake Guide for Brides, March 10, 2003

By 

C. Bennett (New England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Perfect Wedding Cake (Hardcover)

This whimsical book features 35 full color and 10 black and white photographs of wedding cakes. The diversity of the cakes is the real strength to this book. Many modern books focus primarily on fondant-covered cakes (the cover of this book is a fondant cake), but this book strikes out into buttercream and even stacked pastry cakes. The variety of cakes in this book is a great value-add for brides.

The book is arranged topically. Chapters include an Introduction to Wedding Cake Lore and History, Cake Flavors Fillings and Icings, Choosing a Wedding Cake Baker, and even Recipes for Baking Your Own Cake. While the majority of brides will prefer to purchase a cake, the inclusion of recipes will help brides understand exactly what goes into making a wedding cake, ensuring that the brides who read this book are well-educated consumers.

The cake designs feature modern and classic inspirations. On page 18, you will find a fondant cake covered in impeccable gum paste roses and calla lillies. On page 22 you will find a buttercream cake adorned with chocolate seashells and coral, perfect for a summer wedding. On page 28, you will find the modern favorite tilted design, accented with gold and metallic colors. You will even discover a stacked cupcake design as an alternative to a traditional tiered cake.

Creatively written for the bride, this is an essential guide to choosing your wedding cake. For friends of the bride, this makes a lovely gift.