Taking up the entire back wall of the exhibit hall is the 2012 Cake Decorating Extravaganza. It features entries from across the mid-Atlantic region with cash prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. A Best In Show also will be awarded. The competition is separated into two divisions–professional, those with more than two years of decorating experience and beginning/student, decorators with less than two years of experience.
No matter the division, competition cakes are in one of three categories.
- Tiered cakes–Wedding cakes with two or more tiers and any sugar medium or technique can be used.
- Novelty/specialty cakes–any non-tiered cake with a theme and any sugar medium or technique can be used.
- Sculptured cake–a shaped cake in any theme and covered with buttercream, chocolate or fondant.
Many of the cakes in the competition are totally eye-catching, but I noticed several that featured one of my favorite things: shoes. These cakes were calling my name and I even found a cake that was eerily similar to a pair of shoes that I own. What these decorators had accomplished was grabbing a potential customer's attention and knowing your customers will help you set displays that will make them stop in their tracks.
