February 8th, 2011 marked the debut of my appearance on TLC’s Fabulous Cakes, Boston Edition: Up Up and Away. I was honored to be chosen as one of three Boston area bakers to appear on the episode.

After a month of planning the event and finalizing the details and design I was told a week ahead of time that we were a go. The final cake chosen was for the opening night of Westford Academy’s premiere of Phantom of the Opera. Westford Academy is our local public high school which was granted one of the first licenses to produce Phantom as a non-professional company. The premiere took place November 5, 2010. With a cast of over 85, crew of 65, orchestra of 40, and parents and supporters, the cake had to feed 500 and yet still be easy to serve on stage.

Taping took place over a three day period and the final design included an edible Christine in her boat flowing on the river below the opera house, a cracked mirror, crystal chandelier prisms and fencing foil from silvered isomalt, an edible gumpaste mask and keyboard, chocolate roses, and working candles. The entire cake was covered in chocolate and vanilla fondant and featured both chocolate raspberry and vanilla butter cake.

And for those wondering, yes, I really did cut my finger up badly on the cake saw, and am still hoping the the pain stops and feeling returns to my fingertip someday.