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I have cooked for as long as I can remember, and was always encouraged by my parents. Both sides of the family have been involved in the food industry for many generations, so I think, I was bound to find myself working with food in one form or another, without really giving any thought to it.
My passion for cake decorating started at the age of 10 when I made a "Treasure Island" cake for my brother's birthday. From then on any opportunity I was there offering my services to make a celebration cake.
I have read many cake decorating books, been to plenty of cake decorating classes, including two years at Westminster College, where I was entered into Hotelympia, winning a certificate of merit in the category Novelty Cakes. This year my family encouraged me to re-enter and I won a silver medal for a novelty cake; Doctor Who's Tardis and K9.
I also make wedding cakes, which have travelled as far as Edinburgh and Plymouth. These have varied in design, from the very simple to the very elaborate. The simplest of white icing and ribbon to sugar paste bride and grooms and a confection of flowers. What ever the bride wants with her cake, I feel it is up to me to make sure that it is created for her. I feel it is a big responsibility, as the cake can be such a focal point of the celebrations.
My formal training started when I left school, I studied at Westminster College of Catering then on to The Cordon Bleu School of Cookery, where I worked my way up from a junior to senior teacher and demonstrator. I went on to work in the City running a dinning room, cooking director's lunches. Time off then followed when I became a mother. I have since run a school kitchen and now have gone back to the thing I love, teaching people how to cook, and this time also having the fun of teaching children, which I get great pleasure from.
To get in touch to discuss your 'cake design' and a quote please use my e-mail address; clare@clarescakesyourdesign.com.
Clare Phillips