Cake Decorating Community - Cakes We Bake

I have been decorating cakes as a hobby for a couple years now.  I lost my job in January and have been trying to build a clientele to earn a little extra $$.  I have since decided that I would like to one day have my own Cake Shoppe.  I have been strongly considering going to Pastry School to get a better foundation, as well as learn lots of technique that will hopefully help me attain my goals.

Does anyone have any opinions about whether pastry school is truly necessary?  I love to decorate.  But, I want to learn the business end too.  Doing cakes out of my house only goes so far and takes up way too much space. My goal is to have a store front within 3 years or so.

What have other people done?  I'm touring the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts tomorrow.  It's a 37 week program that costs $29K.  It's a lot of money and time.  Any thoughts and opinions are welcome.  Thanks.

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The whole reason we started the Sugar Arts Institute is that culinary and pastry schools only just touch on cake decorating for about 2 weeks. SAI is dedicated to cake decorating and the sugar arts and offers associates, bachelors and masters degrees. We will begin offering classes in July. If you join the group on this site, I will be posting updates there regularly while the SAI website is under construction.

I agree with Theresa. I know people who have gone to Culinary School and they didnt get any thing you would call cake decorating classes. If I had the money I would put it into SAI for sure. One more thing I think is important a Business Management Course. Good Luck.

But where are SAI classes held?  Is there a specific tuition amount?  OR is it by the class.  Is there financial aid?  Is recognized by certain organizations, like Unemployment that would allow me to continue to collect while studying?  These are very important factors for me.  Also, I am looking to get an overall pastry education to have more of a cake/dessert shoppe.

Hi Theresa!  You've got my attention!  I've been perusing the SAI site, and I'm still a little confused on how to access classes.  Must I physically go to Las Vegas, or are these classes all internet accessable?  There's not a lot of information that I can find on the specifics, but the introductory price seems phenominal!  Can't wait to hear more!  Thank you for bringing it up!

 

~Holly

At Las Vegas, we are holding our official launch. The classes we announced are being offered by the World Pastry Forum. With the purchase of a class, you get free access to our demo, the gala and a bbq. I'm waiting for more details to come out from the World Pastry Forum as they continue lining up the events. Once we officially launch, we'll be offering classes. Right now, I'd say we have somewhere between 20 -25 instructors. I will announce all their names soon as soon as the t's are crossed and i's dotted. SAI classes will take place in Lancaster, PA, at different locations based on the demand and online. The website is under construction and it should be up in a month or so.

Ohhhh would the online classes be available  internationally ? And wowee ! 29k ! And I thought our university prices were high ! Pastry school would not be something I would recommend if you just want the decorating side of things though. I applied to my one but didnt get in, but I am interested in learning to also bake pastrys, breads and other things  :)

We are in the process of making all this possible. When available, I will let you know.

Ken Kramer said:

But where are SAI classes held?  Is there a specific tuition amount?  OR is it by the class.  Is there financial aid?  Is recognized by certain organizations, like Unemployment that would allow me to continue to collect while studying?  These are very important factors for me.  Also, I am looking to get an overall pastry education to have more of a cake/dessert shoppe.

I went to culinary school and I ended up learning everything I know by going out in the industry and working on site , here in LA bakeries r willing to take people that simply contact them and say hey I'm interested to learn decorating baking or run a bakery can I intern , rather than I'm going to this school can I intern , culinary schools that r here in LA have a horrible reputation that management or owners don't even want to hire graduates because they simply don't know or have the expletive , I'm really excited about the school that Theresa is building sounds like the focus is on teaching skill and decorating ! 

Theresa Happe said:

We are in the process of making all this possible. When available, I will let you know.

Ken Kramer said:

But where are SAI classes held?  Is there a specific tuition amount?  OR is it by the class.  Is there financial aid?  Is recognized by certain organizations, like Unemployment that would allow me to continue to collect while studying?  These are very important factors for me.  Also, I am looking to get an overall pastry education to have more of a cake/dessert shoppe.

I'm really interested in this, what forum is it to join to get updates on this?

Theresa Happe said:

At Las Vegas, we are holding our official launch. The classes we announced are being offered by the World Pastry Forum. With the purchase of a class, you get free access to our demo, the gala and a bbq. I'm waiting for more details to come out from the World Pastry Forum as they continue lining up the events. Once we officially launch, we'll be offering classes. Right now, I'd say we have somewhere between 20 -25 instructors. I will announce all their names soon as soon as the t's are crossed and i's dotted. SAI classes will take place in Lancaster, PA, at different locations based on the demand and online. The website is under construction and it should be up in a month or so.

It's www.worldpastryforum.com

Alex said:

I'm really interested in this, what forum is it to join to get updates on this?

Theresa Happe said:

At Las Vegas, we are holding our official launch. The classes we announced are being offered by the World Pastry Forum. With the purchase of a class, you get free access to our demo, the gala and a bbq. I'm waiting for more details to come out from the World Pastry Forum as they continue lining up the events. Once we officially launch, we'll be offering classes. Right now, I'd say we have somewhere between 20 -25 instructors. I will announce all their names soon as soon as the t's are crossed and i's dotted. SAI classes will take place in Lancaster, PA, at different locations based on the demand and online. The website is under construction and it should be up in a month or so.

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