Nickel City Cake Challenge: Sweet & Spooky, was the second in a series of cake decorating challenges developed by Feed Your Soul, a Buffalo, New York-based company that produces culinary competitions, food tours and more.
In late October, 200 audience members packed the stunning loft showroom of Artisan Kitchens & Baths. This live, head-to-head cake decorating competition featured three teams of our region’s most creative and talented cake artists. Each decorator had just two hours to complete a cake “Sweet & Spooky” enough to win favor from our panel of judges.
Elsewhere in the large refurbished 19th-century warehouse, guests learned specific decorating techniques in the training kitchen and sampled snacks from the Nickel City confectionery station which included a custom hot chocolate bar and a make-your-own candy apple station. Plus, our friends at Lake Effect Ice Cream, Niagara Popcorn, Niagara Culinary Arts Institute and Sarah Walley Events provided a dazzling array of treats.
Nickel City Cake Challenge celebrates the art of cake decorating and to drive home the idea that our region is flush with talented bakers and cake decorators who deserve the opportunity to truly showcase their talents in a public forum. The program also works to support small, independent businesses.
“Sweet & Spooky” competitors included:
Our First Place Winner: Lindsay Haigh and Kelly Sommerfeldt from Dessert Deli, Williamsville (
Zilly Rosen and Shannon Pilarski from Zillycakes, Buffalo
Lynne Hrotko and Eileen Brown from Muscoreil’s, North Tonawanda
“Sweet & Spooky” judges included:
Maria Iacovitti, Instructor, Niagara County Community College Pastry Arts
Carolyn Panzica, Cake Artist
Holly Hughes, Curator, Albright-Knox Art Gallery
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Nickel City Cake Challenge winning amateurs:
Best Interpretation of the Sweet & Spooky Theme: Anabel Rivera
Best Overall Cake: Daniel Robertson
