Let them sculpt cake
Dessert becomes art in ‘Texas Cake House’
In my kitchen, cakes aren’t exactly art. Oh, they’re always moist and most definitely delicious, but the fanciest decoration I can handle is a drizzled ganache, and maybe some sprinkles. We’ve all seen real works of pastry art, though, whether they’re in display windows at a downtown bakery, a towering testament at a big wedding celebration or a creation shown off in shows like “Cake Wars.”
At Sideserf Cake Studio in Austin, Texas, though, they’re all about taking artful cakes to the next level. The small bakery has earned national attention over the years — so much, in fact, that it has earned its own Food Network show, “Texas Cake House,” which premiered its second season just last week and currently airs Monday evenings. You can catch a new episode Monday, July 17.
For cake artist Natalie Sideserf, cakes aren’t just pretty things to eat — they’re the medium of her art.
She doesn’t just decorate her sweet creations, she sculpts them into beautiful, inspired and sometimes gruesome sculptures (her husband is a big horror movie fan) that wouldn’t look out of place in an art museum.
Speaking of her husband, Dave quit his day job when Natalie’s cake business really took off, and now supports her business full time. “Texas Cake House” isn’t just about the incredible cakes and the many hours that go into the creation of each and every one. It’s also a look at what really goes on behind the scenes when couples go into business together, as they work their way through all the ups and downs of the workplace and the stresses of owning a business.
It’s that personal touch and connection between its stars that really makes “Texas Cake House” so special. It’s far from the first show about a successful bakery (“Ace of Cakes” is probably one of the better-known series of its kind), but no other show features the magic of a young couple that’s very much in love working side by side to fulfill their dream — and what a sweet dream it is!
Join Natalie and Dave Sideserf in their Austin cake studio in “Texas Cake House,” airing Mondays on Food Network.