Before pastry chef Julie Wedele, above, had time to unpack her whisks and other tools of the trade in the kitchen above CWE "sister" restaurants Scape and Crepes, etc., she was asked to design a cake for Central Library's 2014 A Taste of Fiction. While that assignment might have flustered some, who just walked in the door, Julie took it in stride and created a stunning interpretation of Life of Pi, shown below.
Last year's event was so successful (see photos here) that a second A Taste of Fiction is scheduled for next Friday, March 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Central Library. The benefit committee has assigned sixteen local pastry chefs literary works to interpret in pastry. Julie is shown with a sketch of the Alice in Wonderland confection she will create. She's planning to make a purple velvet cake for the base and ice it with cherry-cream cheese frosting. The edible sculpture features the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter's hat, and White Rabbit's stopwatch.
A most delicious addition to this year's event is that some chefs will bring samples of the cake or confection (Kakao Chocolate) so party-goers can have a taste. That suggestion followed last year's event, as it was difficult to look at all that gorgeousness and not be able to sample a bite, or two.Julie Wedele's 2014 interpretation of Life of Pi, above.
Photo courtesy of Central Library
Some chefs brought sample cakes to a press conference held at Central Library last month. Piccione Pastry's interpretation of The Giving Tree is shown above.
Photo courtesy of Central Library
And here is pastry chefs Lia Weber and Martin Lopez elegant interpretation of The Great Gatsby.
Tickets for A Taste of Fiction are $50; patron tickets are $100. Raffle tickets for a chance to win a cake or sweet created by participating chefs that will serve 8-10 people are $5 each, or 5 tickets for $20.
Proceeds from the evening benefit culinary programming and the culinary collection at the St. Louis Public Library. See more details below.
P.S. – CWEnders, prevalent on the A Taste of Fiction committee, include Co-Chairs Sally Nikolajevich and former CWEnder Erica Leisenring. There are many others, including yours truly, you'll recognize from the neighborhood. Don't miss it!
A Taste of Fiction, Friday, March 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Central Library, 1301 Olive Street. Purchase tickets here.