The Story of my First Live Competition

Last night my wonderful husband very kindly reminded me that my Ultimate Cake Off competition was not really my first live competition. So, after coming out of my terrible flashback, I decided it would make a fun story for my blog. I don’t know why I am torturing myself. I guess it’s to show that everyone has their down days. Nobody is perfect and I’m the first to admit that.

First Live Competition

by Amelia Carbine

Once upon a time there was a cake artist who entered a cake in the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show. 2008 to be exact. She did so well that she went back the next year to defend her title. A few months before the competition, she was asked to participate in a live competition. She was assured that it was a small competition, meant to be for fun and entertainment. The cake artist anxiously agreed because being chosen by the Grand Master Sugar Artist (Kerry Vincent) as one of four competitors was such an honor. What the cake artist failed to take into consideration, was that she had just recently had a beautiful baby boy who (while being an extremely good baby) required much attention.

The day came when the cake artist set off on her journey of 24 hours to the land of Tulsa with her wonderful and super supportive sister and her tiny 4 month old baby. She was behind in her work and knew that it would be a push to complete her entry into the Grand National Wedding Cake Competition. The journey went amazingly well and they arrived in good time. So the cake artist set to work to finish her masterpiece QUICKLY so she could have time to prepare for her upcoming live competition.

The cake artist worked long into the night. She was still working when the sun began to peak through her hotel window. At that moment, she knew that she had run out of time. A choice had to be made. Should she sacrifice the quality of work on her masterpiece or go into battle (live competition) unprepared? It was a hard decision to make, but she knew that the reason that she was there was to have an amazing wedding cake entry, so she chose to continue her work on the wedding cake.

After finishing her masterpiece, the cake artist hurriedly made a futile attempt to prepare for her live competition. However, the time of the competition had arrived. The cake artist sized up her fierce competitors with their amazing weapons of filled cakes and gumpaste sculptures. Then she looked at her measly weapons. Cakes- not filled, her gumpaste- untouched in it’s packaging. It would be a long, hard two hour battle.

Time started and the cake artist bravely, but solemnly, began her battle. Head down and not willing to give up, she filled and covered her cakes while the other competitors around her placed neatly made ornaments on their cakes. It was pure torture for two long hours, but finally the time was up. She had completed her cake as well as time would allow.  The cake artist was relieved that it was over and walked away from the competition knowing that she had failed miserably. And on top of the embarrassment, she forgot to gather her consolation prize of a very nice three tiered cake stand.

But she learned from her mistakes and got a small taste of what live competitions are all about which helped her in competing in a much bigger battle where she faired quite a bit better.

And she lived Happily Ever After!

THE END