Mastering the basics

Looking back on days gone by is usually a pastime that everyone enjoys. One can revel in the secrets and memories of youth, in seeing the world take shape under your hands like a cake under icing.

After watching my mother lovingly and delicately make masterpieces with a flick of the wrist and the wave of a finger, my first formal brush with the sweet arts was with Tess Isaac. She was the first cake-decorating instructor to teach the Wilton Method of Cake Decoration in the Philippines.

After honing my skills under a number of masters here, I was fortunate enough to work under Wesley Wilton himself, together with Sandra Folsom and Marie Grainger at the Wilton School of Cake Decorating and Confectionary Art in Woodbridge, Illinois.

The Wilton School is a private vocational institution that has been pioneering the field of cake-decorating education for generations. More than just a hall of learning, however, the Wilton School has patented the now-famous “Wilton Method,” making it also a school of thought. For people in our industry, Wilton is considered the pinnacle of cake decorating — what Rolls-Royce is to automobiles, Wilton is to cake design. That is by no means an exaggeration.

Heny Sison with Marie Grainger at the Lambeth Continenetal Course Graduation

I believe in the Wilton technique when it comes to cake decorating. Their curriculum has been tried and tested throughout the years. This is the reason why I patterned the cake-decorating curriculum of my school after theirs.

The philosophy behind its curriculum is straightforward and substantial: “age-old cake-decorating traditions, enhanced by developing techniques.” The praxis is simple, too: “Learning is best achieved through class participation.”

As cake-decorating arts evolve, so does Wilton. From the English and Australian methods, pulled sugar and fondant techniques, even to candy-making classes — the Wilton School arms each of their students with the knowledge and confidence to fine-tune their skills and excel in their chosen craft.

A colleague of mine once told me, “An expert is someone who does the basics very, very well.” There is much truth to this statement, and the Wilton School is a definitely a shining example. In particular, its current school director Sandra Folsom ingrained this in me by serving as a continuous inspiration. 

My mentor while at school, Sandra has been teaching professional cake-decorating classes for over 30 years. She is a regular guest on American television networks such as ABC, NBC, FOX, and the Food Network. With all the accolades and achievements under her chef’s hat, Sandra might actually be the face of cake decorating in America.

Master course graduation at the Wilton School of Cake Decorating and Confectionery with Sandra Folsom, Wesley Wilton( Partly hidden) the author and Zella Junkin

Her vast knowledge and expertise have garnered her judging positions in many decorating competitions, and as an educator, she has introduced more than 150 classes to enrich the Wilton curriculum. She is also a member of the International Cake Exploration Society, and has played an active role in the organization since 1981.

These impressive credentials are merely a piece of the pie, if you’ll pardon the pun. She has already acquired international acclaim, having traveled and given seminars all over South America and in some parts of Asia.

The great news is that Sandra and the Wilton team are going to be in Manila to give a cake-decorating demonstration, for the first time ever. Cake enthusiasts, decorators, teachers, students, and those in the industry should not miss this rare opportunity to witness a true artist at work. This will take place on Feb. 5 and 6 at the second Goldilocks Cake Deco Expo, to be held at the SMX Convention Center. Those who register for both days can avail themselves of a discount, and students and members of the academe receive special rates as well. Personally, the amazing wealth of information you can gather from a Wilton demonstration conducted by Sandra Folsom is well worth any price.

For more information on the two-day Wilton demo, you can log on to www.ticketnet.com.ph.