Toba Garrett
I have known Toba for at least 20 years. She is a wonderful person as well as a talented Cake Artist. Toba is Master Chef-Instructor, Cake Decorating and Design at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She started this department more than 14 years ago, and now her classes are sold out months in advanced. I am pleased to announce that we will be having Toba teach at NY CAKE in the fall!!!
Here is an interview I had with her.
What is your favorite cake flavor?
It would have to be my hi-yield yellow cake recipe, followed closely by my chocolate fudge cake.
If you had to pick one favorite cake tool, what would it be?
My absolute favorite cake tool is the PME dogbone tool.
If you had to make a cake for anyone, who would it be?
The first lady, Mrs. Obama.
What was your worst cake disaster?
My worst cake disaster was a cake I did for a chef who did not like the look of the cake. It was actually for his son and daughter-in-law. They absolutely hated the look of the cake but loved the actual taste of the cake.
What is your favorite cake moment?
My first cake decorated in the Australian style of cake decorating.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Teaching a lot less and perhaps doing more traveling with teaching.
Where do you get inspiration?
From everywhere, such as fashion, movies, various building angles and scrolls, gilding and flowers.
What are the trends you are seeing?
Wedding cakes in different colors and shapes. Wedding cakes made up of cupcakes and wedding cakes that are theme oriented.
Give us a funny story?
At the beginning of my career as a cake artist, I was asked to make a “divorce cake”. The client wanted a hideous cake in black icing and decorated in the worst colors imaginable. The money was so tempting that I decided to do it. I imagined that she was planning on throwing it in her ex-husband’s face after her divorce!
