See world's first talking cake at Sugar Art Show during Tulsa State Fair
BY NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON World Scene Writer
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
9/26/12 at 7:11 AM
A celebrated pastry chef and cookbook author who has a drag persona, and the re-creation of the world's first talking cake, should draw the crowds at this year's Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show.
Kerry Vincent, Food Network star and founder of the show, has lined up two nationally known presenters for the event, which this year is based on the theme "Headgear, Hats and Headbands."
The presenters this year are Martin Howard and Orlando Serrano and his assistant Miguel Garcia - whom Vincent described as one of the most successful sugar art teams on "Food Network Challenge."
Howard is a pastry chef in New York City, where he has worked at some of the top restaurants, including a stint as executive pastry chef at the Rainbow Room atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
In spring 2009, Howard began doing performances and singing as his drag persona Chocolatina, Queen of the Dessert. Soon, he was crowned Miss Stonewall Inn and started hosting many nights at the legendary venue.
In October 2010, Howard and his co-author Pablo Cartaya debuted their first storybook/cookbook "Tina Cocolina, Queen of the Cupcakes" with Random House. It's the story of a little cupcake girl in search of her topping, complete with recipes and a cast of delicious characters. Howard will be reading and signing copies of the book at the Tulsa State Fair at 7 p.m. Friday.
Howard's first demonstration as the "serious Chef Martin" is Saturday, he said. But on Sunday, "the fun begins" when he finishes a chocolate sculpture as Chocolatina, Queen of the Dessert.
Howard has been the recipient of a number of honors and awards and has made many TV appearances including "Sweet Genius," "Food Nation with Bobby Flay," "Extreme Pastry," "Food Network Challenge," Travel Channel, CNN, CBS, NBC and Fox morning shows, "Today," "Good Morning America" and even a Japanese documentary show called "New Yorkers."
Serrano and Garcia will re-create the animatronic "talking cake" that they made for "Food Network Challenge."
The cake is based on the concept of a woman who leaves her hair in a beehive hairdo for more than two decades and spiders grow in her hair. He researched animatronics to make the character's mouth move so the woman could call her friend and tell her about the spiders.
Vincent said the cake is one of the most unique cakes she has ever seen.
Serrano has made cakes for celebrities including Joan Cusack, Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Springer, Art Smith, The Backstreet Boys; the cast of "Shrek The Musical"; and corporations such as Leo Burnett, Wrigley, Kirkland and Ellis, DreamWorks, Jive Records, Walgreens, and The Illinois Lottery.
For more information about the speakers and events, go to tulsaworld.com/oklahomasugarartists.
TV show to document Sugar Art Show at the fair
"Sixty Minutes" Australia will be in Oklahoma during the Tulsa State Fair to document the 2012 Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show & Grand National Wedding Cake Competition.
The theme of this year's show is "Headgear, Hats and Headbands."
Show founder Kerry Vincent has claimed her fame in America, and she isn't as well-known in her home country, but the "60 Minutes" feature intends to change that.
"It's an amazing story - from Kerry's early years growing up on a small farm in western Australia baking cakes to running the biggest Sugar Art Show in America," according to the show's producers.
"And along the way Kerry not only won a swag of awards for her own culinary skills but established a successful television career. Central to our story is the Oklahoma Sugar Art Show and Kerry's role in making that happen. We will be featuring several contestants as they compete for the top prize. And then of course there's the cakes - really works of art, which will also be the stars of our story.
"It's a long way from Sydney to Tulsa, and the team is really looking forward to a unique experience."
SUGAR ART SHOW & GRAND NATIONAL WEDDING CAKE COMPETITION
Where: The sugar art section of
the QuikTrip Building at the Tulsa
State Fair
When: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11
p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to
6 p.m.
Cost: General fair admission is $10
per adult. There is no additional
charge to see the Grand National
Wedding Cake Competition,
sugar art show or world-class
demonstrations presented during
the day.
Original Print Headline: Center-stage sweets
Nicole Marshall Middleton 918-581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Orlando Serrano and his assistant Miguel Garcia will re-create the animatronic "talking cake" that they made for the Food Network Challenge during this year's Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show. Courtesy photo
Celebrated pastry chef Martin Howard, also known as his drag persona, Chocolatina, will be a presenter at the Sugar Art Show. Courtesy photo
Chocolatina Courtesy photo
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