If Mom is a foodie – or a fashionista – then you gotta make The Ritz-Carlton part of your Mother’s Day plans. Executive pastry chef Simone Faure’s Edible Fashions Collection, purse- and pump-shaped cakes that look so real it’s hard to believe they are meant to be eaten instead of toted around town, will be on display in the lobby of the Clayton hotel through Mother’s Day. Faure’s collection includes Gucci and Chanel look-alikes, zebra and snakeskin purses, and truffle-filled chocolate open-toed pumps.
Faure explained that inspiration struck while she vacationed in Paris two years ago. “I saw this purse but couldn’t afford it. So I decided to make it instead.” At the time, Faure worked at The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans. Her line of cake couture came to include shoes, handbags, hats and even necklaces, and became popular for Mother’s Day, Kentucky Derby festivities, sweet 16 parties and bridal showers. “People are really whimsical in New Orleans,” commented Faure.
On average, it takes Faure five hours to make her glitzy cake purses, which can range in size from a small clutch to as large as a duffel bag and come in flavors like strawberry shortcake, tiramisu, hazelnut crunch and the best-selling red velvet. Pumps, explained Faure, are “a bit harder to do because I’m dealing with 100 percent chocolate, and that’s not always as easy to manipulate as when working with fondant.” But if Mom’s got a favorite shoe, Faure says to just bring her a picture and she’ll literally whip it up.
If you’re thinking about ordering one of these edible luxuries for Mom, Faure needs just two days’ notice. Cakes average $100 and serve 20 people. For more information, call 314.863.6300.
– Ligaya Figueras
This article appears in Apr 1-30, 2010.