A bakery just outside of Toronto has seen a larger influx of inquiries stemming from a popular social media trend.
'Real or cake' is a viral online trend where challengers do their best to guess whether they are watching a video of a hyper-realistic sculpted cake or the actual item. Matamiese Bakery, located in Milton, Ont., specializes in floral, wedding, themed and sculpted cakes. The owner has provided a first-hand look into ways the trend has helped to boost business, as well as some highly sought after info about how to make a cake look like more than just a cake.
Bernadette Caleon-Escutin, owner and baker, explained that because of the trend, she has "personally experienced a higher demand for customized cakes especially my sculpted cakes." Online fascination is powerful and has tangible effects on people like Caleon-Escutin, who has experienced an inadvertent, yet welcome boost in business as a result.
TikTok, where the trend first gained momentum, has become a place for people with niche skillsets to elevate their online status, by providing snippets into the inner workings of their craft, making it the perfect place for bakers.
"I think hyper-realistic cakes have been such a huge trend online because [TikTok] give[s] cake artists a new platform to showcase their work in a creative way," says Caleon-Escutin. "Seeing and reading our viewers' reactions to our sculpted cakes is a huge motivation for cake artists like myself to continue doing what we do."
People tend not to see what goes into making sculpted cakes, so the trend sparks intrigue. After all, it's hard for people to fathom how a cake can look so real.
When asked about the cake she's most proud of, Caleon-Escutin said it had to be the 'Jordan 1 Dior' cake, noting that she had a difficult time parting ways with in the end.
"I impressed myself with how well it turned out," says Caleon-Escutin, who's made a slew of Jordan 1 cakes in the past. "I really wanted to include every single tiny detail of the Dior 1s onto the cake and I think I nailed it with this one. It was the textured shoelace for me."
In order to sculpt and design the cakes to the highest level of detail, Caleon-Escutin revealed that she has multiple screens open with as many images of the item as possible. This allows her to ensure that even the smallest of details is represented in the final product.
If you want to jump on the trend, you can order from Matamiese Bakery online for curbside pickup or home delivery on Saturdays and Sundays.
