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What's a Wreck?

A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places.

Now, don't you have a photo you want to send me? ;)

- Jen
Sunday
Feb152009

Ace of Cakes Gets Lost!

Sunday Sweets are my weekly NON-Wreck features, the better to show how wrecky the Wrecks really are.

I frequently get asked if I've heard of or watch Ace of Cakes. Heh. Guys, I write a cake blog. If it's even remotely cake-related, I've probably heard of it. Safe cupcake amendment in Texas? Check. Cake puppet singing Karen Carpenter? Check. Ace of Cakes? Checkity check. And yes, I do love Duff and the gang. In fact, one of the few reasons I'm happy to have cable again (we went without for a few years) is that I can start catching up on all the episodes I've missed.

Anyway, I've been waiting for just the right Charm City creation to feature here on Sunday Sweets, and I think I've finally found it. Not only is it a cool cake, it also brings together two addictive shows: Ace of Cakes and LOST.

Check out what Duff & Co. created to help the cast of LOST celebrate their 100th episode:

Neat, huh? There's the computer terminal (probably with the famous numbers on it, but I can't quite tell), a suitcase, a gun, the whole cast, and of course my favorite: a four-pack of Dharma beer.

Hey, there's even a little crashed plane on the side! Nice. But, uh, guys? Shouldn't the plane be snapped in two, with the tail section on the other side of the island? Hmmm? ;)

Here's a nice detail shot:

And the big group shot with both casts:


All of these photos are from Jorge Garcia's blog, by the way. Be sure to check there for a few more photos not posted here, and many thanks to Rachel K. for being the first to tell me about it!

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Reader Comments (66)

I don't understand why people are being so bitchy about Ace of Cakes... get your facts straight at least... you're complaining about fondants - you know all those "Sunday Sweets" that are posted? Made with fondant. I think they also ice all their cakes first in buttercream (?) and then fondant.. but honestly, I don't think you could make cakes that look that smooth without using fondant - and I don't know how else you suggest them putting it on the cake other than with their hands?!

To cijimcbride: While I'm not sure if they make the cakes from scratch (I assume so though) they come in all these flavours:
http://www.charmcitycakes.com/noflash/flavorslist.html

Also, I don't know where you got that info.. but, yes you CAN eat fondant. And that elephant cake you're referencing? Was for a ZOO, who specifically requested the elephant NOT be eaten as the zoo passing around pieces of slaughtered elephant cake to it's guest would be highly inappropriate, which explains the sheet cakes. Geez.

February 16, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterCaitlin

Gah! I absolutely detest Ace of Cakes, they're unsanitary and I think they all act like they're on quaaludes. :| blah -
They cut styrofoam in the bakery, which is nasty and toxic, they cut wood in there too and the girls hair hangs down all over the cakes and has anyone else seen the episode when they're icing big cakes and get into a big icing fight, wiping icing all over each other's arms, then go back to icing the cakes!!!

February 16, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterCarrie

Yay for Ace of Cakes - love that show!

My original comment was going to be that Charm City Cakes knew about you; I found cakewrecks a few months ago due to a posting by Mary Alice on their blog!

As far as the hygiene issues, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. We see 30 minutes out of the hours they spend working each week. Who wants to see them wash their hands multiple times per episode? That would be boring!

February 16, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMissy

Actually, the little plane on the side should be snapped into THREE pieces. ;)

I'll utterly and delightfully surprised to see Cakey-oke on this blog since I made it. (I'm vibrating with delight to think that maybe even Mary Alice clicked on it!)

The rest of the series (moved from the defunct SuperDeluxe.com) is here: http://www.vimeo.com/album/65000

February 16, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterD. Moe

I have to agree with the minority as well. I don't see anything special about Ace of Cakes. Most of the Sunday sweets are fantastic cakes, but I don't get Charm city. Too cutesy, too cartoony, and to watch the show is torture. Just seems like everyone plays to the camera too much. But I also think I am so tired of "reality shows" Remember when food network used to show shows with real chefs who cooked?

February 16, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

I live in Baltimore, so I am extremely happy to see Charm City Cakes featured here.

I've got to say...I'm really puzzled by all the hate for CCC. First of all, they don't only do cartoony cakes. I'm presuming the people criticizing them for that have never taken a look at their site and all the classic cakes they do. Second, how much of the work they do wld really be posible without all the fondant? Also,good quality fondant isn't the nasty rap that low quality fondant is, and I'm pretty sure thy aren't using bad quality fondant for the prices they charge. Oh, and the ones that are mostly made of styrofoamand pipe and varius other things? Those were made like that because the clients have *asked* for them to be made that way, like the HP cake and the elephant cake. You can't fault them for doing what they were asked to do, right?
And 'm laughing at the fact that someone thinks CCC's cakes are too cutesy and cartoony. Uh...you *did* see the baby dragon cakes on Sunday Sweets, yes?

They actually do do quite a lot with the cake itself, pretty much every episode I'seen has involved a lot of carving of the cakes, not just fondant work.

Mybe Im biased, because I think frosting is usually completely digusting, but I'd muh rather have one of Duff's cakes with all the fondant than an iced one. All the best cakes are done in fondant rather than icing, anyway.Things like this:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/twilight%20cake/shelleymurdock/032.jpg?o=14 are what can hapen when people try to ue icing instead of fondant. Nasty.

February 16, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

A tiny edible Desmond! *sigh*. I love him.

February 16, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterhello jessi!

this cake ruled (i should know since i actually ate some). ace of cakes rules. jorge rules. i rule.

February 16, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterbethany james leigh shady

At first I thought this was a pick of a wreck. So funny to read how others feel the same as me. We watch Ace of Cakes here at my house just to laugh at the ridiculous "cakes" they make. They look horrible and we just cringe at all that touching and manipulating that is done, one cake took 40 hrs they said?? Never see them even refrigerate the things. I feel sort of sad for the customers when they see the cakes, all that money they paid, lol. The staff seem nice enough on the show, but it's like they're not in on the joke or something. I watch to hate, it's entertaining.
Mona

February 18, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Thanks for the link to Jorge Garcia's blog. I was unaware that it existed. DH & I are huge LOST fans. I've spent hours reading Jorge's backlog of blogs. The guy is hilarious and I love his blog!

I've been a regular Cake Wrecks reader for several months now. Keep up the good work. :-)

February 18, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterSarah

very nice cake, first i see like that Fred Smilek is the acting president of the Society to Save Endangered Species. It was founded two years ago by Fred Smilek along with his two best friends Charles and Jonathan. http://www.fredjsmilek.com

February 26, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous

Love the blog, but hate Ace of Cakes. They are seemingly unable to produce ANYTHING that isn't covered in fondant, or does not have a plethora of styrofoam, wood, and/or non edible items.

If I am going to pay over a thousand dollars for a cake, it had damn well better be made out of CAKE and ENTIRELY edible!

Duff needs to look up Sylvia Weinstock. (http://www.sylviaweinstock.com/index_fl4.html).

THAT is how cake should be made.

February 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterArchangelDecker

Awesome

June 15, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterLuis Corkern

I wish I could've worked on this cake...then the characters would look more like the real people and have a bit more 'life' to them. I love LOST...and I like Ace of Cakes...but I don't like their sugar figures. I've seen, and can do, much much better sugar sculpting.

May 5, 2010 | Unregistered Commentercitycaker

Very cool. How long does that take do you think? Im guessing, a long long time xx

October 13, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterCupcakes Lady

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