Wedding Cake Demonstration Set at Ventfort Hall
 |
Burbidge will demonstrate the process of constructing and decorating her highly elaborate wedding cakes. She will also show accompanying slides to help illustrate the step-by-step method for completing her cakes.
Jeffery Steingarten, Vogue food critic, gave Burbidge this compliment, "... Rarest is the incredibly elaborate, all-white Victorian cake decorated with flowers, urns, arches, vases and trellises of 'glace royal' … The leading practitioner is probably Cile Bellefleur-Burbidge ... and casting your eyes upon any of her cakes will take your breath away."
Prices of her cakes have ranged from $10,000 to $20,000 and have been on view at the Smithsonian Institution, Tiffany's and at weddings for heads of state around the world.
Burbidge has also written two books on cake decorating. An exclusive example of her artistry is on display at Ventfort. She is the wife of John Burbidge, the designer of "Les Petites Dames de Mode" ("The Little Ladies of Fashion") that are also on display at the historic mansion. The highly acclaimed 29-inch mannequins represent the history of fashion from 1855 to 1914. The Burbidges live in Danvers.
Tickets for the demonstration and tea are $15 per person for nonmembers and $12 for members and may be purchased by calling Ventfort Hall at 413-637-3206. The historic mansion is located at 104 Walker St.
The program is supported in part by grants from several local cultural councils.
