The Wedding Cakewalk

Till recently,the wedding cake was a feature only at Christian weddings,but the people of Punjab have adopted the ceremony as their own,fitting it into an elaborate line-up of ceremonies like sangeet,mehendi,shaadi and reception.

So,every wedding season in Punjab means a packed calendar for bakeries. “The cake-cutting ceremony is an important part of a wedding reception and tall cakes are the norm,” says specialty chef Nikhil Mittal who runs Nik Bakers in Panchkula and Chandigarh. This month,Mittal’s hands are full with as many as 10 orders for reception and engagement cakes each day. “The average size that we are dishing out is five feet,” says the chef,who recently created a six-tier cake for a reception in Jalandhar.

As far as flavours go,experimentation is in. The most popular include chocolate praline,blueberry cheesecake and chocolate truffle and the presentation veers towards floral,with bouquets and bunches dotting the tiers.

Chandigarh-based lawyer Sumeet Abrol and his wife Neha had opted for a two-tier peach-orange cake that was designed to match their outfits.

“A reception would be incomplete without a cake. Since the reception is hosted by the groom,it’s a sweet way to welcome the bride,” says Abrol. Santosh Rawat,the pastry chef at JW Marriott Chandigarh,agrees that customisation is the keyword in wedding cakes. “Theme weddings are common,and when it comes to coordinating the look,the cake is also included,” says Rawat,who takes up to 10 days to deliver a customised creation. “I find Punjabis very keen on new flavours and styles. We have even created square four-tier cakes with fine detailing,all of which is edible. White and gold colour combinations seem to be a favourite,” says Rawat.

The price of a cake varies according to flavour and size,with bakeries charging between Rs 600 to Rs 1,500 per kg. Another important accessory in this ceremony is the cake-cutting table. “We always check with clients on whether there will be a cake-cutting ceremony during the reception. Nine times out of 10,there is. It’s our job to arrange for a decorated table,” says wedding planner Sangeeta Oberoi,who uses orchids and liliums to dress up the table. Considering cake-cutting is a well-documented event,attention to detail is vital. After all,a good-looking cake tastes that much better.