Sometimes it is nice to hear what an independent view is and here is one that has just been published.

Metro Reporter writes for club together articles.

Jennifer Cox signs up for… The British Sugarcraft Guild

  Peter Ward, master baker of 50 years, pours the freshly made chocolate ganache (500g couverture – high-cocoa chocolate – melted into 84ml hot cream) over the moist Sachertorte sponge. Spinning the base, he deftly steers the rich chocolate deep and thick and even across the cake’s surface. A long, low moan escapes from the back of the room. Not one of us turns to see which woman has failed to contain her sacher-lust: all eyes are on the cake.

Cake decorating is just one skill taught by The British Sugarcraft Guild. Created in 1981, the guild promotes sugarcraft as an art form. ‘Our motto is “my craft is my art”,’ Mavis Hammond, a member since 1989, tells me. ‘Sugarcraft is part of the arts and crafts movement,’ she explains as I admire the contoured picture (known as a run-out) she has skilfully fashioned from moulded and piped sugar. ‘With sugarpaste as your medium, you interpret architecture, folklore, landscapes…’

The work of the guild is impressive: Brenda’s teeny sprays of freesias, created from wires dipped into coloured gelatine, are astonishingly lifelike, as are her tiger lilies made from rolled, painted sugar.

Young mother Claire wants to improve her cake decoration skills and is here for Peter Ward’s demonstrations (meetings also feature practical sessions). Peter’s won awards for his icing work: he once recreated Manchester Airport’s runway extension in cake for the royal opening. ‘It was 22ft long,’ he tells me philosophically. ‘The marzipan alone took four hours.’ Peter pipes a delicate white chocolate motif on to the Sachertorte. ‘You get so many ideas at these meetings,’ Mavis whispers happily. ‘And you get to eat cake.’

The British Sugarcraft Guild meets in various locations across London www.region8bsg.co.uk/page9.htm

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