East Longmeadow baker creates Big E anniversary cakeDate: 9/15/2016 EAST LONGMEADOW – An 11-tiered, four and a half-foot tall cake weighing more 200 pounds that celebrates the Eastern States Exposition’s 100th anniversary will be on display throughout this year’s Big E.
The cake was created and designed by Peter Gray, owner of Pete’s Sweets in East Longmeadow, and his staff, which has taken them more than 175 hours to complete.
The cake is set to be debuted at the Big E Bash hosted by Mike Brewer of Wheeler Dealers on Sept. 16. Following its debut, the cake will be on display in the Young Building for the entire duration of the fair as part of the Eastern States Exposition Centennial: A Century of Greatness exhibit.
Gray, a resident of East Longmeadow and former contestant on TLC’s “Next Great Baker” told Reminder Publications each layer of the cake represents one decade of the Big E’s history. The first layer features eatable image paper from 1916 and others consist of classic foods, state buildings, midway attractions, and layers celebrating iconic locations at the fair such as Storrowton Village.
The cake took more than 18 hours of additional research and design, Gray said. One of the most interesting aspects for him was learning about the history of the Big E.
“We looked through all their photos from 1916 on – we have a whole tier at the bottom covered in black and white photos,” he explained. “We have 32 sheets edible image paper so that we can get the real details … The amazing details that you can’t get out of drawing.”
He added his store’s motto is “artistry in every bite,” which he has taken to heart with the creation of the centennial cake – it features replica scale food such as pizza, funnel cake, corn on the cob, a turkey leg, Big E cream puff, and caramel apples made out of sugar.
The turkey leg was created with rice crispy treats covered in fondant and painted with 18 different shades of food coloring, he said.
Gray and his staff have used a half a gallon of eatable paint on the cake, 11 pounds of sprinkles and candies on the cake, and 15 pounds of icing used to replicate the look of foods such as nacho cheese on top of a pretzel and a dollop of sour cream on a baked potato.
“We tried to make everything as authentic as possible when it comes to the food because that’s one of my favorite parts of the Big E,” he explained.
He added, “A cake this size, even though it’s not going to be served because it’s going to be displayed for all 17 days and that’s it’s purpose, would be 1,700 servings approximately,” Gray said. “It’s got 200 pounds of fondant on it, thus far. There’s 120 pieces of hand painted popcorn.”
The replica food items are featured on the sixth layer of the cake, he noted.
Gray said due to the cake’s enormous size it must be disassembled and reassembled in order to fit through a normal doorway.
When asked whether he thought he’d ever make a 100th anniversary cake for the Eastern States Exposition, Gray said, “No. After doing the stuff on the TV show and working with celebrities and for all sorts of fancy parties and we’ve got to do lots of amazing things.”
For more information about Pete’s Sweets visit www.freewebs.com/petessweets/.
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