CAKES AND DECORATING surge in demand for unique fondant cakes. They recently hired two talented cake decorators who have experience in making celebration cakes that are covered in rolled fondant, which adds a glamorous look to each creation. "Now we have experienced cake decorators to make these cakes, and it's a growing trend because our customers see these fondant cakes on television shows," Gonzalez says. "A lot of customers don't mind paying more for fondant cakes." Typically, a decorated cake is iced and then covered with a thin sheet of fondant to make the appearance have a sleek, smooth finish. Gonzalez says another way to use fondant is to make sculpted cakes that are molded into recognizable shapes like a bottle or even a purse. "Shaped cakes are real popular now, and we get a lot of requests for custom cakes in the shape of action figures," he says. "Our cake business really helps us out in the summer months when there are lot of birthday celebrations, weddings and quinceañeras. Customers 38 JUNE 17 | PANADERIA