In Search of Baking Supplies

To get supplies for the Red Stripe cake, I ventured to Barbara of Pauline’s Cake Supplies in San Jose, California.

The shop is tiny but filled with any kind of cake decorating tool you could ever need.  I bought three different kinds of fondant there, along with two shades of luster dust (an edible iridescent powder that is used to decorate fondant).  The owner, Barbara (then who is Pauline?!), was very helpful—thankfully because I had no idea what I was supposed to do with luster dust.  All I know is that it sounds really cool and professional.  Turns out you have to mix it (a VERY small amount–a little goes a long way with this stuff) with vodka or gin first, then decorate as needed.  The alcohol will dry clear and leave the sparkly luster dust behind.

I constructed a “bottle cap” with white fondant and then painted it with the silver luster dust/vodka mixture and voila–an edible bottle cap!