COAST CAKE KING PASSES ON SECRETS
After working in some of the most prolific pastry kitchens around the world, cake artist extraordinaire Serdar Yener is passing on his secrets to his grand-daughter.
AFTER working in some of the most prolific pastry kitchens around the world including in Istanbul, Dusseldorf, Kuala Lumpur and even the old Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast, cake artist extraordinaire Serdar Yener is passing on his secrets. The 65-year-old Burleigh man has been decorating cakes for more than 40 years and has been passionate about crafting his skills to become a true master of cake artistry since he started out as a pastry chef at only 17. Mr Yener travelled the globe learning and showcasing his craft, before settling on the Gold Coast more than 25 years ago. Now the accomplished cake artist has been teaching his sixyear-old granddaughter some of the tricks of his well honed skills, with Ayla Yener being named an ambassador for the International Cake Show Australia at Brisbane Showgrounds, which will be held this weekend. Little Ayla has a key role in the show, demonstrating how to cover a cake with fondant icing. Mr Yener was born in Istanbul in 1952 and remembers his ordinary childhood life with “lots of self-made toys”, including guns carved from wood, and galvanised wire trucks. “I can still remember the football matches my friends and I had on the dusty streets whenever it was free of cars,” he said, “not to mention the wooden scooter I made with ball bearing wheels. “Whenever I had a few coins to spare, I always indulged myself in those delicious mouth-watering finger sponges from the corner pastry shop, not knowing that I would be baking the same sponges in huge quantities in years to come. “I inherited my natural talent from my father Sadi Yener, who was an amateur painter.” Last year Mr Yener won an award for his galleon cake and this year he will teach a masterclass in how to create a smaller version. During his five years at Conrad Jupiters, he developed menus and “show off” events, also teaching sugar and chocolate art at TAFE. He is delighted to be pass- ing on these skills to his muchloved granddaughter. “Having grown up surrounded by cakes, cake artistry and sugar craft happening all the time, Ayla already possesses skills that many adults aspire to,” he said. “Cake artistry is such a wonderful craft to share with your children and grandchildren, and the sooner they start, the better they can become.” Thousands of food artists, cake decorators, cake bosses, professional pastry chefs, bakers, chocolatiers, home decorators and food personalities from across the globe will converge on Brisbane to battle it out in 22 competition categories over three days, with the public invited to view and participate in a full program of masterclasses and entertainment. The International Cake Show Australia is on at Brisbane Showgrounds from May 18-20.