Anna Samuel gifts her father-in-law a potted succulent on his birthday. He placed it on a shelf with his collection of cacti.
“When it came time to cut the birthday cake, I brought her to the table. That’s when she realized it was cake!” Anna says.
Architect-turned-baker Anna Bex made a name for herself for customized food art. He started making the hyper reality cake during the lockdown, when it started trending all over social media. People very quickly cut dresses, tables, flowers, make-up items etc. to make cakes in different flavours.
Anna Samuel in Thiruvananthapuram makes hyperreality cakes like this customized Kappa-Meen curry cake. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Welcome to the age of Hyper Reality Cakes when literally anything can be given a cakes and cream makeover. In Thiruvananthapuram, Anna started baking these artistic cakes during the lockdown, when people were busy finding different ways to keep themselves occupied. It was at that time that Anna received a request Kappa-Pisces Cake (Tapioca and Fish Curry Cake).
“It was a challenge and I enjoyed baking the cake and giving it the finishing touches cotton And Pisces Curry. “I found it more interesting than making cakes like cartoon characters,” says Anna.
With the use of fondant, food glue and food coloring, Anna tried to make it look as real as possible and the customer loved how creamy and sweet it was Kappa-Pisces Curry Mix.
Orders for similar cakes started coming from friends. puttu-kadala And banana, Kerala porotta and meat roast etc.
Hyper reality cakes made by Anna Samuel in the form of Puttu and Kadala. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“I enjoy making cakes that resemble food. The cake is made in the flavor the customer wants. But the garnishing would be my choice. For the cake Kadala (Channa), I used hazelnuts with chocolate cover, while the gravy was colored strawberry preserves. Everything must be made by hand and it takes time to achieve the perfection I strive for in my cakes,” says Anna.
Dragon fruit shaped cake made by Anna Samuel. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
One of the cakes that remains fresh in his memories is a dragonfruit-shaped cake that he made for the mother of one of his friends, who was very fond of this fruit. When his daughter returned from school he tried to pick the dragonfruit. She was surprised when her hand went in and she realized it was a cake!
A hyper reality cake made by Anna Samuel in Thiruvananthapuram in the form of Chicken Biryani. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“It was really special! Such cakes take time and have to be done carefully. For example, each grain of biryani has to be shaped individually, given the right shade of color and so on… Porotta, for example, is made of rice paper wrappers. I make it through trial and error. But, for me, it is a job I enjoy,” says Anna.
Hyper reality cake made by Anna Samuel in Thiruvananthapuram. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Once, she accepts an order, she plans the cake before making it, how to prepare it, what ingredients to use, etc. Since Hyper Reality Cakes require planning and patience, Anna only accepts orders that give her enough time to prepare her edible wonders.
Anna says, “Every single item in the cakes I make has to be edible. That’s why I have to plan everything in my mind before the actual work begins.”
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