Sydney based cake decorator Handi Mulyana has an extraordinary eye for
detail and has spent many years perfecting his cake decorating skills. His
cakes are created with meticulous elements and are nothing less than spectacular.
Handi’s masterpieces are quickly becoming a popular choice among celebrities.
He's made cakes for some of the world’s most rich and famous, including Oprah Winfery,
Rihanna, Celine Dion and most recently he made an amazing cake for reality TV
star Khloe Kardashian.
Handi’s an inspiration to aspiring decorators and Marianna’s Caking Me
Crazy loved hearing his story. From humble beginnings his dedication, hard work
and persistence has placed him on a pedestal as one of the world’s most astounding
cake decorators.
How did you first become involved in cake decorating, was there
something particular that sparked your interest in it?
First time I was involved in cake decorating was I was
visiting my cousin to play, her mother (my aunty) was decorating a cake with
butter cream. After a few times I saw her decorating I become curious and
wanting to try myself at home. So I asked my mother to bake me a
cake and whipped up some butter cream… I tried to pipe and decorate the cake
and I was hooked… thankfully I have a very supportive parents that could see me
taking interest in cake decorating they have asked me to go to a cake
decorating class. Since then I was hooked and just love baking and
decorating. My dad is a baker himself we have a cake shop/bakery in
my home town.
How long have you been a cake decorator for now?
I started when I was 13 years old. I had a little break from cake
decorating for a few years because I was working in the hotel here in Sydney. I
think I have been decorating a good 20 years now.
How many years have you been running Handi’s Cakes?
Handi’s Cakes was registered and establish in 2000. I worked
in a cake shop to start for a few years then I moved to London for 3 years to
gain some experience then came back in Sydney in 2005 and joined a cake company
and worked for 5 years. Handi’s Cakes was still kind of running from home then,
just for a family and friends… until 2010 I got serious about it and took my
big step to open the studio in Kingsford until now and I love it…
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What do you feel are the pros to being a male in the Australian cake
decorating industry, when predominately the industry is made up of women?
The pros…hhmm I don’t look at it on that aspect at all… it is a very
competitive industry where everyone wants to be the best… I am so lucky in that
sense that I came in at the right time and the right place.
I don’t like to be negative, but do you feel are there any cons working
in the caking industry?
The cons… one of the biggest problems is copying other peoples
work. Also the attitude that “I can do better than you” means big
ego there… rather than appreciating what other people had achieved and support
each other.
It is a small industry, everyone knows everyone.
Do you get many men in the classes you run?
No, not really. I would get 10 or less if I am lucky in the year.
Do you think men feel intimidated to try their hand at cake decorating
in Australia?
I don’t think they feel that way… its just that decorating requires
flair from the individual… not many men I know have the flair to do cake
decorating particularly when they have to do wedding cakes… men are good in
technical stuff and build the support for cakes… often the students told a
story how they partners, husband or grandfather help them cutting the boards,
drilling and nailing the pillars. It's more like cake decorating is
suitable for women in their eyes… hahahaha
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| Handi made this elegant, gravity defying cake for his Brother's wedding - Just amazing!! |
Do you run classes targeted at men to try and encourage more into
Australia’s caking world?
No, not really… when I design my classes I focus more on the learning
outcome rather than targeting to men or women. Its narrowing my
target market.
Do you see yourself as a role model that other men interested in sugar
craft can look up to?
No, not at all… I am more of a role model as someone who has and can
make a career in baking and decorating in another level.
You are really talented at piping, do you feel it’s a dying art form?
Yes, I do feel it’s a dying art now. Because people’s attitude these
days that they are just want instant results and also there are not many
workshops are offered out there to bring piping and introduced piping as part
of the skill in cake decorating.
How old were you when you started piping and how did it come about?
When I was 13 years old when I attended an intensive cake
decorating. Back then all cakes decorated in butter cream piping so
piping is a big part of cake decorating.
What’s your most favourite piping technique?
Certainly Lambeth piping. Because this style pretty much involves many
techniques in piping. Something like pressure piping. drop loop, scratching and
drop lines
What are some of your trade secrets to being excellent at piping?
Practise, practise and practise… and don’t breath. Hahaha.. I
think confidence as well. A lot of people are scared of piping before even try
it.
What tips can you share with people like myself who are complete novices
when it comes to piping?
Go to a piping workshop… because the teacher will tell you the do’s and
the don’t’s
And there are many techniques, tips and tricks from just making a simple
piping bag and piping a straight line
You run many classes, what are your most popular and which is your
favourite to teach?
The most popular at the moment is the topsy turvy. I think people like
the impact of this cake as it has the WOW factor in it and also its different
from just the normal stacked cakes and this style is more fun.
I love teaching them as they are my designs. Different class has its own
“FUN” in it
What do you enjoy most about teaching others about decorating.
I love the interaction with the students… and I learn something from
them as well.
Cake decorating can be quite lonely sometimes unless you work with other
decorators. Teaching can expand my friendship with other decorators
and now giving me the opportunity t travel the world.
Do you find it hard to continually create new designs with that wow
factor people are looking for?
Yes, I do actually… because everything has been done… as soon as I have
an idea in my mind then I searched on the net and there it is someone had done
it in America or in Perth or somewhere in the world… but if that happens I just
try to twist it to something that's unique to me… use my style and use my
knowledge and skill to create the design so its unique to me.
My design for my wedding cakes normally comes from the couples
themselves.
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What do you think about clients expectations when it comes to ordering
cakes? Most people want all the bells and whistles these days, even I it’s for
a 3 year old.
Generally they have already known what they want but they main decision
making for them is the cost of the cake. There are some clients that don’t cake
about the cost and yes they do have bells and whistles on their cakes.
What’s the process you undertake when trying to design a new creation?
For me the design is coming from what’s popular at this time, like
colours pattern, shapes and texture. Material and fabric is another
one I look at. What's in seasons for designing cakes with sugar flowers as from
year to year there is particular flower that's popular. Kids
movies when designing birthday cakes and novelty.
New and old techniques as well as the learning outcomes for designing
new workshops.
Where does the inspiration come for all your work?
Everywhere, when I look at things around me I always see cakes… if I go
to a mall I saw some display windows with beautiful dress with lots of colours
and pattern, movies, invitations, and my own imagination.
Is there one cake that you get asked to create a lot?
No. as I do not repeat my cakes. I believe that everyone is different
and the cakes should represent them as an individual.
What has been your most challenging cake to date?
Creating this theme park cake, it was a big cake where the ferries wheel
was spinning and the carousel was turning. It involved some mechanical in it
which I am rather new to.. I spent some time at Hobby Co to get my knowledge in
this department. J but it was a success and the client was impressed
and happy. Then I am happy
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You have won quite a few awards for your work, can you share some of
them with us?
2009 First Prize Royal Easter Show for most Creative Cake
2010 Third prize Royal Easter Show for most Creative Cake
2011 Australia’s Best Cake Decorator of the Year from Wedding Expert
2012 Top 10 best Wedding Cake Expert rank 5 in Worldwide
Third prize Royal Easter Show
for Wedding Cake
2013 Australia’s favourite cake decorator from ADCN
You recently made a cake for Khloe Kardashian! That must have been
exciting, how did you come up with the planning?
It came from my idea that I wanted to do Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's wedding cake, sometime when they are getting married. Then happen to be Khloe came to Australia, so this was a perfect opportunity for me to get my name familiar to the Kardashian family so I put my out there on social media and someone called Julie Webb Hungerford put her hand up and willing to help me with my crazy idea... and the rest is history... she managed to get the gig and I had to make the cake in 9 hours, stressful but exciting...
It made
me feel proud and happy... I have a lot of support out there and a very strong
following. I am blessed in that sense. I love to share my excitement with them
as well, I feel like they are part of my family and my life really. It is
always a nice feeling to do a cake for a celeb and your work is recognised by
them and people out there. I have done a few cakes for celebs and yes it gains
a celebrity status within the industry.
You recently made a cake for Khloe Kardashian! That must have been
exciting, how did you come up with the planning?It came from my idea that I wanted to do Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's wedding cake, sometime when they are getting married. Then happen to be Khloe came to Australia, so this was a perfect opportunity for me to get my name familiar to the Kardashian family so I put my out there on social media and someone called Julie Webb Hungerford put her hand up and willing to help me with my crazy idea... and the rest is history... she managed to get the gig and I had to make the cake in 9 hours, stressful but exciting...
How did it make you feel seeing
one of your cakes at celebrity status?
What’s the most favourite cake you have made?
All my cakes are my favourites. Because they are my designs.. and I made
every single one of them with passion and love to make someone’s day even more
special.
What is your most popular cake flavour with your clients and what’s your
favourite flavour?
Dark chocolate mud cake will the most popular cake for client because
most people will like chocolate.
I don’t eat cake these days hahahaha the answer will be I don’t have
one.
What’s the main advice you pass on to other cake decorators that you
meet?
Keep doing what you love doing.
Be unique and individual to your style.
Do not copy someone and trying to be the same or similar style.
Go to at least a few cake decorating workshops.
Be creative and different to everybody else.
What are two decorating tools you can simply not live without and what
do you use them for?
My wooden pottery tool. I use it for just about everything. Smoothing,
cutting, marking and modelling
Second one is my set of PME modelling tool… again I use it for
everything. From sugar flower making to modelling.
What makes you so passionate about cake decorating and how do you keep
it alive year after year?
I love making people happy and seeing their reaction when the saw or
received the cake. I have made their day extra special and also
extra happy.
To keep it alive I just keep designing and creating the cakes and enjoy
it every minute of it.
What do you think every beginner decorator should have in their box of
cake tools?
Good quality tools… because it does make a different to the results.
Like metal scrappers, balling tools, knifes and scissors, and brushes.
What is the most important skill you think every cake decorator should
have?
Cake decorating involves a few skill to have.
Designing, Sculpting, sugar flower making, piping, baking and covering
They are all important in cake decorating because if one of them you are
not good. Then it will reflect on the whole design or they will be limited to
just some cake styles and designs.
Do you feel the pressure to remain as one of the best in the industry as
cake decorating becomes more popular and more people take on businesses from
home?
Yes and no… maintaining is the hardest thing after I got the “title”
But hey that’s life… and I don’t like being under pressure because it
will take away the fun and enjoyment in doing cake decorating… cake decorating
should be fun and happy. If I am not on top any more who cares… at
least I have been there and I am great full for that.
I'm sure that everyone agrees with me when I say your cakes are
outstanding, but is there any area of cake decorating you wish you could
improve on?
Yes of course. I wish I could paint and airbrush better.
Have better knowledge in sculpting and making realistic figures.
I hear many stories from cake decorators about crazy clients, without
naming anyone do you have a crazy client story you can share with us?
Not really, all my clients will know me before even ringing me or come
in to the studio
They have done their research and prepare themselves well.
They are more excited to come to see me hahaha… so no
difficult clients.
What trends do you think will be popular next year?
I think piping will be back because I have seen in magazines and
students demand in piping workshops which is a great news…
What can we expect to be seeing from Handi’s Cakes 2014?
More travelling and teaching with new designs and learning outcomes
And some exciting news… stay tuned…
What Cake Decorating classes will you be offering in 2014, any new ones
we should look out for?
I will be still offering and focusing on the basic skills for beginner
cake decorators because if they don’t get the basic right they will not be a
good cake decorators.
There are a few new ones coming up ranging from one day classes and two
days classes, from beginner to advanced students.
Will you be running your classes across Australia? If so where?
Yes, I will and I have been doing that since 2011
Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney of
course
Will you be travelling in 2014 to teach internationally if so where and
when?
Yes, I will
Auckland, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Trexeltown (USA),
Barcelona, and a few more to confirm.
For those people who can’t make it to the classes you have, can they
catch you anywhere online?
Yes, I do online tutorials together with learn cake decorating online
Here is the link to the site
Do you think international cake decorators have a different approach to
execution when making cakes, compared to the cake decorators in Australia? Is
there anything you have noticed that they do different?
Yes, they do
The main one is the styles and the finishing
Some are still more traditional, other countries are more fun and out
there, some countries are simple and elegant and pretty
We are more open minded in terms of style and not afraid to be different
which is good.
What are you most favourite mediums to use work with when cake
decorating?
I love working with fondant and royal icing. Sometimes I use
modelling chocolate in some part of my cakes and that is a great medium to work
with too.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years in terms of cake
decorating and
teaching?
Wow.. in 5 years??... its such a long way… I want to be a judge in a
major cake decorating competition. Write my own book either my experience like
autobiography or a good quality cake decorating bible my style. And hopefully
still teaching and joining cake competitions.
Do you have a most memorable cake decorating disaster?
Yes, when I did a wedding cake long time a go
I used this particular brand of colouring
But the colour turned darker everyday, by the time I had finished
decorating and delivered the cake the fondant colour was 3 shades darker than
when it was before.
The bride did notice it and rang a few days after so we had to refund
the money
And it was a $3000 cake…
Are there any cake decorators you secretly idolise?
Yes I have a few
Debbie Brown… her design is very whimsical and cute perfect for beginner
out there who just want to make cakes for their children and great teacher and
travels the world too.
Sylvia Weinstock and Ron Ben Israel…. Very successful business man and
women and well respected in the industry in America and have created some
amazing cakes and the finishing and wow factors are always there in every
creations.
Thank you Handi for taking the time to share your story
with us! We wish you all the best as you continue on in your journey through
cake and we look forward to seeing your new designs in 2014!
To find out more about Handi’s classes and to see his
amazing work check out his social media pages.
All images are courtesy of Handi Mulyana – All images are subject
to copyright
https://www.facebook.com/MariannasCakingMeCrazy
http://www.pinterest.com/cakingmecrazy/boards/
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