While researching a piece on restaurant supply stores, I discovered an incredible little shop in Maple Leaf called Home Cake Decorating Supply Company. It’s been open since 1960 and is run by Griel, the daughter of original owner Irene Amundsen.

This amazing resource for the professional and home baker is full of things you never knew you needed, and/or couldn’t find when you needed them most. Ready-to-use icing ($2.98 a pound), rolled fondant ($6 a pound), colored sugar (from $1.39 for 4 ounces), edible glitter ($2.89) and exotic-sounding ingredients like gum arabic ($1.50 an ounce) -- a naturally occurring gluey binder used in making candy -- are just a few of the treasures this store holds.

It takes a second or two to orient yourself in the somewhat cluttered space, but once you discern the order in the chaos, you’ll stumble upon the most wondrous things. I spied cake toppers for every occasion, from weddings and baby showers to birthday parties and Quinceaneras, along with every different size and shape of Bundt, cake, tart, cupcake tin and baking pan you could ever imagine.

Griel is a font of wisdom, cheerfully dispensing the kind of sage advice that comes from a lifetime of experience. As I was perusing the shop I heard her explain how to make the best glitter for a Princess cake (add a little edible glitter to colored sugar of varying coarseness for sparkle); gently admonish one shopper to keep it simple and remember that no but you one will notice the little mistakes; and advise that pink is always one of the most appealing colors you can have on a cake.

Home Cake Decorating Supply Company
9514 Roosevelt Way N.E., 206-522-4300
Hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hit me with your best shop: alisonbrownrigg@gmail.com

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