June Issue – Showcase Spotlight: Llama de Amour

Eliana Morales took first place in the Wedding Cake category at the Société Culinaire Philanthropique’s 147th Salon of Culinary Art in New York City. Take a closer look at the details on her extraordinary cake and it’s easy to see why. There are so many textures, colors and patterns at play. The visual elements also tell a story about Eliana’s homeland of Argentina. From the fascinating symbolism of the cactus flower to the representations of traditional textiles, read on to learn more about the meanings behind her creation.

All photo credits: Circe Hamilton

“Now a days wedding cakes are a very important part of marriages, since every couple wants their cake to be very unique– from a very traditional, simple cake to a very modern, wild, colorful cake or even one that’s a little funny.”

“[My cake] Llama de Amor in Salta, Argentina, tells the story of a couple who wants a little bit of everything, emphasizing their love for Argentina and traditions but at the same time being very modern, full of different colors and texture.”

Some of those elements are:

The Cardón Cactus Wood
“The world’s largest cactus, you can find them in the Los Cardones National Park, located in the center-west of the province of Salta, in the Argentine Northwest. The Cardón has adapted to the arid conditions of a desert for thousands of years, is extremely strong and stores over a ton of water in its flesh. Every single panel of wood that you see on the cake is handmade out of fondant and painted with different shadows of color from each other.”

Cardón Cactus Flower
“The flowers open in the afternoon and stay open all night. Back in the day, there was a time when it was taboo to speak of your feelings directly to the person– so instead they say it with flowers. Cactus plants are the perfect symbol for endurance and you can see it with the way they’re structured as well as with the way they live. So giving out a cactus to the person you have strong feelings for means that you have a love that endures.”

“Apart from endurance, the cactus also means bravery, warmth, affection, grandeur and even a mother’s unconditional and undying love to her children. In herb and plant magic, cactus is regarded as a form of protection as well as chastity. The most challenging part was to make the center of this flower and figure out the right way of drying each petal.”

Eliana Morales_3

The Aguayo
“A rectangular colorful piece of woolen cloth, used in traditional South American communities to carry children and all kinds of items on their backs. In the front of this cake you will also notice the colors of two flags, Argentina (blue, white and yellow) and the province of Salta (red and black). These textiles are made in wool, as it is a material more accessible to the weavers than the llama or alpaca fiber of ancient times.”

Mountains
“Salta, Argentina is surrounded by beautiful mountains and they are represented in this cake in a very artistic way, formed by crisscrossing white lines around two tiers of the cake. The blue is the sky. Together the colors of the Argentine flag.”

Llama Wool
“The llama is a South American relative of the camel, though the llama does not have a hump. These sturdy creatures are domestic animals used by the peoples of the Andes Mountains (Their wild relatives are guanacos and vicuñas). Native peoples have used llamas as pack animals for centuries.”

“Llamas are willing pack animals, but only to a point. An overloaded llama will simply refuse to move. These animals often lie down on the ground and they may spit, hiss, or even kick at their owners until their burden is lessened. Llamas contribute much more than transportation to the human communities in which they live. Leather is made from their hides, and their wool is crafted into ropes, rugs, and fabrics.”

Eliana Morales_1

Alpaca Silver Metal
“Alpaca silver is popular with South American jewelry companies and is used to create beautiful, traditional and modern pieces. In this cake they are hanging from the white strings. Some of the coins have a traditional Argentinean item impression, like a Cactus, the map of Salta and Argentina, a soccer ball, a mate and wedding rings.”

Eliana Morales_2

Gift a Subscription!

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

A handpicked selection of the best cakes, recipes and news, delivered to your inbox.

[mc4wp_checkbox]

Thank you for your submission. Please check your email.