Cake-mixing season: Mixing it right

The rum and fruits are out, because it’s cake-mixing season, and so are the photo-ops that come with it, thanks to five stars that host these events. But do these cake-mixing photo-ops ensure that the cakes that use them are hygienic enough?

As a yearly ritual, many three and five star hotels by now have started the process of cake-mixing, inviting prominent personalities from the city to come and be a part of preparing the cake mix. Just like any regular day at their kitchen, chefs ensure that quality takes precedence over everything else.

According to a chef, “Even while mixing the cake, we ask the participants to wear proper head gear to cover their head and also wear gloves to maintain the level of hygiene. It is only after the mixing and during a photo shoot, they are allowed to open their hair and pose in front of lens,” clarifies Executive Chef Michele, Park Hyatt, Hyderabad.

But could that photo-op session make room for unhygienic situations to arise? Shipra Chenji, Master Chef India contestant says, “I feel it’s not okay even if it is just a photo op, even if you say that people take a lot of precautions when the fruits are actually being mixed. Think about it, when people are posing for the photos their saliva could fall into the mix while they are talking! With hair left open a strand could easily fall into the mix and go unnoticed. If I was buying these cakes I would be put off.”

However, chef and restaurateur Rahul Akerkar believes that these are marketing activities. More often than not, these are not the final mixes that are baked. “It’s a good photo opportunity and not really about working out the final mix. Sometimes a few ingredients are added or usually a fresh batch is made as there are several aspects that go into making of a good cake and you can’t go wrong,” says Akerkar. That goes to say that it is not just the  hygiene which keeps the chefs on their toes but also that they strive to add a personal touch to the cake.

Preparation for the traditional Christmas cake is a big process. One needs to clean and sift through all the dry fruits cos you can’t have even a spec of dust. And by making it a gala event, involving so many people in mixing the dry fruits and soaking them in alcohol, I really don’t know what to say! As a professional baker, I am not in favour of this.
— Mehnaz Ahemad, Labonel Fine Baking

I have been to one or two of these events, but I’ve been given hats to wear, that keeps the hair tied. It is very important that people wear these hats and gloves even while mixing fruits because hair can fall into it. Even at home, every day, when I cook, I make sure my hair is tied because I know how we lose hair every day and that landing up in the food is a big no no.
— Sabina Xavier, Coo Y-Axis

I feel it’s not okay even if it is just a photo-op. Think about it, when people are posing for the photos their saliva could fall into the mix while they are talking! With hair left open a strand could easily fall into the mix and go unnoticed. If I was buying these cakes I would be put off
— Shipra Chenji, Masterchef India Contestant

— With inputs from Nasrin Modak-Siddiqi and Reshmi Chakravorty