Cake decorating class?

After my most recent brush with a purchased cake, I think that I want to learn how to do my own cake decorating. I'm well aware of the pleasures and glories of BomBon and Vanille, but sometimes the right thing is just a good ol' birthday cake. And I think I can handle the basics of the baking & making fillings just fine.

What I don't have any level of confidence about is the decorating part. I think that this would be a skill acquision process where I would benefit from having hands-on training and the opportunity to ask questions, rather than using a book or a video. I learned to make pasta/ravioli/tortellini in a class and it made a big difference for me.

Anyone have any recommendations? [North side of city or near NW burbs preferred.]

Thanks!

Giovanna

Wilton might not be in your area, but they do have a ton of classes.

http://www.wilton.com/classes/wiltonschool/classes.cfm

I took a cake decorating class (Wilton method) through Triton Community College. Also, Flavour Cooking school in Forest Park offers classes, which sometimes include cake decorating.

http://www.triton.edu
5th Ave.
River Grove

http://www.flavourcookingschool.com
Madison St.
Forest Park

Cakewalk is in Beverly, but I've heard good things about their classes.

1805 West 95th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60643
Hours M - F 10:30 am - 6 pm Sat 10:00 am - 3 pm
773-233-7335

sabersix wrote:Wilton might not be in your area, but they do have a ton of classes.

http://www.wilton.com/classes/wiltonschool/classes.cfm

There are also Wilton classes taught at various other locations:

http://www.wilton.com/classes/classlocator.cfm

I've been through the basic Wilton class. When I finished it, I could create a pretty good looking frosting rose, make nice shells around the edge of a cake, and otherwise turn out something that looked almost professional. I don't know that I could do it now, because it's definitely one of those skills that takes practice, but I thought it was pretty useful at the time.

Has anyone taken the Wilton cake decorating class offered at Michael's? My friend took it in Cincinnati, and she told me that they had to make their own cakes for the class. I also read about it on the Tribune's Blog, The Stew. She mentioned that her instructor gave them a frosting recipe using shortening (and no butter), which doesn't sound all that appealing to me. I think I might register for the June class. However, in the meantime, I want to make a caterpillar cake for my niece's birthday. Any tips on the preferred supplies/brands to purchase for the decorating kit and icing dye? Thanks!