All Things Baking 2012

A packed audience awaits the start of Lisa Berczel's "Airbrushing with Colored Cocoa Butter" demonstration. The Retail Bakers of America's Ramon Zayas introduces Modern Baking's chief editor, Katie Martin, before her session on the latest trends in retail baking. April Goess, Culinary Institute of America, demonstrates chouxettes with pate a choux and 1-2-3 dough on the show floor. (Far right) Rich Reinwald, Reinwald's Bakery, accepts the RBA Member Emeritus award on behalf of Michael Kalupa, Kalupa's Bakery, who wasn't in attendance. Also pictured: Ken Downey, RBA president, and Susan Nicolais, RBA executive director. Ken Downey, RBA president, presents the RBA Member Emeritus award to Ed Lee, who also is editor emeritus of Modern Baking. Ken Downey, RBA president, presents the RBA Member Emeritus award to Robert Smith, King Arthur Flour. "Every day wake up and love what you do. Don't chase money." -Steve Gilliland, during his General Session on "Enjoying the Ride." RBA members gather to commend president Ken Downey's RBA road trip during a cocktail hour after the General Session. (Left to right) Christian Merritt, Merritt's Bakery, Tulsa, Okla.; Paul Sapienza, Sapienza's Pastry, somewhere in Long Island, N.Y., and Dennis Stanton, Swedish Bakery, Chicago, discuss pricing strategies in today's volatile economy. Rachel Vaughn, The Cakery, Dayton, Ohio, works on her child's birthday cake entry during the Creative Decorating Competition. Vaughn won first place overall. Tina Bernier, Tiffany's Bakery & Eatery, Columbia, S.C., adds a peace sign to her child's birthday cake entry during the Creative Decorating Competition. Bernier won bronze in the sculpted cakes category. Betsy Yagunic, Alliance Bakery, Chicago, puts the finishing touches on her wedding cake entry in the Creative Decorating Competition. Yagunic took the silver medal in the sculpted cakes category. (Right) Christine Hollenden shares social media strategies for bakeries, with help from Sara Brook of the Dessert Gallery in Houston (left). Braaaaiiiins! A scary zombie sculpted cake, entered in the Cake and Bread Extravaganza, a new competition of finished product sponsored by Johnson Brothers Bakery Supply. (Left to right) Representatives of the 2012 Creative Decorating Competition's sponsors: Steve Pfaffengut, Bakery Crafts (rolled fondant); Doug White, DecoPac (custom design cakes); David Stricker, Pfeil & Holing (wedding cakes); Jenni Lennon, Pfeil & Holing; and Chip Levers, General Mills (overall competition sponsor). Pillsbury crowns the 2012 Creative Decorating Competition champions (left to right): second place winner Keeann Richards-Cramer, Jerry's Foods; Chip Levers, General Mills; First place winner Rachel Vaughn, The Cakery; and third place winner Krystina Gianaris, Kake Kouture. Rachel Vaughn's first place wedding cake in the 2012 Creative Decorating Competition. The competitors and sponsoring companies of the 2012 Creative Decorating Competition. Last month the editors headed to Houston for All Things Baking 2012: three packed days of educational seminars, demonstrations by industry experts, baking and decorating competitions, networking and (far too much) product sampling. Hosted by the Retail Bakers of America, American Bakers Association and BEMA, the show was created to serve as the industry's annual marketplace, meeting place and educational forum during the 2-year gap in the IBIE rotation. Here are some highlights, captured in photos.