Three Decorators Set for IDDBA Cake Challenge

The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) has announced the three contestants chosen to participate in the 17th annual IDDBA Cake Decorating Challenge, to be held at IDDBA's Dairy-Deli-Bake 2012 seminar and expo in New Orleans, June 10-12. There were 86 entrants from 35 supermarket chains.

The decorators receiving an all-expense paid trip to compete at the IDDBA show are:

-- Andria Chinander, Lund Food Holdings (Byerly's), Edina, Minn.: Andria honed her cake skills on the job at Byerly's, where she's been working for 14 years and decorating the past eight.

-- Stacie Clawson, Walmart, Perry, Utah: Stacie has been decorating cakes for 12 years. She is mostly self-taught, but has learned much from talented coworkers along the way.

-- Amy Murtha, Hy-vee Inc., Belton, Mo.: Amy calls her 14 years of cake decorating "creatively rewarding." She learned the basics from coworkers and continues to study new advanced techniques on her own. She uses her degree in graphic design to create original cake designs.

There are three phases to IBBDA's challenge. On June 10, each contestant will decorate enough cakes to fill one multi-tiered, eight-foot bakery case. On June 11, each contestant will decorate a wedding cake. June 12 is a special "Decorator's Choice" theme event.