Cake Decorating: Favorite Tools

Last week on the Chef Nicholas Lodge Facebook page, we asked everyone to share the one cake decorating tool they couldn't live without. There were a ton of great responses, a few funny ones, and a clear winner! I also have a favorite suggested by our very own Scott and Nicholas! Oh, and read to the end to find out how you can win a sweet surprise!

Over 50 wonderful Chef Nicholas fans responded to our facebook post! Thanks everyone! I have used all (but one) of the tools mentioned, and they are all must haves! Some honorable mentions were smoothers, levellers, rolling pins and sticks, dresden tool, and ball tools. Great tools. I own them all. I use them all. I love them all. I bet you do too. There were a few funny responses too. Dawn Marie said her must have was patience. When faced with a tornado, Linda Gayle grabbed her Nicholas Lodge DVDs, books, instructional handouts and class books (Love you LGB!). 

Without further ado, the Top Five Tools according to our Facebook Fans:

4/5. Tie: Turntable and PME piping tips

3. KitchenAid Mixer (and the pasta attachment)

2. Angled/Offset Spatulas

1. Mini Palette Knife 

I think this is a pretty wonderful group of tools. I didn't vote, but if I had it would have been for the KitchenAid mixer. I love mine. So. Much. But, I also love my turntable, my piping tips, and I have so many angled spautlas that my two year old has his own set. I do have a confession. I personally own every tool mentioned above... Except... #1. That's right, I'm shamefully admitting that I don't own tool numero uno- The Mini Palette Knife. I don't know why. I want one. I work at ISAC, and we, ya know, sell them all the time. It's really quite embarassing. In order to spare myself from the wrath of the cake decorating gods, I am going to give away a Mini Palette Knife! Yay!

First, let's talk about one more favorite: the NL Floral Tape Cutter! This was suggested by Scott and Chef Nicholas when we began discussing this topic right after the ICES convention. Scott told me that they recieved so many positive comments about this tool at ICES, that we wanted to share the NL Floral Tape Cutter with everyone! You may have heard that we offer cake decorating classes at ISAC, and that quite a few feature gumpaste flowers. As you can well imagine- we go through a lot of floral tape. A LOT. Since flowers come in all sizes, one-size fits all does not apply to floral tape. Enter the amazing and easy to use NL Floral Tape Cutter! This handy dandy little tool can cut your tape roll in half or into quarters in less than 20 seconds! Easy, fast, convienant. No wonder everyone at ICES loved it! This little tool was even featured in Chef Nicholas' Craftsy Class- Mastering Modern Sugar Flowers. Guess what? I'm giving one of these bad boys away too! HOORAY!

Enough chit chat, I know you are all wondering how to can win one of our Favorite Things: The Mini Palette Knife or the NL Floral Tape Cutter. Here's how it works, you have to leave a comment below, HERE on the blog. In your comment, answer this question:

Why can't you live without having a Mini Palette Knife or NL Floral Tape Cutter in your cake decorating tool box?!

Two winners will be randomly selected and notified on Sunday August 24; one person will win the Mini Palette Knife, and one person will win the NL Floral Tape Cutter. I will post a blog with the winners and I will also post them on facebook! Remember, you need to leave a comment HERE ON THE BLOG for a chance to win! Good luck dear readers! Thanks again for submitting your Favorite Things to us! Oh, and if you would like to purchase any of the tools mentioned in this post, click on the names of the products (they are the green links)!

Sweetly yours,

Stephanie