Interview #32: Gilles Leblanc

First I would like to thank you Sharon, and Cake Decor, to have given this opportunity. I feel honored ,and you have no idea how surprised I was when I was asked.

1. How or why did you get started in cake decorating… was it by accident or did you always a passion for it?

I rediscovered the pleasure of baking and decorating cakes, about three years ago. Of course, there was always that passion within me of working with my hands-the artistic side. Having been a sculptor, gave me the intrigue of trying different cakes, the ones I pictured in my mind, and was eager to succeed.

2. Tell us a little about yourself, married, kids, what did you do for a living before making cakes if anything?

I have been married to my best friend, and wife for 32 years. We have 2 wonderful talented children, our son 29 years, and our daughter 23 years of age. Life made it such, that I was able to experience different fields of work, but sculpting remained my main passion. The need to provide for my family gave me the opportunity to orient myself to where opportunity took me. From Sculpting to Silversmith, to marble work, and even designer. All was so fascinating, and gave me more experience and knowledge in each field. Now retired, I rediscover the passion of sculpting and modeling through cakes.

3. What is the one tool you cannot live without and one you don’t have yet but really want?

The one tool I cannot do without are my hands, and my imagination. Because of them, I am able to create, and execute. Any other tool I would need, I could make. I am left handed, and in grade school I was not allowed to use my left hand to write, that’s just the way it was then, since I was schooled by nuns. Today, because of this, I am agile with both hands, but of course, my calligraphy leaves to be desired!

4. How did you find cakesdecor and what makes it a place you want to keep sharing on?

While surfing on the internet and looking at the different types of cakes, I came upon your site and just loved what I saw! Amazing cakes, done by people just like me (regular people). So happy to be able to share my cakes, and meet with other cake artists to comment on our work. I have made some amazing friends through Cake Décor, and we share the same passion for decorating extraordinary cakes.

5. What part of making cakes do you like most and least?

Let me start by the part that I like least…shopping for all the ingredients! Although I always prepare with a shopping list, there is always some ingredient that wasn’t thought of, or forgotten. My favorite part about creating my cakes, and I am sure it goes for all cake decorators, is the reaction of the person receiving their cakes. It gives me such a sense of satisfaction to see them touch it, and make sure that it is actually a cake. I’ve seen some laugh of joy, and shed tears, too. And, there are actually those whom do not want to cut their cake, for fear of ruining it—it truly has happened!

6. What is your favorite cake you have done to date?

Well, I must say, I love them all!! Each cake was an adventure. First the creation of the cake, and then the scenario, the meaning, and of course the emotion of the moment for the receiver. Although, I must say, my Prosciutto cake was one of my favorites. I spoke too fast—-Tim Burton is also in my favorites. Gosh!! Another comes to mind, oh yes, the Mustang cake, this one challenged me. Then there is my `Be my Valentine` a collaboration piece, that touched me. I guess I really like them all!!!!! They were all so much fun to make!

7. Do you have a bucket list and if so what might one or two of those be and it does not have to be cake related?

There are so many cakes with different themes that I would love to be able to work on and do. I always love to be able to experiment further, and being involved in different collaborations helps me to fulfill just that. It helps in giving me that extra push to expand my creativity, and of course my personal challenge. As for the other item on my bucket list, I would love to travel the world, and meet up with all those amazing cake friends and Artists, that I have met through this adventure.

8. What is one technique or sugar skill that you have not tried yet but really would like to learn?

There are so many techniques that I still have to experiment and learn. Some of them actually make me hesitate, simply because they make me feel uncomfortable. For instance, I am still not able to do piping work, and I apprehend it each time. A technique that intrigues me very much is making Dragon beard candy. I am very impressed with the results (although extremely messy). I see so many possibilities with the outcome of this technique, and I am just waiting for the right collaboration to come along, to be able to practice it.

9. If you ever did a live cake challenge who would you want as your cake partner?

There are quite a few cake decorators that I admire, and would be honored to choose as my cake partner. Honestly, I would rather make a cake with my cake partner in my workshop, than having a cake challenge. Cake challenges are very stressful, and demanding, and to me would take away the fun of making a cake with a talented cake artist. It would not give us that quality time to share and discuss our work at hand.

10. What is the one cake you are still hoping to get asked to make?

This particular cake, I have done already, and frankly, hope to do it again soon. It is cakes for charity—for a good cause. I am involved in this organization here in Quebec, that provides Birthday cakes to children, for the families that are going through hard times. To me it is rewarding to know that some little form of happiness can be given to these families even through those hard moments.

11. And one crazy one just for fun…If you were deserted on an island what would be one skill you have that you think would help you survive?

HAHA! Funny you should ask this question. Once at a group meeting, I kept commenting on how we could try doing it this way, and that way , trying of course to get some results to the work at hand, basically finding an easier solution. It was then that I was given my famous nickname the`` Macgyver of Cakes`` (Macgyver was a character with very many skills on a famous TV show, he always seemed to find a solution to whatever jam he was in. Whatever he had at hand he would modify and use.) Some of them still calls me Macgyver. I guess I would presume I would survive??!!

Thank you

Some of Gilles’ Cakes: