I have to share this amazingly fun project with everyone! Susan Stockdale, author of Fabulous Fishes, partnered with the Ritz-Carlton in a community outreach program. They had local kids come over to the Ritz in Naples, Florida to decorate cakes inspired by Susan’s book. Besides being creative and fun, Susan had an amazing experience herself. Below, hear what she had to say about spending the day with local kids making fabulous cakes.
“This summer, I worked with the Ritz-Carlton as a guest speaker for its “Community Footprints” program, in which Ritz guests and employees help organizations located near its hotels. I participated in its Naples and Palm Beach, Florida, programs to share my bookmaking process with disadvantaged children.



These two programs demonstrated the rich rewards of children and adults working together to accomplish a common task, and having great fun in the process. It was pure pleasure to be a part of these positive teambuilding efforts, which surely left a “footprint” on this author’s heart.”
How wonderful are those cakes?! Why not try making your own Fabulous Fishes cakes?
Here are a few more notes from Susan about how they made their fishy treats!
“The Ritz baking staff presented each team (made up of adults and kids) with two large, rectangular sheet cakes and a copy of Fabulous Fishes. We were also provided with knives, spoons, a huge vat of butter cream frosting, lots of tubes of different colored frosting, a variety of candies and sprinkles, and straws. The organizer asked the teams to look through my book and find a fish image they wanted to recreate. Then he suggested that each team cut out the fish shape from one of the sheet cakes, and place it on top of the other sheet cake. Most of the teams picked the porcupinefish (spelled as one word), probably because it was easier to cut out the circular shape than the other fish shapes (though the swordfish came out really well!) From that point on, each team did its own thing with the frosting and decorations. Some of the porcupinefish shapes were propped up, as seen in a few photos, with straw sticks (like what you stir coffee with) in the back of the cake. Both the adults and the kids had a blast.”
What a fantastic project and wonderful community outreach! Sounds like fun for everyone!!
It really does look fun. I am contemplating decorating my own cakes like some fabulous fishes!
Now this sounds like a wonderfully innovative idea and one that I've certain benefits both the children it reaches as well as the author (and crew). Loving those cake designs too!
Oh, that is so nice!!! Love the cakes!