Speaking of dogs… My husband turned 50 in November. (No, silly, he’s not the dog.) I threw him a big movie-themed bash at Flex Gym (thanks again Bonnie and Al!). The star of the evening, besides the birthday boy, was most certainly our beloved canine, Huff, in edible form. Emily Patti of Patti Cakes is the southern mid-Atlantic’s answer to Ace of Cakes. They have nothing on her!

While gourmet vegan movie fare, courtesy of Cuisine & Co., comprised the main part of the meal, dessert took the shape of a 3-foot+ edible sculpture of one of our pack. If you’ve seen Steel Magnolias, don’t worry; the cake was not red velvet. It was rich chocolate layers with peanut butter filling, “buttercream” frosting and airbrushed fondant–ALL VEGAN.

Emily is as sweet and accommodating as she is talented. If you live in our area and are in the market for a beautiful wedding cake or an amazing novelty creation, I urge you to contact her. Check out her website; the photos speak for themselves.

Patti Cakes, Inc., Moyock, North Carolina, 252-435-2726, www.patticakesinc.net, epatti@mchsi.com.