Let them eat cake!

Bakers: Download the 2016 Let Them Eat Cake registration form.
Deadline: November 18, 2016.

“Let them eat cake!”: It’s one of the most famous quotes in history. At some point around 1789, when being told that her French subjects had no bread, Marie-Antoinette (bride of France’s King Louis XVI) supposedly sniffed, “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” – “Let them eat cake.” With that callous remark, the queen became a hated symbol of the decadent monarchy and fueled the revolution that would cause her to (literally) lose her head several years later. But did Marie-Antoinette really say those infuriating words? Probably not. But we don’t really care, because for this year’s Gualala Salon, there will be no hors d’ oeuvres! We will all eat cake and drink champagne!

“How can this be?” you ask. And here’s the answer: Brought back by popular demand for the second year, in addition to the Fine Art Competition of the Gualala Salon, there will be a separate Fine Art Cake Contest. Artists will be encouraged to create Fine Art Cakes that will be judged on their artistic merit, not on their taste. Attendees at the opening reception for the Gualala Salon and Let Them Eat Cake! will get to eat the cakes and wash their cake down with free champagne.

First Prize is $250, Second Prize is $175, and third prize is $100. In addition there will be an EMERGING ARTIST Award of $100 for the best cake by an artist under 18 years of age.

For this exhibit, artists are encouraged to use any ingredients for their cakes, remembering that they will be judged on artistic merit and not taste – although taste could be a tie breaker. All entries must be 40% edible. There is no size requirement or limitation with respect to the size of the cake. All artists must be present to cut their cake(s).

The cakes will be judged at 4 p.m. on the day of the opening reception for the show, and will be on view from 5 to 6 p.m. At 6 p.m. the artists will cut their cakes and attendees at the Gualala Salon and Salon des Refuses’ and Let Them Eat Cake! will get to eat the cake and wash it down with free champagne.

Some of 2015’s Let Them Eat Cake! entries:

The Judge for 2016 Let Them Eat Cake!

This is the second year of the LET THEM EAT CAKE! Competition. Last year’s winner, Frances (Franny) Burkey of Franny’s Cup and Saucer, has agreed to be our judge for this year.

Franny’s Cup & Saucer was opened in April of 2006 by Frances (Franny) Burkey and her mom, Barbara Burkey. Barbara was an experienced, life-long professional baker, and Franny was a sort-of experienced professional baker. Barbara and Franny first began working together in 1992 when Barbara and her husband Doug (Franny’s dad) opened the Tomales bakery and found that Franny was an excellent source of cheap labor. In 1997 they moved to Point Arena and Doug and Barbara opened the Point Arena Bakery, where Franny worked on and off throughout high school and beyond. After the bakery closed it’s doors in 2004, Barbara and Franny found themselves craving an outlet in which to funnel their love of food, monkeys, and knick-knacks.

Hence, Franny’s Cup & Saucer was born! They wanted to create a shop that could hold all the things they loved and wanted to share with their customers—trinkets they picked up while traveling, cool and quirky kid’s toys, funky, affordable jewelry, stylish housewares, and most importantly, awesome pastries, all squeezed under one tiny little roof!

They offer an endless melange of baked goods, both sweet and savory, for breakfast, lunch and of course, dessert, all of which they make at the bakery every morning. They make their own chocolates, such as their salt caramels, truffles and pate de fruit, in addition to carrying a colorful range of candies from all their favorite companies. They serve Uncommon Grounds coffee and Espresso from Berkeley and Harney & Sons tea and chai, and an alarming amount of people seem to be addicted to their spicy mexican mochas! Since the shop is so small, all of the items are carry-out.

Franny’s also offers monthly brunches throughout the spring and summer, as well as birthday cakes and wedding cakes by special order. For more information, go to their website: frannyscupandsaucer.com. Franny’s tends to sell out of many items early in the day, but if you call ahead of time, they are happy to put pastries aside for you. You can also find their brownies and shortbread at the historic Arena Theater in Point Arena.

Franny’s Cup and Saucer is located at 213 Main Street in Point Arena, right across the street from the historic Arena Theater. Their business hours are Wednesday through Saturday, from 8 am to 4 pm. You can reach them at (707) 882-2500.