I'll be doing a "raw steak" cake for a friend of ours (long story ), and have been sifting through some of the gallery pictures, which are gorgeous. I'm deliberating between making "butcher paper" out of fondant for the cake board, or simply presenting it on a styrofoam meat tray wrapped in plastic. I don't know where to get a clean styrofoam tray (like the ones you would actually buy meat on at the grocery store), and I'm not sure what the cleanest, most appealing presentation would be for this to make it super cute: should I even try the plastic wrap approach, or do you think a toothpick with my birthday message on it (like a price tag) and fondant butcher paper would look prettiest? Any other suggestions are quite welcome as well!

Thanks in advance!

-Emi.

I like the butcher paper idea but instead of a toothpick I think I would make a fondant "sticker". You know how they seal the wrapped meat with a pricing sticker? When you open the paper you sort of tear the seal? That's what I would replicate. Cool idea!

Cat

Can you go to the butcher at your grocery store and ask for a foam tray? Then you could either wash it and use it for the cake, or use it to mold a tray out of gumpaste.

Thanks, guys! As far as using the butcher tray, I would be afraid to use it simply because it's a porous surface and, unless it was packaged when they gave it to me, it could have been exposed to anything butcher-y and would be impossible to clean into the pores. As far as making the tray out of gumpaste, I could definitely do that too, though I would have to get it done by tomorrow to give it time to dry appropriately.

Thanks for the suggestions! Any other views would be greatly appreciated!

-Emi.

PS I like the sticker idea as well! Thanks!

Could you use freezer paper in place of true butcher paper?

You could use the press and seal plastic wrap to cover it.

I understand your concern. But, the foam trays are not porous. If they were, the meat juice would soak through, making the tray completely useless. If you're still creeped out by it, you could cut a board the exact size and shape of your steak so there's a barrier between.

Thanks guys! I'll post an update when it's done!

I think rather than making "butcher paper" out of fondant I would just use actual butcher paper.

I had to buy the meat tray for my steak cake. I explained what it was for and she said..."huh?" I explained it again and she gave me one from inside a package. She did have to charge me $.50, though.