Hi,
I am in Canada and Viva towel doesn't exist here or anymore, so I'm wondering what about Viva makes it good for smoothing buttercream? Are there any Canadian ladies that know of a good alternative that I can buy here? Thanks!

There is no pattern on the towel that is why it works.

We have viva here, but it's patterned. I just use whatever paper towel I have handy, patterned or not. Then use some regular paper (the kind you'd get in a photocopier or a printer) afterwards to smooth out the pattern.

Apparently you can also use baking/parchment paper.

Or try the Melvira technique

Viva has more of a cloth texture where other paper towels have pattern impressions in them. Even my plain cheap paper towels have little dots all over them that don't give me a smooth finish.

I feel your pain. I'm in Canada too and have yet to find a good substitute. Since I live close to the border I have a good friend who regularly crosses to shop. SHe is my Viva towel and strawberry cake mix mule (I should get my passport so I can go myself really!)

I use regular or gloss copy paper. I found that the Viva towel always made my BC look "fuzzy" to me, the use of paper just looks more clean and smooth.

Good luck!

Thanks for the ideas! I just really want to have perfectly smooth buttercream or as close as I can, but so far I am not that talented with the spatula.

B.