Has anyone had this happen? I made a realistic fish shaped cake for the fishing enthusiast husband of a colleague. It was a lemon cake with lemon curd and a tart lemon buttercream. I ate lots of the offcuts so I know it tasted great.

Has anyone had this happen? I made a realistic fish shaped cake for the fishing enthusiast husband of a colleague. It was a lemon cake with lemon curd and a tart lemon buttercream. I ate lots of the offcuts so I know it tasted great. 

I know the client loved how it looked but I’ve now found out that they refused to cut into it and are planning to get it varnished and framed! 

I find this so weird. Has this happened to anyone else? I’m a bit worried it will go mouldy and mushy. And if I’m honestl I’m a bit disappointed at the waste of good cake. 

I made a cute little cake for our next door neighbor as a gift for her baby shower.  She refused to let anyone else touch it and wouldn't even cut it.  I specifically didn't attach the baby so she could take it off and keep it, but she kept the whole cake!

I was glad she was so thrilled and liked it so much, but as you said, it was a waste of a good cake.  However, it was a gift and what she chose to do with it was entirely up to her.  Just kinda makes you squint sometimes.

People are odd.

As hard as it is to cut into amazing works of art, cakes are made to be eaten and a good baker will make a cake that tastes just as good, if not better than what it looks like.  So I guess it is their loss that they didn't get to experience your yummy cake.

You have to let it go....they "own" it now :)  I bet they will find it won't last alll that long even w/a coat of varnish!     For contest entries I have dried out cake in the oven when I couldnot find any shape I wanted.  That might be a better option for your customer - less chance of it going moldy/mushy.  But then this now has icing on it - don't know how it would dry out completely w/o the icing melting away:(

Don't be disappointed, louglou! They have paid you the highest compliment by wanting to keep it.  I don't know how long cake will keep sealed with frosting and shellac, but I had a piece made of rice cereal treats covered in modeling chocolate that lasted years and years.  I know this because I recently refurbished it and when I cut into the rice cereal treats, they looked as fresh as when new.  Maybe it they order another cake, you should make a topper from modeling chocolate, so they can keep it and make a separate, plain cake for eating.