City of Hope 2013 Let Them Eat Cake - Photo by Laura Eaton Photography

City of Hope Philadelphia celebrates ten years of fondant fun with Let Them Eat Cake: Fantasy Weddings on Monday, April 7, 2014 at 6:00pm at the DoubleTree Hilton (237 Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA). Brides-to-be, dessert fanatics and fondant foodies will sample creations from 40 professional pastry chefs and student bakers from around the tri-state region. Guests will enjoy a new Sweetheart Tablescape competition, Korbel champagne, live music from BVT Live, and the opportunity to meet celebrity chefs Marc and Benny (City Cakes NY) and John Moeller (former White House chef). Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/cohcake14 or by calling 215-985-0869. All proceeds benefit City of Hope to help cut out cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses.

“What began ten years ago as an intimate evening organized by three friends has now become the Northeast’s premiere wedding cake competition – and Philadelphia’s sweetest event of the year," said City of Hope’s Amy Tieman. "Our fantasy weddings theme takes us back to our roots and will produce some big surprises. Bridges-to-be will find inspiration as bakers let their imaginations run wild."

Whether you are a bride or groom, or simply have a huge sweet tooth, this is the perfect opportunity to sample 40 scrumptious cakes from the most talented bakers in the tri-state area. Early confirmed participants include Classic Cake, Granny Schmidt’s, Wonderland Cakes, The Restaurant School of Walnut Hill and The Art Institute of Philadelphia.

City of Hope 2012 Let Them Eat Cake - Photo by Laura Eaton Photography

Each Fantasy Weddings masterpiece will be judged by celebrity judges, wedding experts and local VIPs in two levels (professional and college) in six categories (Most Artistic, Best Tasting, Best Theme, Best of Show, more). Guests can also vote in the “People’s Choice” category.

Celebrity judges for 2014 are Chefs Marc and Benny from City Cakes NY and former White House Chef John Moeller. Marc and Benny has been seen on TLC, Food Network, Rachel Ray and E! Network. Moeller has been chef to three White House administrations, including President George H.W. Bush, President William Jefferson Clinton and President George W. Bush. Local judges this year will include:

* Head Judge - Natayna DiBona, co-host and co-founder Diner en Blanc Philadelphia
* Kathy Gold, owner of In the Kitchen Cooking School and president of Les Dames D'Escoffier PHL
* Dana Herbert, winner of Next Great Baker
*George Kyrtatas, the Sweet Water Grill and Cut Throat Kitchen
* Others to be announced

In addition to the main cake competition, City of Hope announces a new Sweetheart Tablescape competition sponsored by UBER and coordinated by Soiree Philadelphia. Local wedding planning and design companies will create Fantasy Wedding tablescapes that will be judged by guests.

Tickets are on sale now for $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Tickets are being sold online for the first time ever at bit.ly/cohcake14. Tickets are also available by calling 215-985-0869 or emailing atieman@coh.org. The first 100 attendees in the door on the night of the event will receive a goody bag worth over $100.

Let Them Eat Cake: Fantasy Weddings is presented by and benefits City of Hope Philadelphia Office. Special thanks to sponsors including YELP Philadelphia, Nordstrom, Sweat Fitness, Laura Eaton Photography, Soiree, Bella Angel, BVT and Back to Life, WTSO and UBER. All new UBER users will receive a complimentary ride up to $20.00 using promo code Cityofhope2014. For every new user who rides with this code, UBER will donate $5.00 to City of Hope.

Registration is open for professional bakers and pastry chefs, as well as tablescape competitors. All interested parties should contact Amy Tieman at City of Hope at 215-985-0869 and atieman@coh.org.