ValentynShtefano'spastrieswereknownforattractingstaresandgigglesaswellaslip-smackingmurmurs.ButevenhisfianceewassurprisedwhenShtefanotoldherhewasmakingherweddingdress—outofflour,eggs,sugarandcaramel.Thedress—madeof1,500creampuffsandweighing20pounds—tookthe28-year-oldbakertwomonthstomake,andbytheendoftheweddingreception,brideViktoriyasaidshedidn'twanttotakeitoff.
Shtefanoisarisingstarinthefieldofbakingasvisualart,earninghimafollowinginUzhhorod,Ukraine.Hiscreationshavegeneratedabuzzinaplacewherecakeisoftenlayersofheavycream,wafersandnutsorpoppyseeds—moresomethingtoeatthantolookat.Shtefanoiseagertointroducenewsweetstothiscityof125,000.SomeofShtefano'scakesarestrictlyformatureaudiences,likeapairofbreasts.ButhealsocreatedanelaborateEastercakethatdrewhundredstoacathedral.ItwasablackandgoldglobehatchingfromanEasteregg,withpiecesofeggshellontopoftheglobeandfallingofftotheside.Itwastooprettytoeat.Hisbiggestchallengewastheweddingdresscake.Atfirst,hesewedemptycreampuffstogether,butthedresscollapsed.Then,hecarefullyattachedthepuffstoaweddingdressframe,andViktoriyaspentacouplehourseachnightbeforetheweddingmodelingthedressasShtefanoaddedmorepuffs.