Let Them Eat Cake

Variety – The Children’s Charity

By: Antonella Nuñez-Reyes, Sadia Ali, and Francis Zotter

What do Eagles fans, brides-to-be, couples,

and dessert lovers all have in common? Cake! In
their 16th consecutive year, Variety - The
Children’s Charity orchestrated the Philadelphia
area’s largest wedding cake contest for charity,
Let Them Eat Cake. The event was held on
Sunday, February 24th, 2019 at the LOEWS
Philadelphia Hotel in Center City, Philadelphia.
The event raises funds to help empower children
and adults with disabilities at all stages of their
Sponsored by First Trust Bank, take- lives.
home containers were given out to guests
who wished to reserve dozens of samples of
cake from over 25 different chefs. This
year’s theme, Let Them Eat Cake Under the
Sea, brought professional pastry chefs and
student competitors throughout the mid-
Atlantic region from all over the
Philadelphia Metropolitan Area together in
competition for the evening’s Best In Show.
Many factors were considered for
first place, where celebrity judges decided
the winner based on artistry, taste, theme,
creativity, and even the use of ingredients.
Best in Show – Kristen Sirbak,
Best in Show went to Kristen Sirbak from
Beverly’s Bake Shop
Beverly’s Bake Shop and Best in Show
Runner Up was awarded to Danielle
Zahodski from The Master’s Baker. Best
student award went to Gabriella Messina
from The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill
College.
 Elegant floral arrangements designed
by Ann Catania of Ten Pennies catered to
the event’s theme for a spectacular night out
in Center City Philadelphia. Thanks to a
donation of Wawa coffee, employees of
Variety Works manned the coffee cart as
guests enjoyed sparkling and non-sparkling
water complimentary of Nestle and
Pellegrino. Complimentary vodka samples
were distributed by Bluebird Distillery, as
many other Vendors of the night showcased
their goods and services to guests.

As broadcasted on FOX 29, KYW

News Radio, and 6 ABC, Philadelphia
bloggers Phil My Tummy and My Philly
Alive documented the event’s on-goings.
Philly Style Magazine’s Marnie Manko was
honored that night for the Variety
Ambassador Award. Gift baskets were
raffled off to select lucky winners as over
800 cake connoisseurs indulged in
complementary cake and spirits of all kinds.
Best in Show Runner Up –
Danielle Zahodski, The Master’s
Baker
 As an Eagles Care partner, Variety the
Children’s Charity invited retired Philadelphia
Eagles players Ike Reese and Tra Thomas on
stage to present two adaptive tricycles to one
special boy and girl. Swoop, the Philadelphia
Eagles official mascot, posed in pictures with
guests, as official Eagles Cheerleaders graced
the events’ stage in the hotel’s Millennium
Ballroom.

Best Student - Gabriella Messina,

Let Them Eat Cake is an exciting family
Walnut Hill College
outing that offers fun for all ages! Join Variety
for next year’s event, themed Power of
Flower, on Sunday, February 23rd, 2020, at 6-
8 PM, to see for yourself! For more
information, please contact Harry Giordano at
Harry.giordano@varietyphila.com or (215)
385-0900.