Cake decorator Manu and his artistic cakes are the latest sensations on the popular media app Tik Tok. The videos in which the youngster is seen decorating stunning cakes in different shapes and colours have grabbed the attention of the social media. However, it is Manu's cheerful nature and the ease with which he does creative designs on cakes that is winning hearts.
Manu Eranjikkal, a native of Cherakkara, Thrissur, absolutely enjoys his job and his happiness while decorating a cake is evident from the videos that are already a rage on Tik Tok. Manu has been working in bakery production for the last ten years. He was initially an assistant at a bakery and gradually learned the nuances of baking. He specializes in creating beautiful and creative cakes with intricate designs that conquer the hearts of the cake lovers.
Viral video
Manu is currently working at English Cakes, a bakery production unit in Kozhikode. He works as a fresh cream cake baker here. He decorates at least 20-25 kilos of cakes on a daily basis. Earlier, besides baking, he used to do all the jobs at the bakery including cleaning. Now, he is the chief cake decorator who creates beautiful designs and patterns, in delicious flavours, on prepared cakes. While decorating the simpler ones, he would sometimes record 15-seconds videos. Manu says that he feels incredibly happy when he receives positive comments. It was a mash-up video of all the previous ones which went viral on Facebook. However, Manu has no idea who uploaded it on the social media. He himself watched it only after it became a hit on Facebook.
No gloves or coat
Manu is not a hotel management graduate. He admits that the shortcomings of lack of professional training can be spotted in the videos. Many people point out that he doesn't use gloves or a chef's coat while decorating the cakes. However, Manu says that it isn't practical to wear gloves or a chef's whites while baking and designing so many cakes.
"Ten minutes is all it takes for us to set and decorate a black forest cake. There are people who do it in an elaborate way, taking time. But that is not possible here. As it is a production unit, we would usually have orders for lots of cakes. I recorded the videos just to have some fun in the midst of my busy job. I usually decorate a cake with designs and patterns that pops up in my mind. As I don't wear gloves and chef's coat, many ask whether I am doing it at my home. People don't realize that this is my profession. Some even express desire to buy my cakes," says Manu.
However, the customers cannot directly buy cakes from here as it is a production unit functioning at Chevayoor. These cakes are supplied to various bakeries around Kozhikode. Manu reveals that he decided to upload his cake decorating videos as he thought the visuals of beautiful cakes being made go well with amazing songs in the background.
Many who diligently follow Manu's cake videos often ask him whether he conducts classes in cake decoration. This youngster dreams to begin a venture where he could hold classes in cake designing and art. "I really wish I could teach it to others because I had worked very hard to learn it. I used to work from 4 in the morning till evening. When I learned baking, ovens weren't very popular. Cakes were baked in a device called appakoodu (which translates to cake boxes). Charcoal has to be made by burning coconut husks and wood. I strived really hard during those days. Now I work from 9 am and finish by 5 pm," Manu says.
Class ten fail
After failing class ten examinations, Manu spent two years doing some odd jobs which didn't turn out well. He was hired at the production unit of Grand Bakery in Chalakkudy as a worker who helped with cleaning and other chores. The youngster says that everyone begins their careers as helpers at the bakeries, gradually making their way up to the position of bakers or cake decorators. After that he went on to work at few other bakeries as well from where he learned baking and decorating cakes. "There are lots of people who could be called the real cake masters. I am nothing in front of them. I made these videos just for fun, after watching lots of people doing it. I just played a song and recorded the video. I have, so far, posted around 122 videos," notes Manu.
Manu began posting his cake decorating videos on Tik Tok around four months ago. When he began receiving honest comments from his followers, the youngster felt motivated to post at least a video in a day. His videos have already been watched by more than 3000 viewers. Manu confesses that he never hoped his videos to become such a huge hit among the viewers. The young artist has enrolled himself for the SSLC equivalency and hopes to pass the exam this year. After that he wishes to write the plus two exams and secure a degree in hotel management, so that he could achieve his dream of conducting classes in cake designing.
