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Thanksgiving .” For the second assignment , his team depicted an epic snowball fight with a big Yeti ( Abominable Snowman ) on top . There was also an assignment involving an outer space theme , and one involving the Grinch .
“ The biggest surprise for me was to realize how quickly seven hours can go by when you are building some extraordinary cake showpieces ,” he says . “ The experience was exciting beyond my wildest dreams . It ’ s crazy , but Iwant to do it again .”
HE EXPERIENCED HOW DESIGNING A CAKE IS SIMILAR TO STYLING A HANDBAG . LaMendola says he learned a key lesson during the judging of his Yeti cake . “ It was a 4-foot mountain , and it fell down ,” he says . “ It was sliding around while I was arranging it , and it plopped on the floor like an avalanche . The cake had to be structurally sound . It ’ s not just how it looks , but how it functions — just like a handbag !”
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LAMENDOLA MOVED BACK TO THE WAYNE AREA FIVE YEARS AGO . After living in Manhattan and other locales for 35 years , he moved back in 2016 to be closer to family . He lived with his dad in North Haledon before getting his own place in Wayne .
HE HAS ATEACHING JOB WHERE HE REPORTS TO HIS FORMER ASSISTANT . In 2017 , a friend who ’ d worked for him years before contacted LaMendola about being a fashion design and culinary arts instructor at Mary Help of Christians Academy , a Catholic girls ’ high school in North Haledon . The friend was now the dean of student affairs there . “ She knew I was comfortable with food in the kitchen , and that Iwould be able to teach ,” he says . “ Whether you ’ re designing flowers or food , you need to manage people , and she knew I could do that .”
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LaMendola teaches practical arts and culinary , fashion and studio art at MHC Academy , and says he loves teaching and inspiring his students .
HE SHARES HIS DESIGNS , RECIPES AND OTHER CONTENT ON HIS WEBSITE . LaMendola began blogging as another way to share his creative ideas . “ As I continue to do all the things Ilove doing , it made perfect sense to package them together under the name Celebrate 365 ,” he says . The site ( 365celebrate . com ) invites readers to sign up for classes in cupcakedecorating , pasta-making and other cooking skills ; offers recipes for dishes like Italian Mimosa Cake and Prickly Pear , Orange and Mint Salad ; and provides gardening tips . A series of videos show ornate gingerbread houses being erected with an equal dedication to form and function . ■
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BAGS : COURTESY OF FRANK LAMENDOLA ; CAKE : COURTESY OFTHE FOOD NETWORK |
40 MAY 2022 WAYNE MAGAZINE |