Fab sweets: Wedding cakes with a twist

The cake cutting ceremony is a highly anticipated part of a typical Saudi wedding reception. The groom places his right hand over the bride’s right hand and together they cut the cake, after which they feed each other its first slice while the guests applaud and cheer.
Choosing the right wedding cake, therefore, is of supreme importance to the bride and the groom. Most brides in Jeddah trust Fab Sweets bakery for the perfect culinary piece for their wedding. The boutique is located on the second floor of Stars Avenue mall.
Fab Sweets is famous for its pretty non-edible garnishing and decorations, such as, crystals, flowers, jewels, pearls and ribbons, which give a dream-like quality to the cake. Stylish, classy, traditional or funky — the boutique makes cakes that cater to the bride’s tastes and preference.
The menu is elaborate and the cakes are made from scratch in various flavors. They are also low on sugar.
“Fab Sweets is a luxury bakery that tries to bring a unique and vintage quality to its cakes. We try to avoid customary and traditional cakes,” said Bushra Al-Ambari, owner of Fab Sweets. “Most of the ingredients for the bakery are imported from outside the Kingdom to ensure freshness and a different taste,” she said.
The ingredients come from France while the chocolate is imported from Switzerland and Belgium.
Fab Sweets, which opened in late 2011, has already gained massive recognition among cake lovers in Jeddah.
“I introduced the famous macarons to the Saudi market after I noticed that what is being sold here as macaron is actually meringue. I started baking them with authentic French ingredients, which are used in Laduree, the French bakery that first started making macarons,” said Al-Ambari.
Fab Sweets takes its name from the word “fabulous” because the bakery does not produce usual sweets, according to Al-Ambari. “Only fabulous people care about the look of the cake and they are the ones who want to be exceptional and unique. They are those who are conscious of their heath and therefore prefer our sweets, which are low on sugar and fat,” she said.
Al-Ambari’s bakery uses high-resolution machines to design and draw on cakes, cookies and macaroons. “We bought it to make easier drawing pictures and writing on the hard surface of the cakes,” she said.  “We want to give our clients the best of the best and this machine helps in presenting the little details in a picture with great precision,” she added.
Among the bakery’s specialties are their small cakes — individual and miniature weddings cakes. “In some weddings, the couple does not get a chance to cut the cake and share it with their guests. As such designing mini cakes and distributing them among the guests is a better idea,” said Al-Ambari. “The cakes are packed in stylish boxes and can be given as takeaway gifts at the wedding,” she said.
Saudi brides are generally fond of traditional cake flavors, according to Al-Ambari. “Half vanilla and half chocolate is the most requested flavor in the Saudi market. However, we try to change that by adding different flavors for those who ask for it,” she said. “Our specialty includes old French classics, such as, macaron, black forest and chocolate caramel, which is one of our best-sellers,” she said.
For best results, brides must order their wedding cakes two weeks prior to the day.
“For an order of about 500 mini cakes, I would prefer the request be made two weeks before the wedding. However, for just one wedding cake, I’m OK with a two-day notice,” said Al-Ambari.