Celebrity wedding cake designer Sylvia Weinstock — who earned the nickname “Queen of Cakes” for her extraordinary edible art — has died. She was 91.
The Brooklyn-born baker — who’s made nuptial confections for Oprah, Mariah Carey, Billy Joel and Sofía Vergara — passed away at her Tribeca home Monday, her family announced in a statement Wednesday without elaborating on her cause of death.
“Sylvia Weinstock, the cake designer who pioneered an industry of towering, sugar-flower wedding cakes, died peacefully in her home in Tribeca, surrounded by her loving family,” an obituary posted on her Instagram page read.
“The family will have a private memorial at a future date and ask that any donations should be directed to the Oncology Department of New York Presbyterian/Weill-Cornell Medical Center,” the statement continued.
Weinstock — who made appearances on “Gossip Girl,” “Today,” “Top Chef” and “Nailed It” — was a former Long Island schoolteacher who only became a full-time baker at age 50 after surviving breast cancer.
She started Sylvia Weinstock Cakes in Tribeca in 1980, the Tribeca Citizen reported.
Her ornate and ultra-lifelike edible art quickly made her a beloved culinary icon and an in-demand celebrity wedding cake designer.
Bon Appétit magazine once described Weinstock as “the Leonardo da Vinci of wedding cakes.”
The master baker — known for her signature short white hair and large round glasses — eventually closed her atelier bakery in 2016 to spend more time with her ailing husband, however, she came out of retirement this year to design an elaborate six-tiered floral-adorned creation for Bill Gate’s daughter’s wedding, according to Gates’ wedding planner Marcy Blum.
Jennifer Gates, who married Nayel Nassar in a lavish ceremony on Oct. 16, paid tribute to the Queen of Cakes on Instagram on Wednesday.
“Getting to know this incredible woman, pioneer and baking legend was the biggest blessing,” the 25-year-old newlywed wrote.
“Sylvia, your zest for life, passion, creativity, and generosity will never be forgotten. We will be forever grateful for the gift you gave us in designing our dream wedding cake with @ladureeus.”
“Rest In Peace.”
Many other celebrities and notable figures also took to social media to mourn and honor the confectionary artist.
“So sorry the incredible Sylvia Weinstock has passed. I loved her so!,” tweeted “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi alongside a picture of herself cutting a cake at her 2004 wedding to ex-husband Salman Rushdie.
“She made that wedding cake and was a legend in the food world for her cakes,” Lakshmi later added.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson — of Red Rooster Harlem — praised Weinstock as an “inspiration.”
“So sad to hear about the passing of @SylviaWeinstock, the Queen of Cakes,” Samuelsson tweeted. “She launched her culinary career at 50. What a lesson in following your dreams… She’s an inspiration to all!”
Fashion designer Reem Acra also honored Weinstock saying on Instagram: “To my dear friend Sylvia. I will miss you dearly. Your success story is an inspiration to all women.
“Your love story with Ben is an inspiration to the world. God bless your soul. Reem.”
Throughout her impressive career, Weinstock said she baked over 1,000 cakes per year that cost between $15 to $100 per person per slice, according to the New York Times.
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