Pune/Pimpri Chinchwad: The UK recently hosted India Week, celebrating Indian culture and contributions. Among the honorees was Pune-based cake artist Prachi Dhabal Deb, recognized for her exceptional work in Royal Icing Art at Oxford University and later felicitated by Navin Shah CBE at the House of Commons, UK Parliament. She is the first cake artist to be felicitated at the world-renowned Oxford University.
Prachi, who has been promoting royal icing art for over a decade after studying it in London, expressed her gratitude for the recognition. “It is an honour to be acknowledged for my work in a field that I am so passionate about,” she said. “The journey has been challenging but immensely rewarding.”
At Oxford University, Prachi was felicitated by Kevin McCole, Managing Director of the UK India Business Council. This recognition highlights her contributions to the art of royal icing, a niche she has masterfully explored and expanded.
Born in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Prachi was brought up in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, where she completed her schooling, then eventually she went to Kolkata for her college education. Her journey in cake artistry is marked by several remarkable achievements, including three world records certified by the World Book of Records, London. These records feature a stunning 100 kg cake structure inspired by the Milan Cathedral, the maximum number of vegan royal icing structures, and a 200 kg edible structure of an Indian-inspired palace created with vegan royal icing.
Beyond her mastery in cake artistry, Prachi has seamlessly blended her passion for confectionery with a commitment to a vegan lifestyle. “I believe in pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with vegan royal icing,” Prachi shared. “It’s about showing that vegan alternatives can be just as grand and beautiful.”
Currently residing in Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, Prachi is not just a cake artist but a true ambassador of creativity and innovation in the culinary arts. Her work continues to inspire and set new standards in the world of cake artistry.