Sweet Reunion In The Holy City: Is It Cake? Charleston
There are few things sweeter than cake—but reuniting with the cast of Is It Cake? Season 3 might just come close. This spring, I had the absolute joy of welcoming my fellow castmates to Charleston, the city I adore and talked about endlessly while we were filming to anyone that would listen.
So when the opportunity came to create a Charleston-themed cake art installation at the stunning Loutrel Hotel in the heart of downtown, I knew exactly who I wanted to bring along for the ride. All eight of us came together for a whirlwind few days of sugar, sculpting, and soaking in the charm of the Lowcountry.
Our cakes paid tribute to some of Charleston’s most beloved icons and flavors:
– A sea turtle and baby sea turtle in the sand
– A golden pineapple, symbol of Charleston Southern hospitality
– A delicate chinoiserie vase overflowing with handmade sugar magnolias and gardenias
– A classic bowl of shrimp and grits, sculpted in sweet, lifelike detail
– A perfectly crisp soft shell crab sandwich, every leaf of lettuce and slice of tomato rendered in sugar
– And finally, a hyperrealistic replica of Afternoon Tea at The Loutrel, complete with pink roses, tiered treats and tiny sugar cups
We spent a full day together in the kitchen, turning our collective creativity loose and watching the installation come to life, one Charleston-inspired piece at a time. The next day, I had the chance to play tour guide, showing my castmates around the city I love—from cobblestone streets and historic homes to oysters on the half shell and sunsets over the harbor.
That evening, The Loutrel hosted an incredible opening night reception for the installation, where we got to meet hundreds of Is It Cake? fans who came out to celebrate with us. Seeing people light up as they spotted the cakes—and tried to guess what was real and what was sugar—was pure magic.
This experience was so much more than a cake collaboration. It was a homecoming, a reunion, and a love letter to Charleston all in one. Having my castmates here to create something beautiful together—and to finally show them the city I never stopped raving about—was an absolute dream.
The installation will be on display at The Loutrel through the end of September, and if you’re in Charleston, I hope you’ll stop by and see the pieces for yourself. And who knows—you just might leave wondering if it’s cake.
