R rated jokes exit, naughty pastries are in

When it comes to a bachelor party, a concept much embraced by the West, visuals of strippers, brightly coloured tube toys and edible undergarments come easy, courtesy Hollywood. And thank goodness for us ladies, that’s where it stops.Even the average cosmopolitan Chennaiite opting for a boy ’s night out before the big day, perhaps looks forward to a few ‘R’ rated jokes shared in conversation, while guzzling pints of beer at a bar or friend’s residence. However, there is a new trend on the rise for couples with a sense of humour — ‘naughty’ confectionery customised to suit the date. So, now you can choose to indulge yourself guilt-free, and the best part, no plastic wrapping is required!Tarun Joseph, a 28-year-old pastry chef, has worked in the kitchens of a few of the city’s well-known star hotels. While on a break from the business, a friend of his approached him with a ‘special request’ for a bachelorette party. He says, “She was very specific, she wanted me to make a cake in the shape of a nine-inch banana, it had to be a little far fetched for a laugh.” What it turned out to be, owing to the number of guests on the list, was 20-inch something pattisserie creation, complete with butter cream icing and even a tasteful boot polish finish. Tarun recalls, “Before the party, I kept it in my freezer at home, so that I could smoothe out the icing a few hours before, and the funny thing was, my dad opened the fridge and got quite disturbed.”Since then, there have been quite a few unconventional requests, ranging from the ever popular long Dickens (in a manner of speaking) to twin mounds of chocolate-brownie to a more picturesque canvas frosting of a woman in solitude, sun bathing on a nude beach. Tarun says, “I like to keep my cakes as 3D as possible. It’s the challenge of making them that I enjoy.” He explains, “When I made the twin Mount Everest, each one had to be almost exactly the size. It was  important to get the dimensions right, so that it would balance in the first place. Plus, I created removable chocolate shells to keep the peaks covered.” Phew, who knew that  a ‘bake job’ was that complicated?Hot off the cupcake boom in Chennai, are Neesha-John-Koikaran’s naughty creations ironically titled ‘Baby Cakes’. The venture started off innocently enough after Neesha’s little one was born, but then a night with some friends had this mommy inspired. Neesha says, “We were at a pub and there was a rather loud hen party taking place, which caught my attention because the girls were passing around this large blow up toy, and I thought — well, if people like this, then it would certainly work well on a cupcake.” A few orders down the line and it is evident that despite the size of the cup (no pun intended), there are certainly no limitations to the whipped cream innuendo, with more than two nuts on request!Home bakers are not the only ones who cater to this developing, rather unorthodox confectionery demand. A pastry chef at a star hotel in the city, who requested anonymity, reveals, “We get a minimum of three to four orders a week, and it gets even higher on weekends.” He adds, “Most people come to us with an image in mind and then we go ahead. Sometimes, on request, we do include alcohol shots in the cake as well.”So the next time, you find yourself stumped at the thought of a birthday present or bachelor-do, consider the ‘sweet’ option. And if you just want to share a laugh with a special someone, there is a chance you can up the stakes — custom-made to the height and width of your choice. There is no doubt, it will make for a super ‘first’ impression.Naughty cakes are priced at Rs 700–Rs 1500 per kg and naughty cup cakes are priced at Rs 50 upward. For details, call Neesha-John Koikaran at 9840907755.