SaltillagePresentation by Thomas G. Ciapi

CEC,CCE,CCA,AAC

Saltillage

Saltillage Dough Recipe Makes 1

QuartIngredients:One Cup- Cold WaterOne Cup- CornstarchTwo Cups- Table Salt Optional-Different Herbs or Spices for ColorInstructions:•On Stove Top, add Water and Cornstarch together in Sauce Pan. Keep flame low.•Make a quick slushy, but do not over heat or it will rubberize on you. Bring water and Cornstarch to about 125 degree’s. This process takes 3 to 4 minutes.•Add Salt and stir until all combined.•Lay out on Saran wrap, feel consistency in hand, and roll up like tootsie Roll.•Label as desired, and store in cool place. Note: Popcorn Salt can also be used, but I found that it cracks easier and is not as durable. Different herbs, and spices can give different colors, as too some form of Vegetable juice from cooking. I also like to use Cooking wines and stay away from Food Coloring.

Saltillage

The tools of the trade are quite simple. You start off with your Salt Dough.In side frame can consist of Styrofoam and thin wiring all purchased from Hobby Lobby. I also get a lot of Foam from Packaging from Flown in Fish to

building furniture purchased from Big Lots. Exacto Knives, Edged Skewers help me to define leaves, details in wings,

bodies, faces, etc.A nice quiet work station at work, or I prefer at home sitting up on a work

bench is for my peace of mind. Patience is the best tool to do sculptures. I started doing show pieces later in

life after I could no longer work on Ice Carvings. Twenty plus years on the back made me do Cheese Sculptures, Tallow, and then Salt.

Screech Owl with Rodent

PFG Food Show 2005, Silver Medal

Screech Owl with Rodent.

The use of Dried Rosemary for whiskers, and black pepper for the eyes were used for rodent.

Dried Raisin were used for eyes and beak on the owl. The claws had olive slivers.

Ben E. Keith Food Show, SA, 2006 Bronze Medal

Howling at the Moon!

Area’s of Fault:

Back Legs too long

Needed more definition, not refined.

Did Piece in 4 weeks.

Not Patient enough.

Only had a picture to go by.

BEK Food Salon, Austin, 2007 Silver Medal

Indian war Chef with food and canister setting.

Only Flaw:

Face

Channel Catfish, TRA 1995, Silver Medal

First Sculpture of Channel Catfish.

I worked on this project for several months while doing a cold food show piece.

The eyes were made of Raisins.

The beginning phases to my wolf pack sculpture.

Building your structure is the key to a nice finish.

BEK Food Salon, Austin, 2008, Bronze Medal

Two Wolves in a troop.

I tried to do accented colors in different areas.

Would have captured a silver except for the body proportion on the wolf laying down.

The body was too long.

The eyes were made of Cloves.

Conroe Food Salon, 2010, Bronze Medal

Tree Frogs.

Multiple facets of Coloring. Water greenish blue from Cabbage . Brown from Ground Cumin. Green from Spinach. Yellow from Ground Mustard.

I liked this piece and took months to do.

Eye’s were made of Dried Cherries.

Saltillage

We all share a common bond in this industry. Our talents go beyond the perimeters of Creativity. It surpasses the desires of putting together our shared strength for food.

God gave everyone a dream to believe, do, and challenge.

Look for your hidden treasures among your culinary talents. You will be surprised at the good things we continue to grow from with our hidden imagination.

I hoped you enjoyed this presentation, but most of all, it’s the education we take back that we can give to others!

Spread your knowledge!