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Conventional wisdom has it that TV food shows have spurred an interest in cooking, so does it follow that shows such as "Ace of Cakes" on the Food Network and TLC's "Cake Boss" have stirred the same sort of passions for cake decorating?

Yes, but in a different way.

Valley bakers who specialize in the extreme cakes pictured on the shows say there's definitely more interest on the part of their customers.

"Ever since 'Ace of Cakes' came out, they've been wanting more different shapes, different drawings -- a lot of whimsical cakes," said Alicia Davila, a pastry chef at Leopold's Bakery.

"They want something really incredible," agreed Max Jacobson-Fried, general manager of Freed's Bakery.

"It opens the door for more creative things, more ideas," added Todd Philbrook, owner and executive pastry chef at Marie's Gourmet Bakery.

"Does it drive the industry? Maybe yes, maybe no." But the shows, he said, have "exploded the