WATCH: Clayton Ritz's Chef Faure Reveals Mother's Day Cake Secrets

Attention all Mother's Day gift seekers: Executive Pastry Chef Simone Faure teaches cake-decorating classes at in downtown .

Faure came to St. Louis for a change of scenery. She learned to bake in New Orleans, her home city whose Ritz-Carlton she worked at previously.

The chef went to school to become a kosher chef, but those plans changed when she came to appreciate the attention to ritual and tradition needed to succeed in that field.

"I was delusional," Faure said. "I am not a creature of habit."

Transition to cakes

So halfway through her culinary training, she switched to cakes.

Her favorite cake accoutrements include buttons (it's the "old Southern lady" in her, she said). In the video attached to this article, learn how to create belts, buttons and bows that can add a special touch to any cake. It generally takes her about 45 minutes to decorate a cake like this one.

Faure's favorite is hummingbird cake, a Southern tradition that pairs a banana cake base with roasted pineapple, toasted pecans and a cream cheese icing.

Some people think the cake also needs toasted coconut, but not Faure: She's extremely allergic.

Years of cake-decorating yields questions, memorable stories

As a cake-decorator, Faure gets a lot of questions, including:

• How long did it take you to do that?

• Can you put my face on my wedding cake?

• Can you emulate my wedding dress on a cake?

• Can I do this myself to save money?

Once, a couple asked her to design a camouflage wedding cake with a deer on top. After its creation, they donned boots for a photograph. The husband held a hunting rifle in his hands while the wife pretended to drag him away from the cake.

Signing up for Ritz-Carlton cake class, Mother's Day brunch

People who purchase Mother's Day gift certificates from the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton  can specify that they be used for a cake-decorating class with Faure. Classes may be arranged by calling 314-719-1433 and then dialing extension 490.

The baking class is $200 per person and runs four hours.

Faure offers cake-decorating classes to five or fewer people, and cupcake-decorating classes to 20 or fewer girls. She said she's happy to accommodate people's needs.

Attendees are asked to bring an apron. No hair nets are required. Faure provides the cake dummies and utensils.

The Ritz-Carlton will host its annual May 13. Mothers are encouraged to wear their best hats. The English Garden-themed event costs $82 plus tax and gratuity for adults, and $41 plus tax and gratuity for children under 12.

As with cake classes, reservations may be made by calling the Ritz-Carlton.