Every artist has his or her favorite medium: oil, acrylic, watercolor, clay. Even more obscure are the artists who use trash, coins, or paperclips. Aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike), however, there is an artist who uses a medium much less arbitrary and a lot more appetizing.

With the focus and steady hands of a seasoned sculptor, Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Allen molds his edible masterpiece until he feels he has captured the true essence of his client's wish. His pieces won't be hung on gallery walls--they are meant to be consumed, devoured, ingested--but there is no doubt they are enjoyed by many.

Allen became Ike's "Cake Boss" several months after his arrival in 2012. He has crafted over 50 specialty cakes for the many ceremonies inherent to naval tradition.

"I told my chiefs I wanted to go to the Bake Shop and I'd prove to them that I could decorate," Allen said. "I had to bake a few cakes and decorate on my off time to prove myself."

Allen's potential was recognized, earning him a spot in the Bake Shop, where he was encouraged to be as creative as possible. Now he bakes cakes for any occasion worthy of his frosted formations.

Like many artists, Allen's passion for his craft began at a young age.

"I always loved to bake," Allen said. "I went to culinary school in high school. That's where I first learned my techniques, and now I've been able to sharpen them over the last three years."

When his recruiter asked him what he might like to do in the Navy, Allen only had to say one word: cook.

"I didn't even know any other ratings existed," Allen said. "I love what I do and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Not only do I enjoy being a cook, I love being Ike's 'Cake Boss.'"

At Ike's recent change of command ceremony, a special event by any standard, Allen and several assisting culinary specialists would have to create one of the most iconic cakes in Navy culture: an aircraft carrier-shape the size of a small dinner table.

"We had to stack the cake, ice the cake, and decorate it, all in two days," Allen said. "The cake was enormous. It was too big to fit in the galley so we had to make it on the mess decks. Then we realized it wouldn't fit through the hatches or ladder wells so we had to put it on a gurney and use the weapons elevator to get it to the hangar bay."

Allen and his team conquered the challenge with relative ease and the cake was delivered to the ceremony without incident.

For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, visit www.navy.mil/.