Cake Walk: Wedding Cake Edition

This past May, I had the honour of competing on Slice Networks television series, Cake Walk.

Cake Walk is a competition between three professional Canadian cake designers competing for a $5,000 prize. Host Caroline Rhea guides viewers through the competition with David MacCarfrae, Alexandria Pellegrino and Gordon Bailey on the judging panel.

With my sister by my side, we rocked out a halloween themed wedding cake in just 7 HOURS - No design was made a head of time.

Here is peak at our finished product.

Real Life: Happy Birthday, Rob

I had the pleasure of designing Rob's, Tryst Toronto, 30th birthday cake this year.

If a picture could say a 1000 words, this cake could tell the story of a true life event in Rob's world.

Real Weddings: Shridevi & Brian

Real Life: Carnival Time

To be honest, I wish I was a kid today. Not for the luxury of being legally unable to work (child labour law), fast metabolisms (eating all the candy and chocolate I want... this is why they put an age limit to Halloween) and priorities that include updating Facebook status'... I want to be a kid again because birthday parties just aren't what they used to be.

 I never got a super cool tiered birthday cake growing up. Sure, they tasted great. My mom would make a big round chocolate cake that domed on the top with chocolate frosting smothered around (no layering!!!!). Some lucky years she would take chocolate chips and place them in the shape of a face so that the cake would smile at me. Parties were usually during my lunch breaks - Mom would scoop up myself with three of my closest friends to have lunch at McDonalds.

Kid's parties today are a lot more sophisticated with games, decor, entertainment, confections, and a guest list of attendees. Is it wrong that i'm a bit jealous?

I received a call from Nelly a few weeks ago who was throwing a carnival theme (LOVE it) party for her son Kamron's 10th birthday - how cool is that! We brainstormed on a few ideas and here was the final cake design that made it to the party. Happy Birthday Kamron!

Real Weddings: Michelle & Gavin

"OMG I loved our wedding cake! It taste amazing and it looked sooooo beautiful!!" - Michelle

The Gooooch

I'd like to think that if someone ever made me a birthday cake, it would look something like this. You know, to match all my gifts. 

Real Weddings: Alykhan & Salima

I have a mini obsession with traditional indian weddings - I love them. They're bright and colourful, filled with rituals and traditions, there is always an abundance of people (many unknown to the bride and groom) and the best part is that they last for several days.  They begin with the pre-wedding ceremony (ok, so it's like the western equivalent of a rehearsal dinner... but they just seem so much more fun and it's also where the women get to apply the mehndi, or henna, to their hands and feet), then the actual wedding day with traditions of the Baraat, the Varmala and the Satphere, and usually end with the Vidaai. 

For those who know me, colour isn't something I have much of. I mean, in terms of fashion NOT personality. But when it comes to cakes... I can't get enough.

Congratulations to Alykhan & Salima on the celebration of their wedding. I'm so happy that I was able to contribute to your special day.

A special thank you to Kristina for helping me make this cake come to life.

Big Wuuupppp!

Similar to fashion, confections tend to make a come-back once in a while. The cupcake craze 6 years ago was huge,  followed by the sophisticated homemade marshmallows of 2010. In early 2011, generation y'ers become familiar with the once popular Whoopie Pies. Once known as huckelbucks, Amish American women would suprise their farmers with these treats in their lunch boxes. When the farmers found them, they would shout "whoopie!".
... Some things don't change.

Calla Lily Love

This cake design I did was fun for me. This couple originally had their wedding ceremony in the States and was having a smaller celebration with their Canadian friends and family.

Wanting to keep their theme and style the same, they sent me a picture of their original wedding cake (see below) and asked me to re-create it in a smaller version.

Like any other artist, everyone has their own style. Here are a few pictures of what I designed for the newly married couple based on the original design.

J'Adore Macaron

My parents recently got back from a vacation in Paris. Before they left, my mom asked me what I wanted back from Paris... Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin (okay, maybe she didn't really say that... it was more like, don't kill my plants while we're gone), but I did make a request for the infamous Parisian Macaron from Maison Laduree.

Well, for a non-obssesed macaron patron, it would be easy to forget the name Laduree (as my mom did).  So, it was natural that she felt like she hit the jackpot while strolling down Champs-Elysees and finding a macaron boutique. By day five and many dozens of macarons later, she realized the popularity of these tiny confections and also became obsessed with the hunt of getting me macarons from every boutique she passed.

Here are a few shots of macarons and guimauves, straight from the streets of Paris: 

Festival of Macarons - Chicago, IL

I'm obsessed with macarons (and if you followed me on twitter you already knew that). In the beginning of May 2011, I enrolled in the Festival of Macarons course at the French Pastry School of Chicago. The class was taught by world-renowned Master Pastry Chef, Stephane Glacier, entrepreneur and consultant of pastry and confectionery arts.

In this three-day hands-on workshop we learned how produce all kinds of macarons, like the Dutch macaron, the Gerber macaron, the Nancy macaron and the Classic Parisian macaron. The Chef also taught complimentary confections to the macarons such as lavender creme glacee, green apple sorbet, nougat, and croquembouche/pate choux.

The whole experience was absolutely incredible. To be able to work in a state of the art kitchen alongside a team of like-minded individuals who share the same work and passion, and to be taught by the best of the best and learn the true secret of a parisian macaron.

A special shout-out to my partner, Riki Tanabe, Pastry Chef at Albemarle Baking Company in Charlottesville, VA. Thank you so much for all your help and for making us the "dream team" of the class. You are an incredible teacher and I appreciate all your tips and tricks and more that you shared with me.

Here are a few pictures from the course:

Real Weddings: Kimberly & Michael