Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Newly Formed Collaboration with French Pastry Chef Phillipe Fallait
We are so excited to announce the newly formed collaboration with French Pastry Chef/Owner Phillipe Fallait of Cafe Triskell.
Chef Phillipe is from Brittany, France, where he also studied the fine art of French Pastry.
He is formerly of the world famous NYC restaurant, Jean George, and has opened for another world class restaurant, in NYC.
Chef Phillipe owns Cafe Triskell where he serves traditional French crepes. His food has attracted the attention of many locals as well as people from his hometown of Brittany. "When they are happy, that makes you feel good. That means you're doing the right thing!"
Right on Chef....I feel the same way when my customers tell me they are happy with the creations I have made for them.
Chef Phillipe's sinfully delicious flavors combined with my creations will debute in two weeks. Stay tuned for the reviews and pics!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Cake Cake and More Cake!
The above cakes were made for my granddaughter Katie and for my greatniece Penelope.
Katie's cake was a chocolate cake with raspberry buttercream.
Penelope's cupcake themed cake was a chocolate cake with cookies and cream filling.
Katie's cake was a chocolate cake with raspberry buttercream.
Penelope's cupcake themed cake was a chocolate cake with cookies and cream filling.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Lego's Anyone?
What does a Yiayia who designs cakes make for her grandson?
Well...first things first...she asks him what he would like for his
birthday cake!
Costaki loves Legos. And so...we created this cake for him.
There were three blocks of cake. After covering each one, I thought
I would remember what the flavors were....Not! We had to cut into
each one.
The cakes were made of a moist white cake filled with...
Bavarian Cream (Cake #1), Bavarian Cream and Cherries (Cake #2) and
Pineapple/Coconut for Cake #3!
We all had a lovely time.
Happy 7th Birthday Costaki! Many many many more!
Cartier Watch Groom's Cake
I absolutely love, love, love creating unsual cakes for "sweet"
people! No pun intended.
This Cartier watch nestled in a cake watch box was created
as a groom's cake.
Vickie S. called me several weeks ago asking if I could
design a groom's cake for her soon to be hubby Angelo Z.
for their wedding day. Vickie explained that she had purchased
a Cartier for her new husband and wanted to present it
to him at their wedding. But first, she was going to have the
cake brought out to Angelo during the reception and then
give him the watch. It was all hush hush! Just love these
scenarios.
Well...Vickie, I'm hoping that Angelo was surprised!
It was so much fun creating this for you!
May you and Angelo have many many many
happy and in love years together!
people! No pun intended.
This Cartier watch nestled in a cake watch box was created
as a groom's cake.
Vickie S. called me several weeks ago asking if I could
design a groom's cake for her soon to be hubby Angelo Z.
for their wedding day. Vickie explained that she had purchased
a Cartier for her new husband and wanted to present it
to him at their wedding. But first, she was going to have the
cake brought out to Angelo during the reception and then
give him the watch. It was all hush hush! Just love these
scenarios.
Well...Vickie, I'm hoping that Angelo was surprised!
It was so much fun creating this for you!
May you and Angelo have many many many
happy and in love years together!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Under Wraps
It's been a week since my last "blogging". Just last night actually early this morning...3:30 to be exact, I finished my grandson's special "Lego's" cake. What started out as three simple, blocks of cake covered in the primary colors...red....yellow and blue....Turned out to have more details than I expected.
I was inspired by the simplicity of one of my cake sisters in Michigan and a cake brother in Washington....and was going to make the cake just like theirs...just altering the colors....but I couldn't do it! I couldn't bite off them! After the cake was completed...or so I thought...the blocks of cake in place, with the signature Lego interlocking pieces safely nestled on top of each block....I was ready to move on to my Cartier watch creation....and stopped. The cake screamed at me...you have to add your touch to this...this isn't who you are as a decorator of cakes. And soooooo.....one by one by one....I added little fondant Lego blocks as borders. Done. I thought! It needed more.
Yikes Amelia you're probably thinking....come on now...less is more! Yah...I agree in some cases.
But this cake still lacked that one thing that said .... Amelia Cakes. I closed my eyes....and called forth that little cake designer living inside my soul and let it do the work.
It's kind of scary letting go like that. And I try to stop it...but it simply takes over. Thank God for that. Because....when it's done...the hands stop...and not one more piece of fondant is rolled...pinched....cut...or piped!
Well....Lego Cake for Costa my youngest grandchild is complete and under wraps. Sitting safely in a very airconditioned room....waiting for delivery to his party!
Oh...flavors!!!! Cake #1...Vanilla Cake filled with a scrumptious pineapple/coconut filling,
Cake #2...Vanilla Cake filled with Bavarian Creme and Cherries, Cake #3...Vanilla Cake filled filled a creamy Vanilla Bavarian Cream. YUMMO!
It's still under wrap....
Until the unveiling tomorrow!
Now onto my Cartier watch cake.
I was inspired by the simplicity of one of my cake sisters in Michigan and a cake brother in Washington....and was going to make the cake just like theirs...just altering the colors....but I couldn't do it! I couldn't bite off them! After the cake was completed...or so I thought...the blocks of cake in place, with the signature Lego interlocking pieces safely nestled on top of each block....I was ready to move on to my Cartier watch creation....and stopped. The cake screamed at me...you have to add your touch to this...this isn't who you are as a decorator of cakes. And soooooo.....one by one by one....I added little fondant Lego blocks as borders. Done. I thought! It needed more.
Yikes Amelia you're probably thinking....come on now...less is more! Yah...I agree in some cases.
But this cake still lacked that one thing that said .... Amelia Cakes. I closed my eyes....and called forth that little cake designer living inside my soul and let it do the work.
It's kind of scary letting go like that. And I try to stop it...but it simply takes over. Thank God for that. Because....when it's done...the hands stop...and not one more piece of fondant is rolled...pinched....cut...or piped!
Well....Lego Cake for Costa my youngest grandchild is complete and under wraps. Sitting safely in a very airconditioned room....waiting for delivery to his party!
Oh...flavors!!!! Cake #1...Vanilla Cake filled with a scrumptious pineapple/coconut filling,
Cake #2...Vanilla Cake filled with Bavarian Creme and Cherries, Cake #3...Vanilla Cake filled filled a creamy Vanilla Bavarian Cream. YUMMO!
It's still under wrap....
Until the unveiling tomorrow!
Now onto my Cartier watch cake.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
The Look on Athan's and Angeliki's Faces Were Priceless!
Delivery of Captain Hook and Peter Pan meet Ariel and Melody is finally complete. We delivered to two beautiful children, nieces of Helen Skarla of Astoria Dance Studio for their 2nd and 4th birthdays respectively.
The unveiling was much anticipated. Both Athan and Angeliki and family stood around the shiny round kitchen table, where I have delivered and unveiled cakes before...and after each unwrapping of the saran film which was tenderly protecting their cake, their eyes got wider and wider with whispers of ooohs and then ahhs.
When the final piece of clear wrap was removed, the children's eyes were as big as saucers.
Matina their mom said she never saw Athan sit quietly for so long!
Each figure was taken in one by one. Each wave and coral pearl admired. The light brown sugar on the cake board very closely resembling a sandy beach was tasted. The pearl shells around the base were brought to the attention of the children. Angeliki, wanted to help put on the swirly waves. She wanted to taste the cake...and began poking her little finger at the fondant. We had to tell her to be patient and that at her party she will be able to eat as much as she wanted. But she had to taste something...so she picked a bit of the brown sugar.....mmmmmm. Then Athan followed suit. Mom had to contain our little cake lovers. ... or in this case sugar lovers.
We finally got the last swirly wave on. I took several photos of the children and their very special cake. I turned around for a second....and when I turned back...there was Angeliki full upper torso on the table....licking one of the waves! Absolutely...toooo cute. I couldn't pull my camera out fast enough to capture that moment!
I have had this experience with several of my wonderful clients. From brides to be, mother's to be, grooms, brides to birthday celebrants. Some more expressive than others, but wonderfully expressive nevertheless. Yet, I always get a kick out of creating for the Skarla family. And such a creative and beautiful family they are, from prima ballerina's to modern dancers and gymnasts.
Helen's daughter is an Olympic medalist for whom I created a cake for the anniversary of her winning her Bronze. It was a podium cake with the Olympic Rings, a Greek flag draped over the side and the rings and ribbons with which she won!
This my friends is what it's all about. Yes, it is the creative process, but it is more, it is the knowing that you have made someone very happy...especially a child. I suppose it is the archetype nurturer in me that prods me to continue what I am doing.
And now on to my next cake journey....the creation of a cake which is going to be a surprise for a groom....and so I really can't tell you (sworn to secrecy) what it is for whom just yet, and a cake for my darling grandson Costaki who turned 7 this summer and for whom I am making a Leggo's themed cake. (Which by the way we designed together while sitting on the balcony in his grandparent's home in Dafnona, Chios, Greece. Very simple...but oh so Costaki. This Yiayia can't wait to get to it.
So with apron on and baseball cap atop of my head....off I go to my little kitchen to begin "caking" yet once again.
....and the cake journey continues.
The unveiling was much anticipated. Both Athan and Angeliki and family stood around the shiny round kitchen table, where I have delivered and unveiled cakes before...and after each unwrapping of the saran film which was tenderly protecting their cake, their eyes got wider and wider with whispers of ooohs and then ahhs.
When the final piece of clear wrap was removed, the children's eyes were as big as saucers.
Matina their mom said she never saw Athan sit quietly for so long!
Each figure was taken in one by one. Each wave and coral pearl admired. The light brown sugar on the cake board very closely resembling a sandy beach was tasted. The pearl shells around the base were brought to the attention of the children. Angeliki, wanted to help put on the swirly waves. She wanted to taste the cake...and began poking her little finger at the fondant. We had to tell her to be patient and that at her party she will be able to eat as much as she wanted. But she had to taste something...so she picked a bit of the brown sugar.....mmmmmm. Then Athan followed suit. Mom had to contain our little cake lovers. ... or in this case sugar lovers.
We finally got the last swirly wave on. I took several photos of the children and their very special cake. I turned around for a second....and when I turned back...there was Angeliki full upper torso on the table....licking one of the waves! Absolutely...toooo cute. I couldn't pull my camera out fast enough to capture that moment!
I have had this experience with several of my wonderful clients. From brides to be, mother's to be, grooms, brides to birthday celebrants. Some more expressive than others, but wonderfully expressive nevertheless. Yet, I always get a kick out of creating for the Skarla family. And such a creative and beautiful family they are, from prima ballerina's to modern dancers and gymnasts.
Helen's daughter is an Olympic medalist for whom I created a cake for the anniversary of her winning her Bronze. It was a podium cake with the Olympic Rings, a Greek flag draped over the side and the rings and ribbons with which she won!
This my friends is what it's all about. Yes, it is the creative process, but it is more, it is the knowing that you have made someone very happy...especially a child. I suppose it is the archetype nurturer in me that prods me to continue what I am doing.
And now on to my next cake journey....the creation of a cake which is going to be a surprise for a groom....and so I really can't tell you (sworn to secrecy) what it is for whom just yet, and a cake for my darling grandson Costaki who turned 7 this summer and for whom I am making a Leggo's themed cake. (Which by the way we designed together while sitting on the balcony in his grandparent's home in Dafnona, Chios, Greece. Very simple...but oh so Costaki. This Yiayia can't wait to get to it.
So with apron on and baseball cap atop of my head....off I go to my little kitchen to begin "caking" yet once again.
....and the cake journey continues.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Melding Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Melody and Ariel
It's Saturday afternoon, and I've just finished putting the canvas onto a two tiered wonky cake for two beautiful siblings, Athan and Angelina. This year they want Captain Hook with Peter Pan for Athan and Ariel with Melody for Angelina.
I must be totally out of the loop...I had to look up "Melody". After a google search found that she is a relative of Ariel. Some say she's Ariel's daughter...others say she's Ariel's sister. Now which is it! I know that Ariel and the Prince were in a relationship...did they get married in one of the movies? Did they have Melody together?
Anyway...the figures are ready...the canvas is ready...and this cake designer is about to pull it all together...How? Well once I get to the blank cake before me I'll know exactly where I will be headed.
Now don't get me wrong...I always sketch something before I execute...but always allow myself artistic license and go with what the cake dictates. It's such a high feeling seeing something come together after days of preparation.
Well...off I go to play with some fondant and Tylose C and food coloring.
For my friends unfamiliar with Tylose C...its the powder cake decorators use to firm up fondant when we make figures and decorations. Most times the fondant is much too soft for such work so a little dash or so of Tylose give a workable consistency. It's great when you've run out of gumpaste or want to put some decorations flat to the surface of your cake and don't want the awful tasting gumpaste ruining the flavor of your cake.
Ciao for now...I hear Peter Pan and Ariel calling my name!
I must be totally out of the loop...I had to look up "Melody". After a google search found that she is a relative of Ariel. Some say she's Ariel's daughter...others say she's Ariel's sister. Now which is it! I know that Ariel and the Prince were in a relationship...did they get married in one of the movies? Did they have Melody together?
Anyway...the figures are ready...the canvas is ready...and this cake designer is about to pull it all together...How? Well once I get to the blank cake before me I'll know exactly where I will be headed.
Now don't get me wrong...I always sketch something before I execute...but always allow myself artistic license and go with what the cake dictates. It's such a high feeling seeing something come together after days of preparation.
Well...off I go to play with some fondant and Tylose C and food coloring.
For my friends unfamiliar with Tylose C...its the powder cake decorators use to firm up fondant when we make figures and decorations. Most times the fondant is much too soft for such work so a little dash or so of Tylose give a workable consistency. It's great when you've run out of gumpaste or want to put some decorations flat to the surface of your cake and don't want the awful tasting gumpaste ruining the flavor of your cake.
Ciao for now...I hear Peter Pan and Ariel calling my name!
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