Martini Themed Birthday Cake During The Christmas Season

Had such a hard time not making a couple of French Martinis while creating this gift package birthday cake for Mollie (aka Marlena) this past weekend. Inspiration was drawn from the holiday season and most importantly from my consultation with Theresa of the fabulous Italian Restaurant - Il Bacco in Queens, New York.
                                                   Happy Birthday Mollie!

The cakes Blackout Chocolate Cake filled Raspberry Preserves and Strawberry Compote Italian Meringue Buttercream. They were served with a fresh sugared strawberry topping - which by the way is so very easy to make.

                                                     Sugared Strawberries

                                                     1 Pint Fresh Strawberries
                                                     1/2 cup sugar

Rinse and quarter strawberries and place in a bowl.
Pour sugar over strawberries and mix through to evenly coat the strawberries.
Cover and place in refrigerator for about 2 hours. The sugar will draw out the yummy juices from the strawberries.
Serve the strawberry goodness.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL!

AND

MAY 2012

 BE

HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS!



                                 

Barbara Streisand Theme Birthday Cake for Lauren's Mom

When Lauren M. called me to create a cake for her mom's birthday for this past weekend I was thrilled. Lauren one of my newest customers had me create a Knick's themed birthday cake for her dad just about two week ago.

 Lauren's mom loves Barbara Streisand! Enough said...I knew exactly where to go with this cake.
Barbara in a black gown, a mic in her hand and a hat that she might have worn ... no guarantee there, in Hello Dolly....but then again...the hats she wore in that movie were really big. Nevertheless, I wanted to get a hat of sorts on my little figurine characature of her.
I had seen Barbara in pearls and with other hats with flowers and a fan so I incorporated those on the side of the cake as well as "pinkish" make-up. I don't think I've seen Barbara in bolder color lipsticks.
As a cake designer, people ask sometimes, where do you get your ideas? Well honestly, for the most part the initial inspiration comes from my customers. I get an idea as to what they have in mind, then I simply go off and do research on what they've said. This time was a little harder as there weren't any and I mean there weren't any cakes I could find with a Barbara Streisand Theme to help jumpstart my creative process. So,  I just found pics of Barbara and her movies, watched her song videos  and listened to a cd of her music I had stashed in my cd archives. My God she has an awesome voice! Once in the Barbara zone...there was no turning back!
Lauren's mom's birthday celebration was held at "388" a lovely restaurant in Roslyn, New York.
Oh...by the way...the cake flavor? Blackout Chocolate Cake filled with Cookies and Cream.
Okay...so now...Barbara's song is stuck in my head...."Memories of the Way We Were". How I love that song!

Winter Wonderland Sweet 16 For Michelle

Here ia a photo of our beautiful Michelle LaRinga who had her Sweet 16 on Friday, December 2. She not only is beautiful on the outside but beautiful on the inside as well. When I first met Michelle and her mom Maria and brother Luca at the shop, I was taken by her sweetness. It was as if I knew her and her lovely mom and brother for years!

Together we designed her cupcake favors. They chose a Winter Wonderland theme featuring white snowflakes to be place in a hexagon box in a cloud of white tuille, tied with a silver ribbon.

The cupcakes after the tasting were half - vanilla butter cakes, filled with a luscious passion fruit buttercream and topped with vanilla buttercream, sprinkled with coconut.  The other half of the cupcakes...Michelle and mom wanted to please all their guests with a choice of cupcakes - Deep Dark Black Out Chocolate Cake filled with Nutella Buttercream, drizzled with caramel and topped with a Vanilla buttercream.

Michelle's Venue was the lovely Roma View on Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach, New York.

Well Sweet Michelle...I hope you had a fabulous Sweet 16 Party. May you always be happy! And, may all of your Sweet 16 wishes come tru

These gorgeous centerpieces were created by Rose of Designs by Rose in Howard Beach, New York. Rose creates the most beautiful and creative floral designs. Her design work is worthy of being featured on David Tutera's Bride Show!