TALE OF A HAMBURGER GROOM'S CAKE

Gillian's Surprise Hamburger Groom's Cake for Marty



Hamburger with all the Fixings - Lettuce - Onions - Pickels and Ketchup with a Side of Potato Chips

Fixings Anyone?
Tale of Hamburger Groom's Cake

Doing research for a hamburger groom's cake is a no brainer! So, when Diane (mother of the bride) and Gillian (bride) asked me to create a surprise groom's cake for Marty, I was only too thrilled (ahh all the possibilities!) to start the research. What research you ask? It's a hamburger after all! Ahh....not so my dear frients! There are so many to choose from! Skinny patties, Double patties, rounded buns, flat bums, tall buns, oversized buns! How does one create the "just right one" Well.....culinary research!!! Of course!!!
So, in the name of "inspiration" I not too reluctantly made my way to several of my favorite food establishments and finally decided - 10 pounds later - on the thickest patty with the tallest bun with sesame seeds on top on a checkerboard red tablecloth! Mustn't forget the side fixings of tomatoes, pickles and onions dripping in ketchup and for extra crunch...potato chips on the side.
Alas, however, it didn't taste like a hamburger - BUT - instead, the cake was a yellow butter cake filled with passion fruit IMBC and topped with crushed pineapple infused with a pineapple simple syrup.

The Delivery

The ride out to the Bourne Mansion in Oakdale, New York on the St. John's University Campus was a beautiful hour long ride with my friend Peggy, who often comes with me on deliveries "just for the ride". I usually don't drive on deliveries as I like to sit in the back of my SUV facing backwards checking on my creations. However, this time, my daughter, was in the City and I had to drive...making Peggy the designated cake watcher. "It's not doing the shimmy shake" or "still standin!" or "no Irish Jig here" were often the comments coming from the back seat!!!
We arrived at the Bourne Mansion only after getting lost for just a couple of minutes...and after a couple of ("controlled frantic) calls to Steve....the maitre d'...Remember...I was driving!!!
As we pulled onto the grounds of this glorious turn of the century mansion...we saw a beautiful bride and her hubby.....having their photos taken!  Oh my!!! It was Gillian and Marty! Peggy and I looked at each other with "Now What!" in our eyes!!! This is a surprise cake! How on earth do I get this cake inside the venue while the bride and groom are in front of the mansion!!! 
We could either go back out of the circular drive or just sit there waiting for them to go to another part of the grounds (thank God for tinted car windows)....or go into the campus!
So...after yet another phone call to Steve...and telling him of our situation, he instructed me to the east side of the building. There I would see a stoop and to go up the stoop. From there follow the hallway to the kitchen. Hah....at that point...east - west - north - south was a post doctoral dissertation for me!
And a stoop!!!! A stoop!!!!! With a cake???
Okay...maybe it's just one or two steps!  OMG! (This is a flashback to when I was on "Iced With Sylvia Weinstock" - delivering a cake to Cipriani's - When the servers there told us there was no elevator!!!) LOL  
Nope...it had to have been at least 7 steps! One step with a cake is like going rock climbing with a cake in one hand and the other on the ropes! lol
Going up 7 steps - with a cake in hand - especially when you are not 25 and physically fit is not an easy feat!( I've got to get myself to the gym!)
Well....one by one -Peggy and I got up those steps - into an area that did not resemble the kitchen. I left Peggy there....guarding the cake with her life....and the promise of a strawberry farm stand.....to hunt down some assistance.
After making my way through the kitchen (I really do love exploring!) (not kidding!) (I was actually thinking of The Lion - The Witch and the Wardrobe, half wishfully expecting to find a wardrobe and a magical land!) (Yah...I'm still a teacher at heart!)   and into the mansion itself...which by the way is Gorgeous!!! I mean simply splendid!!! It has sooooo much character! I think I was born in the wrong century! - Sorry for the digretion...back to the delivery.  I found a very helpful young server - Bob, who joyfully helped me find an appropriate and SAFE place to hide Martys cake - He assured me it would be fine where we put it....so long as we put a sign on it asking people not to touch....Asking??? Nope....I said - commanding! So - using my food coloring pen....and a piece of paper....I gingerly wrote...
Gillian and Marty
SURPRISE
Groom's Cake
DO NOT TOUCH!
Thank You!
With that....and after securing a couple of stray potato chips and sesame seeds with some royal icing from my emergency cake kit....and saying a silent blessing over the cake that it be a complete success and that Gillian's surprise for Marty was all that she hoped for - I took the long way home - in search for a strawberry farm stand - we were out east afterall!

MAZEL TOV TO GILLIAN AND MARTY!
MAY THEY HAVE MANY MANY MANY HAPPY YEARS TOGETHER!
AND TO THEIR FAMILIES!
CONGRATULATIONS!

Audrey's Baby Shower Cake at Dee's in Forest Hills

Audrey's Baby Shower Cake at Venue - Dee's on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills.
Don't you just love love love the pillows in the background! I sooo want to find a couple of them for my house!

Baby Block Hanging Wall Letters

Mommy and Baby Pram Topper All Completely Edible with Exception of the Pram Handles.

Full View of Cake

This baby shower cake was inspired by Vanessa and the invitation she sent me for Audrey's Baby Shower which was held at Dee's Restaurant on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills, New York.
Cake flavor you ask? mmmmmmmmm! Yellow Buttercake filled with a scrumptious Mocha Italian Buttercream! I can just see this cake as being one of my most popular designs, with variations of course to match the personality of the different mommies, and themes of the showers.

I want to thank Vanessa for placing this cake commission with me and to Stella for referring me to Vanessa.   
To Audrey...as we say in Greek...."Kali Eleftheria".

Michael Turns 50!!

Characature of Michael Sitting on His Espresso Cake

Michael and His Cake

Michael and Rosa

The Ruggiero Family

Michael's Cake

I love love love coffee! So for this coffee lover, creating a cake for the owner of Caffe Sacco was as the kids would say..."The Bomb!"
Rosa...Michael's lovely wife asked me to create this cake for her hubby Michael who turned 50, for his surprise party held at The Inn at New Hyde Park.
She told me a little about Michael....and her vision for his cake, and right away we knew what to do.
I searched his website for Caffe Sacco  to get a feel for his style...It's a beautiful website by the way. There was a poster pic of an espresso cup with coffee beans and from there I got inspiration to create this cake.
Rosa mentioned that Michael had just opened an Italian Restaurant...Mr. Joe's, and would it be possible to represent that on his cake. This again...was not a prob! The pic on the menu on the cake is actually their logo. Very dapper don't you think!  I will most definitely be visiting their new restaurant!

Wishing Michael a Most Happy 50th!

Deeana's Louboutin

Characature of Deeana and her Martini Glass Sitting on Top of Her Louboutin Shoe Box

Deeana Before Her Party with Her Louboutin Cake and an Artist's Rendering of the Signature Black Louboutin Pump

Louboutin Cake Center Stage

Turning 21 and getting a pair of Christian Louboutin's! Sweet!!! Pun intended!
I have been creating cakes for various members of Deeana's family for the past couple of years now. Every time...it's an exciting project. This latest one, a black signature pump with the red sole was a great project.
This is what I love about being a cake designer....every project is different and I get to meet great people!!!!! AND IT'S ALL HAPPY!!!!

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY DEEANA!

Gianna's Surprise Juicy Couture

Juicy Couture Handbag with Side Bow

Heart Key Chain Charms Handcrafted by Theodora

Talk about success surprises! Gianna's mom called me several weeks before Gianna's 13th Birthday to order a surprise cake for Gianna. Of course as with all consultations we talked about Gianna's favorite things....and Juicy Couture is one of her all time favorite designers. I have to tell you...the bags are really pretty!

Lisa didn't want Gianna to get a whiff of this surprise cake in any way, shape or form.

So we made arrangements for the cake to be dropped off at her neighbor's house....who by the way happened to be my daughter, which made it even easier.

On the day of delivery...which was to be before 12pm...I received a text from my daughter...."Are you on your way?" I was on the LIE!

Plans had changed...I was NOT to bring the cake to Maria's house...BUT to meet Lisa in the parking lot of the Apple Store at the Americana Manhasset Mall.  She was driving a black Cadillac SUV.  Okay...I'm thinking to myself...this is an espionage delivery.

No sooner do I pull into the lot...there she was...Lisa...with her trunk door open....the cake just had to get into the trunk...a.s.a.p. She didn't want to take any chances of Gianna seeing the cake!

"It's really hard trying to surprise Gianna!"

Quickly...we...my daughter Theodora and I handed over the cake to Lisa. 

She had Stefano...her youngest son sit in the back to watch the cake...as seen on those tv shows...He jumped at the opportunity...What kid wouldn't? Wish I had taken a pic of Stefano and the cake.  And after kiss/kiss/hug/hug....off I went back to Queens....and back to her sister-in-laws house went Lisa.

The surprise party was a success from what I heard...Gianna was very surprised with the party and her Juicy Couture Cake!

Momma Lisa!!! You did GREAT!

I have to say....this was the most fun delivery I've had to date!



My Melina Turns 11!

Paint Splash Topper Cake for Melina (Splat's inspired by Anne Heap)



Melina's Paint Palette Cupcakes

 

What a fabulous time had by all at Melina's 11th Birthday Party yesterday held at Stay and Clay in Port Washington!

Melina...my wonderful granddaughter turned 11! Of course Yiayia Malia simply could not let a birthday go without making something special!

...A vanilla butter cake/cupcakes  infused with a strawberry simple syrup and  filled with the freshest and most  scrumptious strawberries and passion fruit Italian Meringue Buttercream. Now you would think that an 11 year old would want American Buttercream....but not Melina! She asked specifically that her cake be filled with IMBC cuz "Yiayia! you make it so light and fluffy!!!" Gotta love it!

Melina...by the way is a very talented and artsy young lady! Not that she's my granddaughter mind you...but she is pretty good with a brush and paint AND plays clarinet! Seems like it runs in the family....All of my grandbabies are into the arts in some way. Katie plays piano...and bakes, Costa plays trombone and loves to dabble in cakes as well!!

Well darlin!!!

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY!

I hope you had a fabulous day!

Oh lest I forget to give credit where credit is due...The topper cake for Melina's Paint Palette Cupcake Tower was inspired by Anne Heap, of New Jersey. She had done a three tiered paint splat cake...which was totally cool. Thank you for the inspiration Anne.



Justin Bieber and Cinderella Come to Port



Joanna and Her Justin Bieber Cake

Princess Cake for Carmela



Princess Carmela and her Princess Cake

So...what a busy weekend this baking mama has had! It was such a pleasure creating these cakes for sisters...Joanna who turned 13 and Carmela who turned 5!!!

Joanna our new teen...celebrated her 13th birthday with a Justin Bieber Cake. Joanna is such a sweet young lady. So so eloquent and polite and all the good things a teen can be! Her favorite colors are purple and lavender and so I created a cake in lavender with a 2-d standup of Justin singing. I guess it's the next best thing to having him be at her party.

Happy Birthday Joanna!!!!

Now as for our little princess Carmela...well she wanted a Princess Cake! And so...I set out to make a cake with a crown filled with royal icing pearls. A crown fit for a princess.

Carmela is adorable!!!! I wish when I was teaching to have had a classroom filled with Carmelas. 

Carmela's favorite color is pink.

  From what I heard...there was going to be a special visitor the Princess Carmela's castle...Yes..you guessed it....Cinderella of course!

Here is hoping that both Joanna's and Carmela's party were hugely fun!!!!

Their cakes were respectively....chocolate blackout cake filled with a chocolate mousse, and yellow buttercake filled with fresh sugared strawberries and Italian Meringue buttercream.

Again....

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY JOANNA!!!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY CARMELA!!