cake shops
There are 15 entries for the tag
cake shops
Here is the part 2 of my interview with Lisa Kothari, the founder and CEO of Peppers and Pollywogs.
AHWKV: When we travel, it is best to know the places where the residents hang out. Tell us about your favorites places in SEATTLE.
Lisa: Seattle is the home of Starbucks, and the original Starbucks is located in the famous Pike Place Market; try and get there to not only stroll the market, but to see where Starbucks all began. No matter what, though, have coffee at any of the vast number of coffee shops around town. My favorites are Café Verite and Uptown Espresso; there are multiple locations around town!
Categories:
DINING out
TRAVEL
posted @ Wednesday, October 08, 2008 12:51 AM | Feedback (0)
Passing from a NASA engineer to a successful cake designer and baker makes a pretty extraordinary story. BethAnn Goldberg had the creative gene since she started out as a ceramic sculptor before graduating from Stanford.
Studio Cake makes three types: the tiered cakes, the sculpted cakes and the cupcakes. The level of details is impressive. Look at the icy snow on the ground of the snowman cupcakes.
Let the Birthday Cake Be The Gift
If you are planning a birthday for someone that has everything, give a one of kind birthday cake instead. The guest of honor will be in awe when he/she sees the cake. Highlight the event with harmonizing invites, party décor and even wear costumes. Let the party of a lifetime be your gift.
To offset the extra costs, you can ask the guests for contributions instead of giving individual gifts.
Categories:
KIDS party
CAKES
DINING
KIDS + BABY
posted @ Thursday, July 24, 2008 12:30 PM | Feedback (0)
I marked down this hipster bakery and coffee shop on my itinerary for my next visit to New York. Baked NYC is located in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Baked first caught my attention for their third place as the best cupcakes in New York city. That ranking was obtained on the 2008 New York City Gourmet Shopping & Entertaining survey organized by Zarat. In fact, three NYC bakeries shared the third place.
It is finally the design of the place, the beautiful photos and the stylish cupcakes that convinced me to bookmark Baked. I hope these cupcakes taste as good as they look.
Baked’s Sweet and Salty cupcake
I am curious to taste their famous Sweet and Salty cupcake. This creation is composed of a dark chocolate cake infused with salty caramel, topped with caramel chocolate ganache and fleur de sel. I know this is a winning combination. MSN.com named it the one the best cupcakes in the United States.
Categories:
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Wednesday, July 23, 2008 12:46 AM | Feedback (1)
The pirate theme seduces both children and adults. A pirate party is fit to be really creative with the décor and the food. I spot the cutest pirate cake and cupcakes on Cupcakes Take The Cake blog.
The Sweet Tooth Fairy, a cake shop from Salt Lake City made a Jolly Roger pirate cake plus several dozens of pirate cupcakes for a pirate party. I like everything from the blue and red color palette to the execution.
Pirate Kid Party Ideas
If you are looking for decor ideas, check out the pirate party mood board I did last year. The pirate theme was designed for an outdoor kid birthday party. Yo-ho-ho! A Pirate Party! written by The Finer Things provides more cool ideas.
Categories:
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Monday, July 14, 2008 7:17 PM | Feedback (1)
A superbly decorated cake makes a statement at any party. Here are some adorable and fun cakes for a graduation party, a baby shower or a kid birthday party.
On LovinSullivanCake Web site, we can read that the owner Kate Sullivan learned baking and cake decorating from books, and many trial and error. She has more than learned it, she mastered it. Her designs are cutely refined.
If you always dream of creating your own fabulous birthday cakes, do not be shy to try a simpler version. Kate Sullivan is not only a cake decorator, she is also an author of a cook book. Grab a copy of her book Fun & Fancy Cake Decorating: Tips and Techniques for Decorating Unique Cakes for any Occasion to discover her tricks.
Categories:
DINING
REVIEWS
COOKBOOKS
posted @ Thursday, May 22, 2008 1:20 AM | Feedback (0)
When I realized yesterday night that this would be the 500th post of At Home with Kim Vallée, I started a search for the perfect cake to represent what my brand stands for: stylish, unique, modern, lively and entertaining. I found my match at I Dream of Cake in San Francisco.
Cake Gallery
When you walk into this appointment-only shop you are surrounded by the cream of the cream in cake decorations.
People did not nickname I Dream of Cake the Cake Gallery for nothing. The retail space is designed as a gallery. Naturally, every cake is made to order. With an art degree, the cake designer Shinmin Li refers to her cake creations as commissioning a piece of edible art. When I look at her cake creations, I must agree with Shinmin.
It took me a while to create my board due to abundance of fabulous cake designs on her Web site. Her Wedding cakes are incredible and so the rest of I Dream of Cake creations. People commission cakes for all occasions from kid birthday cakes to sweet 16, bar mitzvahs, christenings up to anniversaries.
Categories:
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Wednesday, April 02, 2008 12:39 PM | Feedback (4)
I am always watching for stylishly decorated cupcakes. Fondant decorated cakes are my favorites. So imagine how glad I was yesterday when I came across the most stunning cupcakes I ever saw.
The power of social networks
My journey started by looking at the Facebook profile of new friends I made last Wednesday at the Montreal Girl Geek Dinner. I spotted a comment about a cupcake montage for the m0851 Fashion Show and Press conference. This event occurred this week as part of the current Montreal Fashion Week. This is how I discovered Michelle, the talented girl behind Clever Cupcakes.
Categories:
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Saturday, March 29, 2008 1:35 PM | Feedback (3)
Travel + Leisure magazine published this month an interesting review of 5 cupcake shops in Los Angeles. Each of these old-fashioned American cake shops has something different to offer.
The winners stand out through their recipes, cake decorations and packaging. Here are 5 cupcakes shops that emerge as the place to go.
Bluebird Café
From my research on the Web, the cupcakes of the Bluebird Café in Culver City are delicious. Their Crayola-bright cupcakes are offered in mini sizes. A practical format if you cannot make up your mind or when you set up a dessert table. Located in Culver City, Bluebird Café attracts the movie studio crews.
Since I did not taste in myself, I looked for a second opinion on the Web. I found a review by the food blogger Bree Crocetti of Triplecreme who said in 2006 the following:
Categories:
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Friday, February 29, 2008 10:40 PM | Feedback (0)
Like everything else, the cake industry has evolved a lot over the years. The popularity of the TV series Ace of Cakes gives more ideas to people.
If you want a one-of-a-kind marvelous cake, first of all know that it is pricey because it requires a lot of time and know-how to decorate these remarkable cakes.
These cakes are popular at weddings, since people often allocate a huge budget for their wedding cake. If you plan an extraordinary party for a milestone birthday, a 25th wedding anniversary, a baptism or a shower, you cannot pretend to host the ultimate stylish event without a fabulous cake.
How does it work?
The process starts with a consultation and cake tasting, often complimentary. Be prepared before you set up a meeting. It is best to sit down with the cake maker after you booked your venue. Figure out the style of your event first as the cake must harmonize with the rest of your theme and decorative elements. You need to have a pretty good idea of how many guests will assist or be invited.
Categories:
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Sunday, February 10, 2008 12:19 PM | Feedback (3)
Tuesday night on my way home from a conference, I passed by the front store of Petits Gateaux, one of the few cupcake shops in Montreal.
Their Halloween cupcakes on the front window caught my eyes. Look at them as a source of inspirations to bake and decorate your own cupcakes for a Halloween party.
I guess that these looks can be reproduced successfully if you possess some skills in cake decorations. I really like the RIP designs and they can be a hit with children. I am predicting that the eye would not go unnoticed.
About Petits Gateaux
Located in the heart of the Plateau Mont-Royal, Petits Gateaux store design is another retro style concept. I am tired of the retro old-fashioned concept for cupcake shops. Are you? Still, this little cake bakery got fans in the city.
For their simple Halloween cupcake designs, Petits Gateaux won points on my book. Especially, since these seems like good DIY projects. If you give them a try, do not forget to share your tips with us.
Categories:
HOLIDAY entertaining
CAKES
ENTERTAINING
DINING
posted @ Thursday, October 18, 2007 1:32 AM | Feedback (2)
If you wish to create awareness for a cause, throwing a party around your cause is a great idea.
For the fight against Breast Cancer, you can plan a dessert buffet or a tea party in the afternoon with your girlfriends.
I fell in love with the cute cupcakes by Sprinkles Cupcakes a few months ago. From October 1 to 14, they will donate the proceeds of the sales of their Pink Ribbon strawberry cupcakes to the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund. During that period, the strawberry flavor will be available every day.
Modern decor, refined style and strong packaging
Frankly, the retro look so typical of cupcake bakeries look tired; we need more varieties. Here come Sprinkles Cupcakes that opened its first shop in Beverly Hills in 2005. At last, a fresh and modern architecture boutique décor.
Categories:
PARTY ideas
CAKES
PARTY favors
ENTERTAINING
DINING
posted @ Saturday, September 29, 2007 12:45 AM | Feedback (3)
We all dream to be able to decorate cakes with like the pro instead of making all-buttercream cakes. If you are not a beginner cake decorator, you may be ready to learn the art of fondant and royal icing.
Before you invest in cake decorating classes, flip the pages of books to see if this is for you. I compiled a list of 4 excellent books.
They all received great reviews on Amazon.com by people that effectively tried to make the cakes. And they passed my tests for the aesthetic and the usefulness of their instructions.
Spectacular Cakes: Special Occasion Cakes for any Celebration by Mich Turner
Mich Turner's credentials include wedding cakes for Madonna, Pierce Brosnan, Paul McCartney, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. In November 2005, her first book Spectacular Cakes was published. She wrote a second book which will hit the store on November 6, 2007.
Her book, Spectacular Cakes goes over cake decoration styles and techniques from the traditional to the cutting edge. Mich Turner's book supplies cake recipes plus a portfolio of incredible cake designs with step-by-step that you can copy or adapt to suit any formal or informal event.
Categories:
DINING
REVIEWS
COOKBOOKS
posted @ Wednesday, September 12, 2007 10:44 PM | Feedback (3)
If you are a fan of Martha Stewart, you are probably familiar with the cake creations of Wendy Kromer. Reproducing her look at home is possible if you buy online her fabulous decorative kits.
I guess that anyone who masters more than the basics of cake decoration can get a pleasing result. These handmade decorative items are carefully crafted. I have to warm you; these are fairly expensive cake decorations. But if you wish to impress your guests with a homemade cake, that is certainly the way to go.
You need to know that some pieces are just decorative. Due to the wires, none of the Marzipan Cherry pieces or the shown Hellebore leaves and flowers are meant be eaten. The Hellebore wired leaves and flowers appear tricky to do.
If you wish to eat them, order instead the box of 16 Marzipan Fall Leaves. Easier to use, these almond paste treats nicely decorate cakes or embellish your dessert trays.
Categories:
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Monday, September 03, 2007 1:20 AM | Feedback (1)
Cakes are an important part of any celebrations. This is one custom that I hope with never go out of fashion. Even if decorated cakes are widely available, the best hostesses like to make a bold statement with her cakes.
Bakery Bar specializes in custom designs specifically tailored to your individual style. Their creations are stunning. They are cute, fun, fresh and stylish. In short, they exhibit my favorite qualities.
Gracious whimsical and organic themes
Many of their cake designs are inspired by nature. The bakers at Bakery Bar cleverly and realistically shape fruits, vegetables, plants and much more. Nothing looks tacky here. I would take pleasure in getting that kind of cakes for my upcoming wedding anniversary.
The whimsical Pirate cake for a kid birthday has the usual elements done in an appealing way. The houses / neighborhoods cakes talk to me; you feel a part of the community just by looking at it. If you belong to the welcoming committee of a club or if you are hosting a housewarming party, this rendering cannot be more apropos.
Categories:
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Tuesday, August 07, 2007 10:34 PM | Feedback (1)
As a Canadian blogger, I like to point out great Web sites from my country. This morning I discovered Brides in the City, a fascinating blog published by two Torontians. I lived in TO for five years a decade ago. Gal pals Diana and Holly both works on the bridal industry.
Diana Stepanovic is the owner and pastry chef of Pavillon Cakes. Diana makes traditional, contemporary and super chic cakes. Holly Hatam operates an invitation and greeting card company called TearDrop Weddings. So if you are getting married soon and live near Toronto, their blog provides good sourcing information.
Recently, these gals started doing something out of the ordinary for weddings. They use the same design for the cake and the invite. Great idea! As an event designer, I usually try not repeating the same exact pattern too many times. I approve of this application because it is a nice way to link together your design elements. Invitations should introduce the key design elements of your event. It fits the bill here.
Categories:
PAPER goods
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Wednesday, April 18, 2007 1:13 AM | Feedback (3)