I was very excited to find out that another of my cakes has been published in a magazine by Squires called - Wedding Cakes - A Design Source. It's one of the first cakes I ever made using my favourite flower (blossom) and dragees. The magazine features the best wedding cakes from cake designers in the UK as well as all around the world, so I am honoured to be in such esteemed company!
Showing posts with label Wedding cakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wedding cakes. Show all posts
Friday, 22 January 2010
Wedding Cakes - A Design Source
I was very excited to find out that another of my cakes has been published in a magazine by Squires called - Wedding Cakes - A Design Source. It's one of the first cakes I ever made using my favourite flower (blossom) and dragees. The magazine features the best wedding cakes from cake designers in the UK as well as all around the world, so I am honoured to be in such esteemed company!
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
And the winner is...................
I hope you all had a fab Xmas! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, received lots of great presents and had too much to eat. I can now reveal the winner of Wedding TV's The Great Cake Bake. Me!
What made it even more shocking was that I won in all three categories I entered. I have posted a picture of the winning cake in the 'Glamour' category. The bride wanted a cake in white, silver, black and pink and we all had to come up with a cake that reflected the uniqueness of her wedding. I added a sleeping unicorn to the top tier and sheep to the bottom tier as they will also feature in the wedding.
I enjoyed designing the cake and had the most trouble with the middle tier. I was just so relieved it turned out ok in the end.
Sunday, 20 December 2009
The results of Wedding TV's The Great Cake Bake
What a very exciting time Elizabeth's Cake Emporium has had in the past week! I was invited to take part in a show by Wedding TV called The Great Cake Bake about a month ago.
The idea was to get some of the UK's best cake artists to design a series of cakes for a number of brides based on different themes. I was selected to design and make wedding cakes in three categories, which I shall reveal later.
This week, we filmed the last part of the show. Not only did I get to meet and be in the company of the most talented cake artist's in the UK, I also got to see their work up close and some of the cakes on display were sunning!
I had a great time and an experience I will never forget. I know you want to know what the results are but stay tuned and all will be revealed soon.
The idea was to get some of the UK's best cake artists to design a series of cakes for a number of brides based on different themes. I was selected to design and make wedding cakes in three categories, which I shall reveal later.
This week, we filmed the last part of the show. Not only did I get to meet and be in the company of the most talented cake artist's in the UK, I also got to see their work up close and some of the cakes on display were sunning!
I had a great time and an experience I will never forget. I know you want to know what the results are but stay tuned and all will be revealed soon.
Sunday, 4 May 2008
The camera never lies
Why oh why can't I take a decent photo! This has been the bane of my life, considering how important decent photos are to my work. Anyhoo, I suppose I just have to keep on practising till I get it right. Another week of cakes, cakes and more cakes which is very good for us. Also, Elizabeth's Emporium got chosen from thousands of businesses for a pilot leadership programme sponsored by the London Development Agency. We are very grateful for the opportunity and also very excited and can't wait to get started.
As always, we continue with the A to Z of Wedding Cakes series below:
Q for Quality
You want you cake to accurately reflect your sense of style and elegance. When looking at wedding cakes, pay attention to important elements such as flavour options, and other details such as the finishing touches, how cakes are displayed and the accompanying accessories to ensure that they are what you require.
You want you cake to accurately reflect your sense of style and elegance. When looking at wedding cakes, pay attention to important elements such as flavour options, and other details such as the finishing touches, how cakes are displayed and the accompanying accessories to ensure that they are what you require.
R for Reception
As the cake will take centre stage at the reception, discuss possible display areas and how the table will be dressed with your event planner or venue and cake maker. If for instance the cake will be iced entirely in butter cream for a summer wedding, it is advisable not to display the cake in a hot room or place it near a window. Also, placing the cake table next to the sound system may not be a good idea, as the vibrations could destabilise the wedding cake.
Sunday, 23 March 2008
Sky High, I'm Gonna Testify
I'm sure that probably the best view of London can be seen from the 40th floor of The Gherkin (30 St Mary's Axe). Last week was the cake and menu tasting of a lovely couple and from what brides tell me, this is one of the most enjoyable parts of planning the wedding.
The manager and staff of Searcy's pulled out all the stops and a great time seemed to be had by all. On our part we at Elizabeth's Emporium provided five different cake flavours, one which was specially made at the request of the couple. We had a lot of fun trying to perfect the recipe, which went down very well. The next stage will be discussing and finalising the specifics of the cake, which we are very excited to be making, as it is so apt for such a cosmopolitan couple. So watch this space.
Now we continue with our series, the A to Z of Wedding Cakes below:
G for Ground work
You have to do a lot of ground work to uncover the right cake designer but it is worth it for the peace of mind and confidence it will give you in the long run. Always ask friends, family and recently married couples for recommendations, or you can ask your event planner to source someone for you. Another good way to uncover someone is via your reception venue; as they are likely to have used rigorous criteria to vet and select their cake suppliers. Therefore, word of mouth can be your most powerful search tool!
A lot of cake makers will showcase their creations on their websites and this is a time for you to see whether you like their work. Designs can range from the simple, traditional, modern, cool to the elaborate. When you do make contact, ask them how they would describe their style and in turn, expect to be asked questions about the date of your wedding, the number of guests you expect the cake to feed and the style and feel of your wedding. Arrange a meeting to view their portfolio and discuss your ideas but most importantly this would be a good time to see if there is a good personal connection or chemistry as trust is a crucial element in your relationship.
H for Hire costs
Just like it is essential to choose the right accessories for your wedding dress, the right accessories and how a cake is displayed can make all the difference. It is advisable to think about whether a cake table will be provided, its location, how it will be dressed, and about other accessories such as the cake stand and the cutting knife.
However, the right accessories may come at an extra cost, so ensure that it is included as part of the package when you book your venue. If not, so make sure you bear this is mind when discussing your requirements with your cake maker and the venue.
The manager and staff of Searcy's pulled out all the stops and a great time seemed to be had by all. On our part we at Elizabeth's Emporium provided five different cake flavours, one which was specially made at the request of the couple. We had a lot of fun trying to perfect the recipe, which went down very well. The next stage will be discussing and finalising the specifics of the cake, which we are very excited to be making, as it is so apt for such a cosmopolitan couple. So watch this space.
Now we continue with our series, the A to Z of Wedding Cakes below:
G for Ground work
You have to do a lot of ground work to uncover the right cake designer but it is worth it for the peace of mind and confidence it will give you in the long run. Always ask friends, family and recently married couples for recommendations, or you can ask your event planner to source someone for you. Another good way to uncover someone is via your reception venue; as they are likely to have used rigorous criteria to vet and select their cake suppliers. Therefore, word of mouth can be your most powerful search tool!
A lot of cake makers will showcase their creations on their websites and this is a time for you to see whether you like their work. Designs can range from the simple, traditional, modern, cool to the elaborate. When you do make contact, ask them how they would describe their style and in turn, expect to be asked questions about the date of your wedding, the number of guests you expect the cake to feed and the style and feel of your wedding. Arrange a meeting to view their portfolio and discuss your ideas but most importantly this would be a good time to see if there is a good personal connection or chemistry as trust is a crucial element in your relationship.
H for Hire costs
Just like it is essential to choose the right accessories for your wedding dress, the right accessories and how a cake is displayed can make all the difference. It is advisable to think about whether a cake table will be provided, its location, how it will be dressed, and about other accessories such as the cake stand and the cutting knife.
However, the right accessories may come at an extra cost, so ensure that it is included as part of the package when you book your venue. If not, so make sure you bear this is mind when discussing your requirements with your cake maker and the venue.
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
Flashdance...............................
First, when there's nothing but a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind..............................................
Ever since I saw the movie Flashdance many moons ago, I have harboured secret ambitions to overcome my shyness and strut my stuff on stage. Alas, I grew into adulthood, became somewhat responsible and that was the end of that dream.
Until I met a fabulous dance teacher called Tara (http://www.funkydance.co.uk/) who taught what she called 'Funky Dance'. After months of classes and rehearsals, a mixed group of us which included children, girls, and ladies of a certain age like me, performed in front of a paying audience of three hundred and five hundred in the first and second shows on Saturday the 16th March.
It was both the most terrifying and exhilarating thing I have ever done and my family and friends were very pleasantly surprised at how good and professional we were. So a big thank you to Tara, her husband Piers who helped with the music, lightning and stage effects and most of all to all the brave ladies who felt the fear and danced anyway!
Now what does all this have to do with cakes, you might ask. Well pushing oneself to do something different and totally unexpected is risky but definitely worth it even if one falls flat on one's face! At Elizabeth's Emporium, we try to do something different from the norm in our own way and hopefully it pays off in the end!
That your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind..............................................
Ever since I saw the movie Flashdance many moons ago, I have harboured secret ambitions to overcome my shyness and strut my stuff on stage. Alas, I grew into adulthood, became somewhat responsible and that was the end of that dream.
Until I met a fabulous dance teacher called Tara (http://www.funkydance.co.uk/) who taught what she called 'Funky Dance'. After months of classes and rehearsals, a mixed group of us which included children, girls, and ladies of a certain age like me, performed in front of a paying audience of three hundred and five hundred in the first and second shows on Saturday the 16th March.
It was both the most terrifying and exhilarating thing I have ever done and my family and friends were very pleasantly surprised at how good and professional we were. So a big thank you to Tara, her husband Piers who helped with the music, lightning and stage effects and most of all to all the brave ladies who felt the fear and danced anyway!
Now what does all this have to do with cakes, you might ask. Well pushing oneself to do something different and totally unexpected is risky but definitely worth it even if one falls flat on one's face! At Elizabeth's Emporium, we try to do something different from the norm in our own way and hopefully it pays off in the end!
Saturday, 15 March 2008
It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do
I had the pleasure of attending a number of exciting events in the past week. The highlights for me was meeting highly motivated entrepreneurs who were very keen to share their knowledge and experience and listening to passionate speakers educate me about their respective areas of expertise. One thing they all had in common was their belief in their ability to change the world for the better. They have made me think about using Fairtrade products more often and when placing my order for ingredients this week, I found myself asking my various suppliers questions about their supply chain.
For more information on how you can help make a difference, please visit http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/
I also had a generous offer to join a register of TV experts and I will let you know how I get on in due course!
Continuing our series on the A to Z of Wedding cakes:
E for Etiquette
Read up on wedding etiquette, so you know who has the responsibility for doing and paying for what. For instance, in some cultures the father of the bride bears the responsibility for a large part of the wedding costs, but increasingly, couples are now paying for their own wedding. When it comes to the wedding cake, there is now a trend towards not just going for the tradtional three tier cake but alternatively, having a cupcake tower made up of individual cupcakes or fully iced mini cakes. Some couples also request a groom’s cake at the wedding, which could be a novelty cake that reflects the groom's hobbies or passions.
F for Flavours and Fillings
Gone are the days when wedding cakes were heavy, stodgy fruit cakes. Nowadays, you can choose from a variety of flavours, ranging from chocolate, vanilla, carrot and lemon cake to unusual flavours like banana, lime and coconut and coffee and walnut. We've even had requests for Red Velvet cake and Apple Cinnamon cake.
Fillings can range from French vanilla buttercream and white and dark chocolate ganache, to orange buttercream, mocha buttercream, lime cream cheese to Morello cherry. For a bit of variety, you can have different flavoured tiers to cater for different tastes and to offer variety to your guests.
For more information on how you can help make a difference, please visit http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/
I also had a generous offer to join a register of TV experts and I will let you know how I get on in due course!
Continuing our series on the A to Z of Wedding cakes:
E for Etiquette
Read up on wedding etiquette, so you know who has the responsibility for doing and paying for what. For instance, in some cultures the father of the bride bears the responsibility for a large part of the wedding costs, but increasingly, couples are now paying for their own wedding. When it comes to the wedding cake, there is now a trend towards not just going for the tradtional three tier cake but alternatively, having a cupcake tower made up of individual cupcakes or fully iced mini cakes. Some couples also request a groom’s cake at the wedding, which could be a novelty cake that reflects the groom's hobbies or passions.
F for Flavours and Fillings
Gone are the days when wedding cakes were heavy, stodgy fruit cakes. Nowadays, you can choose from a variety of flavours, ranging from chocolate, vanilla, carrot and lemon cake to unusual flavours like banana, lime and coconut and coffee and walnut. We've even had requests for Red Velvet cake and Apple Cinnamon cake.
Fillings can range from French vanilla buttercream and white and dark chocolate ganache, to orange buttercream, mocha buttercream, lime cream cheese to Morello cherry. For a bit of variety, you can have different flavoured tiers to cater for different tastes and to offer variety to your guests.
Friday, 7 March 2008
Elizabeth's Emporium Cakes in the Wedgwood Shop Window
We are delighted that something exciting has happened to Elizabeth's Emporium this week!
The latest adventure started a month ago when Elizabeth's Emporium was asked to design and create a fabulous wedding cake for the flagship store of Wedgwood at 158 Regents Street, London W1. Wedgwood, England's finest china company, has been synonymous with beauty, craftsmanship and innovation for over 250 years and it is an honour to collaborate with such an outstanding company.
Taking pride of place in the display is a white, three tier hexagonal wedding cake, covered with sugar flowers and silver dragees. The gorgeous canape sized and large sized cupcakes, made to complement the wedding cake are black and white and have been displayed beautifully on assorted cake plates.
We are so delighted to have our work show cased in this manner and we hope that this would be the beginning of many such partnerships :)
The latest adventure started a month ago when Elizabeth's Emporium was asked to design and create a fabulous wedding cake for the flagship store of Wedgwood at 158 Regents Street, London W1. Wedgwood, England's finest china company, has been synonymous with beauty, craftsmanship and innovation for over 250 years and it is an honour to collaborate with such an outstanding company.
Taking pride of place in the display is a white, three tier hexagonal wedding cake, covered with sugar flowers and silver dragees. The gorgeous canape sized and large sized cupcakes, made to complement the wedding cake are black and white and have been displayed beautifully on assorted cake plates.
We are so delighted to have our work show cased in this manner and we hope that this would be the beginning of many such partnerships :)
Friday, 29 February 2008
The A to Z of Wedding Cakes
Wedding cakes have come a long way since the Roman Times when they were round plain wheaten cakes broken over the heads of brides as a symbol of fertility and goodness. Nowadays, ‘the cake’ often takes centre stage at any reception and there is so much choice out there available to a modern bride, both in terms of design and content. Hopefully this A to Z guide from the Queen of Cakes, will provide you with very useful information and ideas on what to expect.
A for Advice
Seek advice from a variety of sources such as other brides, venues, wedding fares, other vendors and leading national and local wedding publications. However, word of mouth is still the best way of finding a talented cake maker to help translate your ideas into reality.
B for Baker
Get the names of a number of recommended bakers, ring them up, check out their websites and pay them a visit. Write down any questions you might have and feel free to ask away. Also, remember to take your other half along once you’ve narrowed your choice down, especially for the tasting, which should be free of charge or at least included in the cost of your cake.
A for Advice
Seek advice from a variety of sources such as other brides, venues, wedding fares, other vendors and leading national and local wedding publications. However, word of mouth is still the best way of finding a talented cake maker to help translate your ideas into reality.
B for Baker
Get the names of a number of recommended bakers, ring them up, check out their websites and pay them a visit. Write down any questions you might have and feel free to ask away. Also, remember to take your other half along once you’ve narrowed your choice down, especially for the tasting, which should be free of charge or at least included in the cost of your cake.
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