Birthday cake for Stevie Wonder

  My pastry chef received a call from an old school chum recently, 

asking if we would make a birthday cake for a special guest.

Mr. Stevie Wonder. 

That would be a Yes.

The event was a fundraiser for Project Clean Slate. 

My baker baked a cake to serve 200

and my pastry chef got to work on the decoration. 

She made the cake topper a few days ahead so it 

would have time to dry and would be stable.

With fondant covering the cake, it weighs over 70lb.

We took it to the restaurant Quartet.

My pastry chef also put some of

Mr. Wonder's song titles 

on the cake.

No, she couldn't fit all of them on there, not by a long shot.

Close up action

Piano & cake together in perfect harmony.

Nifty insides of Quartet

More nifty interior action.

A chef and her cake.

The Executive Chef & friend of my pastry chef.

I really like the interior, very modern.

I snapped a couple of pictures of Mr. Wonder 

and took a bit of video though it was more to hear the music

rather than actually being close by. 

He was very gracious to sing a few songs.

So, here's that assortment and a short news video covering it as well.

 http://www.kgw.com/news/Stevie-Wonder-performes-in-Portland--206994791.html

 Arrival. Side view. 

(I can not, for some reason, get the video to be upright. Sorry about that.)

Happy Birthday Mr. Wonder. 

Random stuff

There's a lot of stuff going on and I never seem to have enough time to catch up on everything that I want to do or that needs to be done.

Anyhow, thought I'd post a few things that I am currently interested in (translation: many of the things that are keeping me from catching up on the other things I should be doing).

I found out about this excellent web comic when I was up at Steamcon last year.

http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/

This web comic has it all and I love the fact that the main character is a pretty darn self sufficient and practical female. Also, the humour cracks me up a lot. 

Another web comic that I've just come across is "Namesake".

The premise is that a person who has the same name as a character from a novel has the potential to be a new version of that character and continue or update the story. 

http://namesakecomic.com/

These both are ongoing comics which drives me (a little) crazy because I want to read the entire thing right now!!!!... but, at least they update three times a week on alternating days 

so I can get my fix of each until the next one is online. 

You can also buy Girl Genius in actual book form either as a graphic novel or as a regular novel. 

(Yes, please. Actual physical, hold the weight in your hands, 
flip pages back and forth, 
dog ear your favourite pages books are the best!) 

(Totally Team Gil btw)

Food wise, we met these people at ChocolateFest this year
and I am very happy about that.
http://www.pbjsgrilled.com/

At first glance of their menu, you think
"What? How? Is that Even Possible?"
Then you taste on of their sandwiches and realize that
your reality has shifted and you are all the better for it.
 (Spicy Thai is the best  until I have the Betty or the Hot Hood)

Sometimes, one just needs a little break from the world of dessert and PBJ's is a tasty way to go.

Well, that's a brief rundown of nifty things, now-Back to the cakes!
And pies, and cookies, and mousse...

Chocolate Fantasy 2013

Chocolate Fantasy at the Jenkins Estate.

Always the Friday before Valentine's Day.

(so much easier to remember)

My bakery has a booth in the stables 

(I would love to turn that place into a house!)

and we always have desserts for sample & sale.

 

We bring everything from Fudge brownies to 

Chocolate cupcakes with a buttercream swirl, 

and as always, everything is made from scratch.

 

I keep meaning to take more pictures but 

there never seems to be enough time to do it all. 

On that note, here's a few pictures of the event 

and some of the other really nice vendors as well.

 

Now, On to the pictures! 

Our home away from the bakery

http://www.thedesserttray.com/

My Pastry Chef ready to go with our Fudge brownie samples.

I can usually make it to the other room but never quite get to the main house.

Once the crowds start arriving, it's a little difficult to get closeups.

The Rose City Sweets people are as sweet as their treats.

  http://www.rosecitysweets.com/

I have a whole shelf dedicated to Rose City Pepperheads jam, the Mango Madness is my fave.

http://www.rosecitypepperheads.com/

It's chocolate that's brewed like French Press Coffee. Tasty.

Our neighbor, a couple of booths down. Lavender perfumes the stables.

She had a Dark Chocolate w/ sea salt that was excellent.

These guys have been our neighbors for ages. Love their stuff.

 http://shop.willamettevalleyconfectionery.com/main.sc

Steampunk Baker has the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip samples ready to go.

A Huge THANK YOU to our staff for all of their hard work!

 We couldn't do this without you.

As always,

Keep Portland Tiered. Eat Cake.

Chocolate Fest 2013

I will just say...

"Wow" and "Yum".

Chocolate Fest was a whirlwind of activity

to put it mildly.  

 Our Fudge brownies, cupcakes, and 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies were 

flying out of our booth at warp speed. 

 

There never seems to be enough time to taste everything 

or visit with all of the other splendid vendors that were in attendance

but I did manage to take a few pictures. 

"And here we go."

My Pastry Chef, Robin Hassett, ready for the day.

Our neighbors across the way, Rose City Sweets.

Coastal Mist chocolates

This is such a gorgeous display.

Everything here is so tasty. Willamette Valley Confectionery

They always have such a fun & sassy booth at JaCiva's.

Verdun Chocolate

Carter's Chocolates

The chocolate dipped bacon at Carter's Chocolates

sold out long before Chocolate Fest ended. 

(Darn) 

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate.

They have some serious style at this booth.

Our next door neighbors

The muscat is divine. Their other wines are pretty good too.

Setting up.

"Chocolate Understands." Yes, yes it does.

I didn't get any pictures of this one but PBJ's sandwiches are...
Very possibly the BEST sandwiches that I have ever tried.

Best Ever. 

My favourites in order are:

The Spicy Thai (O.M.G.)

The Hot Hood, a very, very close second.

(Very, very close.)

The Oregonian

The Spencer

The Joy

Of course, I haven't had a chance to try the rest yet...

Here's the link to their page.

Do yourself a favour and stop by their foodcart. 

It will be worth every moment. 

http://pbjsgrilled.com/index.html#.UP4O1GeM6uI 

Steampunk Baker, samples at the ready.

A huge Thank You! goes out to our staff 

for all of their hard work & 

to the World Forestry Center staff for putting 

this event together. 

See you all next year!

Holiday season

That time of year is here again.

Holiday season. 

I just want to remind everyone not to drive your selves 

completely crazy by trying to do everything & buy everything 

that you think you need to make it a "perfect" holiday.

 

When it's all over, it's the memory of the time spent with 

your family & friends that is the most important treasure;

not the hideous teapot that you purchased for your aunt 

or the latest cellphone that your son just couldn't live without.

 

Here's a bit of Holiday scenery to enjoy.

December Wedding

Ornaments

A touch of Seuss

Never ending Gingerbread men

Pretty & shiny things

Topper on the December Wedding cake

Sparkly Snowflakes