Variations on a theme

Nothing much to say really, just posting a couple of pictures of nice wedding cakes that we've done recently. Wow, I just realized that they are the same design with different flower decoration-totally different people ordered, totally different final locations, both well done. I do think the cake flavours are different though.

It reminds me a little of when my biz partner and I show up at work at different times, coming from different locations, yet are wearing almost exactly the same outfits, same colours, similar styles, etc. We've had people ask us if we are twins and while we are looking at them like they are crazy, that's when we realize "ooooohhhh, we did it again." Of course, since I'm the one who's usually up and in earlier than she is, she's obviously copying me-mayhaps, I should start checking around for hidden cameras.

The Great Unveiling!!

Check it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We got all fancy like with our vessel of conveyance, commonly referred to as the delivery van. It's SOOOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!

Of course we must mug it up a little as well. We've got the "arrrrrr" pirate look above and the "heyyyyyyyyyyyy" biker look below.

New homes needed.

So, we walk into the office one morning and lo and behold, overnight we had some very unusual critters move in. They don't talk much, don't shed much, and would love to find someone who likes to cuddle. They are very, very friendly as demonstrated by one of our employees who sat down in the chair and then was overwhelmed by the critters. If you know of someone who needs an Adorable handmade companion critter, then stop and by and discuss adoption options.

Seriously, we need good homes for them- the office is starting to look like the USS Enterprise after the Tribbles took over.

The most important kitchen tool

Sharpies. That's it. I mean, sure it's nice having the pots and fancy pans, shiny ovens and mixers but the ultimate tool in the kitchen for most chefs and bakers is the humble sharpie. Every chef I know guards their sharpies with utmost ferocity and sometimes they carry spares but are loath to part with them either.
You can date things, label things, completely change recipes by blacking something out or adding something in. They're small, lightweight, and ultimately portable. Okay so they can't do the actual cooking but almost everything to up to that point.

What would be really, really cool is to have a bandolier full of Sharpies, then you could have a showdown in the kitchen and "draw" on the count of three...hehehehehehehe.

Cake Wreck Adulation

After a long day of dealing with "Common Courtesy challenged" customers, endless telemarketing and donation requests, and just normal day to day activities; the Cake Wrecks blog is the perfect thing to lighten and brighten one's day.
Scott, we are eternally grateful to you for telling us about this site!

The eerie thing I discovered while reading the blog is that Jen is channeling my thoughts almost to the letter when I look at the pictures and read the commentary that she has posted, it's SPOOKY I tell you!
The wedding cakes pics with the "Princess Bride" commentary on May 5, 2010 especially made my day-in part because I am smitten by this movie (in my permanent top five, along with "Tremors") so I was internally vocalizing the nasally tones as I was reading it and laughing. hehehehehe, sigh...good times.

Okay, enough idol worship for the moment. We were graced with Jen and John's presence last year as they stopped at Powell's during her book tour. She had posted on her blog a few months before that if any local professional bakeries were interested in donating some cake for the book signing to let her know. I was seriously doing "mememememememememe!!!! oh please oh please oh please" as I was typing a very carefully worded letter about how much we appreciate her blog and would enjoy being able to participate in the event.

Here are the cakey tributes that we brought and laid at the altar of the Wreckiness. To top it off, the "Contragulation's" cake is not only the bane of Jen's existence, the dreaded CCC cake, it is a MINI CCC cake!!!!(insert evil, maniacal laughter here...and here...and here...AND initial here)

Cake Decorating: Fun With Fondant

films and food

I went to a movie earlier today which got me to thinking about a few of the movies that have something culinary as a main element in them and then I realized how many there are once you start to look so...I'm just going to mention some of my favorites and maybe a tv show or two as I think of them.
One of my all time favorites is "Eat, Drink, Man, Woman", I am in awe watching the dexterity of the chef and the precision with which items are chopped and sliced. The story's good too but just the visuals alone puts this one on top for me.

Some of my other favorites are and these are just the ones that have popped into my head at the moment:

"Chocolate" starring Johnny Depp.
"Ratatouille"
"Julie & Julia" starring Meryl Streep
"A Matter of Loaf and Death" Wallace & Gromit
"Sweeny Todd" starring Johnny Depp
"Macbeth" from "Shakespeare Retold" BBC-You'll never look at three star restaurants quite the same way.
Oh, and I almost forgot "The God of Cookery" starring Stephen Chow. "Shaolin Soccer" also has an excellent scene involving salty dough.

Beverage related:
"Bottle Shock" starring Alan Rickman-just by raising an eyebrow, this man speaks volumes.
"Sideways" starring Paul Giamatti

Tv shows:
"Pushing Daisies" The importance of pie and honey
"Chef": BBC-Very probably my all time favorite TV show ever and for all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also love, love, love "Good Eats" with Alton Brown and enjoy "No Reservations" with Anthony Bourdain.

Anyhow, that's a few of the food related shows that I have watched and really enjoy or that I feel have influenced me a bit in relation to everything. Oddly enough, there aren't that many baking related movies that I have come across-hmmmmm. Maybe that is something we should remedy at the bakery... :)