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

 

Taste of Zupan's 2012

Holidays are coming up fast. 

Here's a few of the delicious items that were starring in this year's 

Taste of Zupan's

 (If only computers had the aroma button available as well)

It was fun, it was busy, and everyone at Zupan's 

& The Heathman deserve a huge round of applause

for putting this altogether.  

As always, all proceeds goes to the Sunshine Division

http://www.sunshinedivision.org/ 

Let the drooling commence! 

Columbus salami & mustards

The fig spread goes with everything

Excellent olive oil

Olympic Provisions Salami assortment

http://www.olympicprovisions.com/

Our table neighbors-I am so happy about that.

Olympic Provisions's really cool slicer-it did wonderful things with ham.

Pastry chef set & ready to go

Our Pumpkin cupcakes w/Caramel buttercream & Chocolate cupcakes w/ Ganache

Pre-salmon samples.

The Meadow-our other table neighbor

http://www.atthemeadow.com/shop/

Duck breast cooking on a Himalayan Salt Block

Some more Olympic Provisions goodies.

Our Italian Almond & Raspberry Fudge cakes.

Fall 2012: Upcoming events

The whirlwind of Holiday craziness begins. 

Here are a few of the events we will be doing through the beginning of November.

Okay, first up.

Art in the Burbs

We will be here Friday, Oct. 19th 
but the event goes through Sunday.

"CARDS + CLAY + EXTERIOR ART + GLASS
HANGING ART + JEWELRY + TEXTILES + WOOD

For one October weekend, Alberta Rider Elementary will once again be transformed into a fine art gallery with original works from over 70 juried artists available for sale. The Foundation’s Art in the Burbs brings a diverse range of art. Explore the juried artist page to view who will be in this year's show. A highlight - you will be awed by talented Tigard-Tualatin students as you stroll through the student art gallery and entertained by student musicians performing throughout the weekend" 

 

Round 2
All Hallow's Eve
otherwise known as October 31st.

Spirits of all types plus Steampunk Baker
with a minion or two in attendance.

(mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha)
http://www.omsi.edu/afterdark

In the Spirit.

"Ghost, goblins, and whiskey, oh my! Get in the spirit and celebrate Halloween at OMSI After Dark - costumes encouraged! Taste the difference between grain and potato vodka while local distilleries share the secrets of their craft."

Number 3 
November 3rd 

All sorts of delectable foods and beverages to sample from 

Charcuterie to Pumpkin cake (ours, of course ;) and 

 all proceeds go to the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division.

 http://www.zupans.com/TheTaste/

My minion/pastry chef is much more photogenic.

Wedding cakes

Short & sweet this round. 

A few of the

Wedding cakes

we've done this Summer.

At Bridgeport Brewpub

This one had carnival games as a theme.

At Mcmenamins Grand Lodge

I like the brightness of the flowers.

A little something blue.

Gear Con 2012

Steampunk Baker

took a mini sabbatical and attended

(Trumpet fanfare)

Gear Con 2012

Went to a few Crafter's Labs & made a couple of nifty treasures.

Learned a bit about men's fashion & women's corsetry.

Attended a class on Bartitsu which,

 has served a certain Mr. Holmes well on many occasions.

http://duellatoria.com/

Picked up some gorgeous treasures from

Steampunked Out. So much leather goodness.

http://www.steampunkedout.com/

And listened to a couple of decent bands:

Professor Gall & Nilika Remi.

Also drooled over the goggles at 

http://www.steambaby.net/

So pretty and practical.

Also attended a lecture about Victorian medicine, 

some things from the past I'm perfectly happy 

not reliving...and that's if you were healthy.

(Let's just leave it at ugh.)

Onto the fancy bits

Pictures!!!

I did not get names but everyone was very nice

about having their pictures taken so without further ado, 

Here we go!

I just love her whole outfit..

Such style 

The gentleman standing is so very tall.

Simply gorgeous 

Possibly a little impractical for the bakery *sigh*

Professor Gall & his band. I do enjoy a good banjo.

Wings x1

Wings x2

A lady and her heavy artillery are welcome everywhere.

Quite a dapper chap.

Now, that's a coat!

Simply lovely

SCIENCE!
*mwahahahahahahahahaha*

Wings from the flip side 

Oh, Tesla makes me happy.

Absolutely the Gentleman.

Russian Royalty

I do believe she has a bug on her chapeau, I do hope it's friendly.

 Tesla Coil in action!

(mwahahahahahahahahaha)

(Sorry about the side view, I am having a few technical issues.)

Like the belt, the hat, heck the whole ensemble.

Again, sorry about the side view-editing is very limited on the video side of things

*Ahem*

How else to end such a splendid time that was had by all?

I think nothing but this will do.

Flaming Bagpipes!
courtesy of Niall Townley