Then and Now

So about a year ago to this day, I had done my 2 weeks of travelling around NYC, Toronto, Montreal, Washington DC etc and now it was time to get down to business and start what I had gone half way around the globe for. School.

I still remember how nervous I was! I had my Chefs uniform on and ready and I was anticipating how the school would be like and the people that I would meet. Time seems to go so fast, it hit me like a tonne of bricks to think that was a year ago, so close yet so far. 

I like to think that I've come a long way since that day. I've learnt so much and had so many life changing experiences in such a short period of time. "Then", I was learning the basics of baking science. "Now", I'm learning how to conquer my baking feats that come my way, replicating edible versions of things I've never even seen in real life! lol "Then", I wanted to get away from Sydney and didn't really know my direction in life. "Now", I'm home and happier than ever and have a business that I love and am devoted to. 

Although I moan alot I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the great friends that I've made during my Notter days and my friends and family back home who have been my strength and support through such an important time in my life. I am where I am today because of you all and all your words of encouragement and unfaltering faith in me mean more than words can say. 

haha so I've become a little emotional in writing this post lol On the brighter side, here are some more "nows" that's occurring in The Dainty Baker's Life. Hope you Enjoy! xx

Ombre Fantasy Wedding Cake

This was the first proper wedding cake I made for a Client. She came to me with those cute elf cake toppers and wanted a tree/fantasy like wedding cake. The cake was chocolate and hazelnut flavoured with a beautiful light meringue icing on the outside. Different to the usual fondant covered cakes I make and I absolutely love the ombre look!

Chelsea Premier League Cake

My entire family (except dear old Wobbles) are Chelsea fans, so when my cousin turned 18 and requested a Chelsea Premiership league cake I just had to make the trophy! Initally I was going to make the whole cake in the shape of the trophy but decided that they might want to keep the trophy as a token so I altered the design, where the rest of the cake is edible and the trophy could be kept as it was made entirely of gumpaste.

Corolla Cake
This was my first ever 3D car cake! It didnt occur to me that I had never made one before until a Client requested this souped up Corolla her beau used to own. It was so much fun sculpting and making this cake! 

1961 Cadillac Cake

I must have spoken too soon! Funny how I dont get any car orders then in the same week I get 2! I had a last minute order for a 1961 Cadillac. I was like whats a "1961 cadillac?!" at first but then after much googling I was able to piece together enough angles of the car to make this cake.

xxx

Cake Cake Cake

Hello Everyone!

So, long time no post because I've been caking like a maniac!!! lol Anyways thought I'd touch base and showcase some of the things I've been up to :)

80's Themed Basketball cake

When I was asked to make this 80s themed basketball cake, I must admit I had to scratch my head at what that actually meant. Turns out she was having a fancy dress party for her husband and everyone was going in cool retro basketball outfits with afros!! How Funky!! Hope this cake fit right in, with all the complmentary colours to make it bold and stand out. The cake was strawberry and vanilla and the top was chocolate with chocolate ganache.

Baby Cake

I have to say I loveeee making baby shower, baby themed cakes.. think the cuteness is just so totally my style :D I was asked to make another full month baby cake for the cute baby Jonathan. His mum wanted his cute little Nike shoes as the topper so with 4 photos of each side of the shoes to go by. I did my best to replicate them in edible form :) I love the little toot toot cars soo cute!!

Wedding Cake Tasting

I had my very first wedding cake tasting last month!! I was so nervous! I made a total of 4 cakes with some petit fours too. The flavours I showcased included:

- Lemon and Coconut

- Hazelnut and Chocolate

- Red Velvet 

- Double Choc

♥

FujiFilm Finepix X100 Cake

This was such a fun cake to make!!! When my clients sent me the link of this Fujifilm camera as inspiration I thought to myself. "I just have to replicate that!!" so lo and behold here is what I came up with :) 

The Final product... 

I didn't have enough time to take proper pics of this cake so we just took some quick ones outside Soho before the birthday boy came out the club to pick it up lol

Croquembouche and Cupcake Mania

Once again, I do apologise for the retarded photo quality! :( It was taken with the iphone... who decided it wanted to be temperamental and have a black screen when taking pics (Dont ask why - coz I got no idea!)

These lovely sweets were made for an engagement party. There was a croquembouche and a cupcake tower filled with lovely vanilla and red velvet cupcakes :)

Also, a quick reminder incase you missed it on Facebook and Twitter. I will be at the North Sydney markets this Sat selling all the lovely treats such as cupcakes, macarons, tarts and puffs! If your free please come down and give me a shout!

The Dainty Baker Market Stall @ NORTH SYDNEY MARKETS SAT 12th MAY 2012

Time: 9am - 3 pm 

Location: corner of Ridge St, Miller and Maclaren St, North Sydney

♥ ♥ ♥

Superhero Cake

Der der der der der der ... der der der der  ...der der der der der derrrrrr BATMAN!!!!

This is my latest and greatest Superhero Cake!! It was made for dear o' Simon from The Heart Of Food. He was conducting a photography talk at UNSW for the UNSW Photo Club and asked if I would like to be apart of the fun and become one of the sponsors, as well as his subject (my cakes i.e. not me personally lol) for his talk. Honored, I accepted and thus ... this cake was born!

I was racking my brains to think of what cake I could make that make that would capture the photography crowd. I thought "something cool yet not too girly, something detailed and fun that they could relate to". Lo and behold I came up with this design.

It was a 3 tiered cake with a Superhero theme. Batman, Spiderman, Superman and Hulk were involved. I wanted to add in Ironman too but unfortunately I didnt have enough time! 


The cake was due for 3 pm at the University. I managed to get it done by 2 pm, which I then ran around like a headless chook getting chocolate off my blouse and face and packing the car ready to head to uni. 


The drive there was nerve racking as per usual! I transported this cake fully assembled, unlike the 1 Month Baby cake, which was delivered in different parts. It barely fit into its designated seat on the floor of the car and was ever looming dangerously close to the glove compartment everytime I made a turn!! But like all fairy tales, there was a happy ending and it arrived safely in one piece! Even Hulk hands and Spidey's Web stayed in tack!! :) When I arrived, Simon quickly brought it into the lecture hall and hid it from the photographers who were to attend the talk in the next 10 or so mins (I know I always leave a very small window for myself.. gonna die from a heart attack one of these days).

Simon's talk was interesting, informative and funny! Although, throughout it I was a bit nervous as I was going to have get up after his talk to intro myself and The Dainty Baker (its been a while since I did public speaking). But this nervousness was overcome by a different panic as I began to think "OMG, my work is on display... theyre gonna see all the little flaws and scrutinise every little detail with their fancy schmancy cameras!" Lol It was only when he brought out my Chinese New Year dummy cake to photograph, and I heard some of them whisper "wows and ahhh's!!" that I eased up a bit.

The grande finale came and I made my way down the lecture hall steps (Ha! I didnt stack it!!) I introduced myself and gave a bit of a spiel of what I do and how I've got to where I am now and Simon brought out the cake. The whole theatre went "wooowww" and then started clapping which I totally was not expecting and I bet I was blushing like a red tomato!! lol

It was so lovely and great to see such a positive reaction to my work and although I'm not too good with compliments I couldnt help but be a proud little Dainty Baker whilst standing there watching the cake paparazzi's do their thing and enjoying the cake afterwards :)

My band of Superheroes - Lol was funny watching everyone call shot gun on the logos

Although I'm a baker - I really dont like cutting cake lol 

HULK SMASH! 

Photos Courtesy of UNSW PhotoClub

A big thanks to Simon from The Heart of Food for giving me this opportunity to demonstrate and display my skills and UNSW Photo Club for having me. It was great fun, hope there will be many more to come :)

♥