Manchester Cake & Bake Show :)

Evening munchkins!

Thought I would give you a quick tour of the Cake & Bake show that I went to in April, in Manchester. It was like being in heaven, for me anyway! Cake and cake utensils, equipment, paints, tasters, anything and everything you can imagine, along with a lot of cake fans and professionals.

I went down with my best friend, Beth,  and we scouted out our favourite stalls, planning our purchases (to save our hands from carrying.) On the way down, from Sheffield, we drove down snakes pass, with the beautiful, blue sky and beaming sun.

At the show, I took cakespiration photographs, take a peek below. There were a beautiful cakes of art, in all shapes and sizes. Makes my mouth water just thinking about them!

Wedding Cake Selection...

Gingerbread Garden...

 Cake Catwalk...

In the middle of the shopping madness, we took two break for seminars with some well known professionals. I attended a class in vintage decoration, with Juliet Sear.  It was rather refreshing, seeing in her action, making a mess! She created some beautiful little vintage buttons, dusted in pearlised lustre, cascading down a two tiered, iced sponge. See her in action below...

Also, I attended a masterclass on cake sculpting and airbrushing. With my birthday being this week, I have asked for a Dinkie Doodle, pink of course, airbrush. I am so excited and sat on the front row in the class, so I got the first go making swirls and testing the machine. With a little practice, to make perfect, I can imagine this to be one very exciting venture! Take a look at the amazing ice cream cake below...

I came home with a wealth of knowledge and online offers, contacts and a hell of a lot of free goodies. I bought a range of new sugarpaste colours, floral paste and modelling chocolate. Invested in some tylo powder to stiffen fondant, which is fantastic for home made petal paste, and a collection of new painting and sculpting utensils. 

Below is a picture of one of my favourite cakes on the day...

I thoroughly enjoyed the Cake & Bake show and would recommend it to any cake or food fanatic, whether at hobby/interest level or professional. There is always new stuff to buy and to learn. My aim is to have my cakes on their beautiful catwalk next time round, so watch this space. Onwards and upwards!

Keep calm and share your experiences...

Love, as always, 

RVB  

Nom nom nom...

Food Fight Against Cancer...James Martin vs Brian Turner

Evening foodies :)

What a busy week it has been! I am being introduced to all kinds of networking and even Net-walking (post to follow soon!), with cake orders and charity involvement on the rise - can 2013 get any better? The only way is up, ey?!

Last night a close friend of mine, Liam and I went to The Crucible, Sheffield, to watch The Food Fight Against Cancer, with James Martin and Brian Turner. It was amazing. We got fantastic seats, the food smelt and looked delicious and the yorkshire banter and jokes flying round were truly priceless. So much money and awareness was raised for Weston Park and Cavendish Cancer related charities, which are such an important cause. It was so inspiring and so heart-warming to see the chefs, being themselves - down to earth, yet extremely entertaining. The Crucible was packed full of people having a really good time, yet it felt very intimate and cosy.

The first half of the show was based around a set menu, to feed a family of four. Turner did a beautiful stuffed lamb joint, with fondant potatoes and assorted vegetables, whereas Martin went for it and did a 5 course extravaganza. This consisted of a light Pea soup, with quick battered egg, a blowtorched mackerel salad, quick sweet chilli pan fried lamb and a beautifully simple fridge box cake (biscuits and raspberry cream - simple but spectacular!)

I was so lucky to get the chance to attend and am so happy I got involved. I even got a picture with Brian Turner and he answered my questions on what cookery school to go to. Lets say I will definitely be attending Leiths, some way or another, and Brian Turner has not seen the last of me and my cakes!!!

Pictures to follow, but my Mac is having a paddy right now! Keep an eye out for special blog posts for local businesses and networking coming up over the next few days...but for now my bed is calling.

Keep calm and keep focused.

Good things always come to those who work hard!

Love, as always

RVB xox