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...

Courtesy Catch Up...I've Missed My Foodie Fanatics!

Evening my beautiful foodies, 

Long time no blog. I know, I know, it is shocking! It has been a rocky few months of up and down, cakespiration and life evaluation, but I am back and fingers crossed, I am here to stay. You guys voted for more foodie tips, lets share! Caketastrophies to fabulous successes, sharing is caring and food is love.

Me, little miss piggy in Costco!

The past few months I have been tested a little, I've tidied my cupboards (hooray!), experimented with new sugar craft designs, invested in new tools and written my first few press pieces, about myself! It has been a total rollercoaster. I visited the fantastic Cake & Bake Show, in Manchester, buying my body weight in sugarpaste and attending tutorials, with a blog soon to follow, including tips, and was invited to my first press product launch, in LONDON! An amazing, new, delicious product - stay tuned for the blog!

Dragons & Bears...

My tidy cupboards!

I completed another order, with a request for cats, furniture and eyebrows - on a cupcake! Made me smile and the clients were very happy! Take a peek below...

And some little mini cupcakes for my fellow Brand Booster Bitesize Course finale...

Not forgetting Mother's Day...

Family of chocoholics...if you hadn't guessed!

In addition, this month I had my first official photo-shoot and pictures taken for the paper! I wasn't looking my finest, having eaten some beautiful Easter treats from Hotel Chocolat (pictured below). I tried a Salt and pepper chocolate - mind blowing, but obviously delicious! The official pictures and newspaper story will be online soon!

 Hotel Chocolat Egglet Bliss!

Paint the roses red <3

My Nan's traditional chocolate yogurt cake! Recipe soon to be in Sheffield Papers!

Sadly, this month saw the tragic and sudden passing of the beautiful Gabi Smith, aged 12. I have been fortunate to work with her amazing, strong mother Faye and spent time with Zach, her brother and her. After the initial guilt, the amazing funeral and the heartfelt send off, with balloons, Faye & Zach are sure she is partying in heaven, with her earthly and heavenly father. I made chocolate cake, Gabi's favourite, to celebrate her wonderful life. Rest In Peace Precious Gabi <3

More to come my sweets! Keep posted, as things are hotting up in the Red Velvet kitchen.

Love and warm wishes this cool spring,

J xox

Pearl Cake & Catch Up!

Evening foodies :)

Recently, business has been going from strength to strength! I am doing more and more work, interning and I am finally getting round to writing a few press releases for business promotion. Cake orders are becoming more regular and the other day I was recognised out in Sheffield - I was amazed!

I have decided to join a few more cake online forums, some American sites for ideas and trends and a few secret cake clubs, which I find extremely exciting! It is so inspiring seeing the work that others are doing and I find it helps get my creative juices flowing and motivates me to challenge myself and get on it! I am supporting a local friend with her business ideas, so watch this space and have taken on a beautiful assistant designer, Demi, to support my business progress. So if you're thinking about doing something, the time is now, lets get creative and productive!!!

As for my most recent cake order, I did a Pearl wedding anniversary cake. I challenged myself with a few new materials, such as edible paints and lustre sprays. It was a little difficult at times, but i thoroughly enjoy embracing a challenge and sometimes the most simple things, are the hardest. 4 layers of victoria sponge, jam and buttercream. Take a sneaky peak...

I also found this article very interesting and quite amusing! I am a little bit of a perfectionist, but it is true that sometimes, with edible materials, you have to be a little creative and clever with your approach!

Also, I have started taking a few brush up classes on modelling. I have bought a few more books, personal treats to myself, and think these classes will just give me a little more knowledge, as my self taught methods are fab, but you cannot refute extra knowledge! Check out my little people from last week...

In addition, I would like to introduce you little people to my cute new boyfriend, he has a right baby face!!! He took me to a beautiful restaurant, in Sheffield, for Valentines. Cannot beat Thai and if you visit Sheffield, All Siam is delicious!...I am a very lucky girl!

Keep calm and stay motivated...the time is always now!

Love, as always,


RVB

xox

The Fabulous Baker Brothers...

Evening my beautiful foodie friends <3

A quick catch up from last week...days and weeks are merging these days, time is flying so quickly it is hard for me to keep up! Last week I came down with tonsillitis, which is a huge pet hate, being a singer and baker! Throat issues are a big no no, especially when I had a cake order!

I took a mini break and went back to my home town, Wakefield, and on visiting the town centre, found it what the Food, Drink and RHUBARB festival!!! On friday, I finished most of my cake order (pearl cake blog to come) and dragged my mum down to check out the foodie fabulousness and to buy some gorgeous local produce. I was in for a rare treat!!!

We decided to have a look in the demonstration area, wondering whether to stay or not, until we read the flyer, stating that the Fabulous Baker Brothers were making an appearance. I was not moving a muscle! I was so excited, so close to such inspiring leaders in the world of great food and local produce.

They made a beautiful pork and black pudding dish, with RHUBARB salsa, accompanied by a gorgeous fresh pitta - made within 45 minutes! Right in front of my eyes! We even got to get up and try some of it...delicious! They were fantastic, down to earth entertainers, really capturing the audience by heart and I just felt so privileged to have them in my home town, sharing their knowledge and expertise. 

After they did a book signing and I persuaded my Dad to cough up! I may have shelves full of books, but nothing compares to a new book, personally signed!! My Dad had already met the Baker Brothers, at Morrisons head quarters, so I had their first book personally signed, but this time I was getting a picture!

As I approached the front of the queue, I felt butterflies in my stomach. I never normally get nervous, but I felt completely starstruck. My mum was laughing as I was shaking and starting to hyperventilate! It was ridiculous! I was so flustered, but they were so sweet and genuine. It's refreshing to hear them supporting beautiful local produce, supporting people and businesses like mine. It's glorious.

I am looking forward to baking more bread and eating more deliciously cooked local produce!

Their new book is out at the end of this month...a fabulous mouth watering read. The pages almost seem edible!! And don't forget to check out their new series on channel four!!! Local, made delicious.

Keep calm and go local <3

Love as always, 

RVB

xox

Hungry For Horse...

Afternoon Foodies!

So there is a big debate going around, at the minute, about the supermarket/brand scandal, where horse meat was found in many major beef products, without being advertised. A lot of people are on the fence about the issue, saying if it tastes good, does it matter? So what do you guys think?

One issue raised was false advertising. Quite a lot of people have been in uproar as they like to know exactly what they are eating, even if it is horse, they want to be able to make the decision themselves. A lot of the meat products, are popular on the shelves in tesco etc, and even with horse in, I believe at least 60% would continue to buy these products, enjoying their flavour and texture, however is should state the correct ingredients.

Some people are worried about the advertising, concerning other products they regularly buy. Vegetarians or vegans for example, are worried that false advertisement could be impeding on their dietry choices, as they are now questioning familiar products and their 'so-called' ingredient list!

An argument we raised in our house, was the issue of religion. Certain religions cannot eat certain products, due to their faith and if a beef product contains horse, what is to say it doesn't contain pork or lamb?

On a more dangerous note, some people have severe reactions and allergies, what if this false advertisement on other products caused someone harm or illness?

Which side of the fence are you on? I think it is not the end of the world if horse meat is used, however it should be clearly advertised and left in the buyers hands. Also, after this shocking discovery, I would be urging suppliers and retailers to have other products rigorously tested, to double check the authenticity of their labels!

I am happy to state I have neighver had a product, being tested for horse meat...but who's to say the meat on pizzas etc is correctly labeled from its origin.

Scary stuff foodies! Let us know your opinon!!

Keep calm and read the label!

Love, as always

RVB

xox

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