APP REVIEW: Urbanspoon

Hey foodies, 

So recently I have been trying a few new foodie apps and looking forward towards the 2014/15 food app trends. In May, Urbanspoon launched and as far as I am aware, it is doing really well and to be honest, I was impressed too!

I really enjoyed trialling this app and also cannot wait to try it out in New York, this coming August. The app tracked my location and brought up all the local eateries in the local vicinity and as recently I lived temporarily in London and then came back up to Sheffield - it has been really useful!

You can browse restaurants by cuisine, dining time of day or price and there are selected picks of the “hottest in London”, “Nearest You”, “Celebrity Favourites”, “Bargain Gems”, “Top Picks” and “Picks from a Local”. I was able to view nearly all the restaurants within walking distance and plan for dining out experiences at places rated by professionals and locals. I think this is a really important feature, especially for places out of the capital, like Sheffield, as people tend to stick to chain restaurants, as it is what they know and it is such a shame!

 This app opens up a wide variety of choices for people to see reviews and recommendations of people who live in the area, encouraging people to choose more local, independent restaurants and cafes, which are fantastic and potentially better than chain restaurants, using fresh, local produce. I felt a lot safer choosing a new location, knowing it had been rated and reviewed by others in my position and felt more comfortable exploring the less established eateries in the area. 

My only difficulty was browsing other city locations, other than the one I am currently in. I wanted to be able to plan ahead for places in New York for example, before I get there. I think this is something that could be worked upon and may be a future feature, as the app is taking on more and more restaurants each day, adding to a vast catalogue of eateries around the world. 

I think this app has fantastic potential and cannot wait to take it over seas! It is FREE to download so check it out foodies!

Keep calm and get your Urbanspoon on.

Love, 

Jess xo

Embarking on an American Dream

Hey foodies,

So the big day has come and today sees me jet to the USA for 8 weeks to teach culinary arts. After completing a course at Leiths last summer, I applied for the role with camp leaders and got accepted in January. How time flies as it's here already.

 I mean it was one of my goals...

I wanted to have the experience of a lifetime. To let you into my life a little more, I am the kind of person who likes to plan ahead and this was always on my to do list. People say that to...

I wanted to see a little more of the world and because I love teaching and sharing my knowledge, I wanted to share my passion for food with the kids overseas. I know in my heart that teaching in the traditional sense of the word, like state education, is not for me but I still wanted to exercise my desire to preach about the wonders and delights of fresh food and cooking. I also understand that after I get into a great job, I wouldn't be able to leave it for travel at a later date. This seems like the best time for me.

I kind of know in the short term where I am going, what my aims are and how I NEED food to be a huge part of my life, as it is what make me happy. But long term...

And being on my way is good enough for me! Trying to keep my passion at the heart of what I do, I know I will enjoy the journey and even more the unknown destination.

As mentioned above, I have been organised enough to set up a series of blogs for whilst I am away, so please don't be shy and keep in touch! I am taking a break from cake orders, clearly, whilst I am abroad, but I will be back in action on my return. To sweeten you guys up for my plans in September, I will also be sharing a few tasty treats on here, with the recipes to get your tantalise those tastebuds of yours!

As my old boss used to say...

So I will see you properly on the other side! 

Keep calm and lets get busy baking the dream.

Love, as always,

Jess

xox

It's My BIRTHDAY and I'm gonna BAKE!

So this May was my 21st birthday and being a big baker, I had to make my favourite! No two guesses needed that I'm a chocoholic, so check out my three layer sponge with white chocolate ganache filling and dark chocolate ganache coating. Not forgetting the homemade chocolate truffles dusted in bitter cocoa.

It was a huge hit - what do you think? Slices were pretty big! It was nice to have a relaxing bake on my birthday and it turned out pretty smooth too.

Let me know what your perfect birthday cake would be? If you're lucky I may knock up a few tutorials for you cheeky bakers with the best ideas!


Keep calm and cake on!

Love,

Jess xo

A Busy Bloggers Apology...

Afternoon my lovely foodies,

Just a little apology from me, for my lack of loving over the past few months. University intervened with assignments, exams and then work got intense too! I have scheduled a series of blogs for the coming months, so I am sure not to disappoint you with plenty of cake pictures and a few cheeky recipes. So promise to keep your eyes peeled...

Keep calm and keep on cooking.

Love,

Jess <3

Little Baked Beauties...

Hey foodies! Just a short and sweet post with a few of these little beauties I made as a thank you for my website designers. I have a team of fabulous SHU students working their magic on my website design, which is soon to launch, and what better way for a baker to say thanks than with CAKE!

I could not resist a little snap of them coming out the oven. I wish I could put the aroma of fresh red velvet cupcakes online, because the house was full of their warm, homely, sweet, chocolatiness!

 But the cupcakes that got the most attention are these tasty treats below!

These cuties were a simple vanilla sponge base, with vanilla pod frosting and a caramel swirl. 

 I finished the red velvet cupcakes with a little red dusting, elegant, but not quite as dramatic as the caramel.

My website hosting page (Red Velvet Baking) is now live, so keep posted for more to come. In the meantime, dry not to dribble on your keyboard! ;)

 Keep calm and say thanks with cake!

Love,

Jess

xxx

My Vintage Valentine

 Afternoon foodies!

I FINALLY got myself down to the Sheffield Clandestine Cake Club and it was fantastic! I baked a simple cake, in the February vintage valentine theme and really enjoyed sharing my ideas with loads of other baking fanatics. My pretty in pink cake was a rose, raspberry and pistachio layer cake, with rose piped buttercream, fresh raspberries and crushed pistachios to decorate.

 I was so pleased as it went down well, but still had plenty to share with house mates when I got home!

 Before I went I even took a few cheeky cake selfies! They get progressively worse, or more entertaining - I will let you decide!

All the cakes varied from vintage recipes, to styles and there we even some delicious bakes by little bakers! Upcoming talent right here! Check out the other masterpiece cakes :)

 Chocolate box cake...

 Honey for my honey cake...

 This cake had a secret red velvet love heart surprise!

 Bubbly bundt, made with champagne and apple juice.

 Traditional courting cake with orange and fresh strawberries.

Love heart shaped cake with a beautiful orange and strawberry drizzle.

Cake for my cake - vanilla sponge with jam and buttercream!

Crazy for this coconut cake, with a tasty texture. 

 Nanna's coconut and cherry pound cake.

 LOVE Heart sweetie cake, with crushed love hearts in the buttercream.

Last but not least would be this delicious sponge with fresh fruit and a cute love heart boarder.

The CCC Sheffield was held at newly opened Jamesons Cafe on Abbeydale road, which is well worth a visit. Check the cuties out online at Jamesons Tea Rooms.

 We shared our cakes by the slice with a little drink, I opted for traditional lemonade! There was plenty to take home, check out my box below!

 Luckily, we had a movie and cake night, back at the house and my house managed to devour the contents of the box, with ease. We also used these little beauties below, which I got from the Tea Room shop, attached to the cafe. Definitely worth a visit for some beautiful, vintage pieces for the home and even for your curves!

 I would honestly recommend to anyone who is a huge cake lover, like myself to dabble in the joys of the Clandestine Cake Club. It is a fun, friendly way to experiment in the kitchen and taste some delicious cakes, new flavours, new styles and what better way to get some new found cakespiration.

Keep calm and let's get cakey!

Love,

Jess

Chief Baker ;)

xxx

Dad's Love Cake too!

Evening foodies,

Just a little catch up as work is busy as ever. Thought I would post a picture of the cake I did for my Dad last month. As you might have guessed, we have a sweet tooth - I say it runs in the family! That obviously means I HAVE to bake for family birthdays - a party without cake is but a meeting, Julia Child, are you with me foodies?!?!

I made a very simple victoria sponge, sticking to the classics for my parents as they LOVE it. As a little girl my Dad and I took pictures of trees and he used to hold me up to the top of my growing sunflower in the garden. A simply sentimental cake...

Keep calm and bake a message...

Love,

Jess

xxx