The Swelle Life

Fresh Ideas: Sweet Paul's Spring Issue

I'm very late to the game on doing a show and tell on Sweet Paul's Spring Issue. I saw the dreamy beach-themed edition in preview and was so excited, and have now finally found the time to truly indulge; getting lost in those pages is one of my favourite things to do. Here are some of my favourites in terms of fresh spring colours, fantastic styling and photography, and of course, yummy - and easy! - recipes to try:

Keep salads interesting by using a colour story to create your healthy spring plates, such as this Red Cabbage Salad with Feta and Blueberries. 

Why isn't everything topped with mini macarons?! Make this Raspberry Swiss Roll for a standout dinner party dessert. 

Exploring the Creative Heart of Paris takes us on a most daydreamy tour of one of the most inspiring cities in the world. See and read about the best places to eat, sleep and shop from a personal perspective. 

Paul does this 'happy dish',  a colourful spring salad, justice, with his fresh and vibrant styling. 

 

Some of the tastiest concoctions that come in a glass - spring cocktails that are perfect for outdoor entertaining or as a special treat just for yourself. 

Salmon is a great warm weather dish; this lovely, healthy one is served with a cool Asian cucumber salad

 

Lotta Jansdottir tells us the story of her porcelain collaboration with Manhattan's Fishs Eddy, a great visual tale for lovers of blue!

Cakes that impress - this issue is full of them! Get the gorgeous recipes here

The Sweet Paul summer issue is out soon, and in the meantime we've also had the super fun Kids issue which can be enjoyed by any age, really. 

Images from Sweet Paul Magazine

Garden in a Glass: Perfumed Grape & Raspberry Limeade

Recently, Welch's invited me to create a Temperance Cocktail based on one of their new grape juice drinks. The recipe would be an addition to a menu of alcohol-free cocktails created by London expert mixologist and owner of Opium Bar, Dre Masso, who took inspiration from the classics. And it was Masso who would be judging the recipes to declare the winning cocktail. Once I buried my intimidation, I decided that I should make something that was very 'Swelle' and a bit different, and I had something in mind. But I had to taste the drinks first to see if my idea would work.

I received two to try: White Grape & Raspberry, and from their Light range, Rosé Grape Light. I tasted both to get a sense of what I was working with - both are yummy and sweet - and decided to go with the White Grape and Raspberry.  My (not-so) secret ingredient was rose water, and I'm also a huge fan of lime which I thought would work well with the juice, so I began trying out some mixes. I was happy with the result, though I admit this isn't a drink you would make up in a pitcher and drink all day; I chose a dainty martini glass for a reason. 

Here's my recipe for Perfumed Grape & Raspberry Limeade:

Ingredients

• 100ml Welch's White Grape & Raspberry
• juice of 1 lime
• 1/4 tsp rose water 
• sparkling mineral water

Glass: Martini

Method: Shake fresh lime juice with White Grape & Raspberry over ice. Strain into glass. Top with sparkling water and drizzle with rose water. 

Garnish: A white rose petal from the garden. (Thanks to our delayed spring here in the UK roses have proved elusive, so I had to go to the florist and buy one! You can also garnish with a slice of lime, raspberry pearls, or fresh raspberries. But I like the rose petal because it gives a hint as to the olfactory quality of the drink.)

Note: This recipe offers a twist or two on the traditional raspberry lemonade/limeade. First, the sweetness of the white grape balances the tartness of raspberry and lime so added sugar isn't necessary; second, the rose water adds a delicate flavour to the blend and lightly scents the drink. A martini glass was chosen to deliver the perfume and keep the quantity small. This cocktail is also delicious as a still version - just omit the sparkling water and increase the Welch's to 150ml. 

Cheers!

Photos © The Swelle Life

Swelle Review: Brothers Strawberry and Festival Pear Cider

I'm a cider girl. I hadn't even tried cider, ever, before moving to the UK over seven years ago, but because of its prominence here - there's a renaissance happening and these days it's as popular as lager, thanks to Somerset's enduring commitment to the tradition of cider making - I was encouraged to give it a go.

As with wine and beer, not all ciders are created equal. There are some that could be served as apple juice and no one would know the difference. But I found my preferences fell somewhere between the super sweet and quite dry and I couldn't really find something my taste buds would stay loyal to. Not being a beer drinker (bar the odd framboise but does that really count?) and my tendency to become narcoleptic on literally a few sips of wine, never mind spirits (I'm fun, eh?), cider's appeal endured because it's crisp and fruity, and I've always liked bubbles. 

Last week the family-run, Somerset-based cider producer Brothers sent me two of their new flavours to try: Festival Pear Cider, and Strawberry. The 500ml bottles arrived with their new spring/summer branding featuring vintage-style labels based on a drawing that the wife of one of the founding brothers made nearly 20 years ago. I was really up for trying them because a) as mentioned, cider is my go-to drink, and b) somehow I hadn't crossed paths with Brothers before and c) I love the berry ciders. Or at least I love the idea of them. My last favourite now just seems far too sweet so I found myself in cider limbo.

First, I opened the Festival Pear Cider which is a stronger concoction than their regular pear, and most other ciders, at 7%. I was pleasantly surprised to find after one crude swig straight out of the chilled bottle that its initial sweetness is cut with a drier finish. For me, this is the perfect balance. Next, and on a different day, I tried the Strawberry (4%) which is a pear cider with strawberry juice - Brothers specialty is Perry - and was almost in shock that this bright red liquid beaming from my glass wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. Yes it's sweet of course, you don't buy berry varieties expecting something else, but like the Festival Pear, it's nicely balanced. So thank you, Brothers, you're now my go-to cider. I can actually finish a whole bottle!

A little history on the company: Brothers Drinks Co. Limited was started in 1992 by the four Showering brothers whose family have been making Perry in Somerset since 1658, and whose grandparents were behind the successful Babycham from the 1950s! (I have some of their dainty vintage cocktail glasses with the adorable white deer on them.) Brothers began selling its cider exclusively at Glastonbury back in 1992, and since then, its following has continued to grow, loved as ‘the company that introduced pear cider to the UK.’  (They found that most folks didn't know what perry was and responded more favourably when they were offered 'pear cider'.) For the next 10 years the Brothers Bar became increasingly popular, so five years ago Brothers Cider was launched into the on and off trade, by popular demand, for the first time. Today they are the sixth largest cider company in the UK Off Trade Multiple Grocers, and one of the fastest growing cider brands in the market.

Cheers!

Swelle Review: Kallo's Sweet Jumbo Rice & Corn Cakes

I think I've found a new snack obsession. The lovely people at Kallo sent me their latest products to try, the new Sweet Jumbo Rice & Corn Cakes in two flavours: Blueberry & Vanilla (£1.79 for 131g) and Caramel (£1.79 for 147g). I was excited to try them after hearing all of these great things about them: they are made from the finest wholegrain rice and corn with absolutely no artificial colours, preservatives, gluten containing ingredients or MSG, and contain just 0.2% fat, and only 36 calories for the Blueberry & Vanilla and 40 for the caramel flavour. But I was a little nervous that the flavouring was going be sickly sweet or artificial tasting, as is so often the downfall of both sweet and savoury store-bought snacks. Or that they would have that powdery texture that you have to be careful not to snort while trying to eat your treat!

I am so pleased to say after trying both that they have just the right amount of sweetness - even the caramel! They don't have that icky chemical taste thanks to a total absence of E numbers, and the flavour is nicely infused into the rice and corn. Even better is the texture which is exactly what you want - the rice and corn are chunky and give a good crunch that's very light. This is dangerous because it makes you want to devour the entire bag! 

As you can see in the photos, I dressed up the Blueberry & Vanilla with some Greek-style yogurt, blueberries and mint, and although I've got a fork there I didn't use it - I just picked up the cake and went to town, and it wasn't messy at all thanks to the thickness of the yogurt (Greek and Baltic are my favourite for their thicker texture) and the fact that the cake does not crumble and fall apart when you bite into it. It's pretty satisfying as a dessert and is virtually guilt-free if you have it this way. They were also a hit with my daughter and I had to hide them so that I'd have some left to photograph! 

I'll be buying more of these and will definitely be trying other products from the range, such as the savoury flavours and the snack size rice and corn cakes which are a healthier alternative to crisps and crackers. 

Kallo Blueberry & Vanilla and Caramel Jumbo Rice & Corn Cakes launched in Tesco stores nationwide in January 2013. Both flavours are suitable for vegetarians, and the Blueberry & Vanilla flavour is also suitable for vegans. Kallo Blueberry & Vanilla Jumbo Rice & Corn Cakes do not contain nuts/traces of nuts, but are made in a factory that handles sesame seeds, milk and soya. For more information on Kallo’s whole range of rice cakes and cooking ingredients please visit www.saykallo.com. You can follow Kallo at www.facebook.com/saykallo and twitter.com/saykallo

Photos © The Swelle Life

Happy Easter! With Ladurée Longings

I've been wondering whether people who celebrate Easter, but don't have children, buy Easter eggs and other festive chocolates...I don't think I did before mine came along, but then again that doesn't sound like me, I would have looked for any excuse! If Laduree's Easter collection, which just launched on their very new online shop - finally!!! - is anything to go by, adults are indeed indulging. In a big way. A five year-old just isn't going to appreciate the Chocolate Egg Tresor (seen in the last photo) in dark chocolate, enveloping a chocolate yuzu macaron pyramid in gold. Well, not enough to justify the €650.00 price tag, I don't think? (The Tresor is for pick-up only at their Castiglione location.) There was also a smaller version for €150.00. Obviously, these were the grand showpieces of the collection and we'd expect a heart-stopper or two from the legendary maison. 

The online shop is a re-branding called Les Marquis de Ladurée, all about "the taste of chocolate, the spirit of chocolate" (sounds better in French), so don't expect to find anything that doesn't feature the milky or dark treat heavily. They do deliver outside of France, you can find a list of European countries here, and the service does come at a hefty price, €43 to the UK. But for those of us nowhere near London where Laduree has several boutiques (maybe they'll begin shipping from within the UK? Please?!) it could be a rare treat. Go in with a friend! Or two, or three. 

You can see some photos from 2009 where we spent Easter half in Paris, half at home (my favourite of the treats was a mauve Laduree chocolate egg), here

Photos: Le Marquis de Ladurée

Heavenly Mix: The Regent Street Cocktail Safari

Le Meridien Picadilly's elegant Bloody Mary Fizz, and the Chrysler Cocktail at Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel

Yet another reason London is so great: The Regent Street Cocktail Safari will be launching in April at restaurants, cafés, bars and hotels along Regent Street, London W1, created as an extension of the internationally renowned Regent Street Food Safari. Shoppers will be able to enjoy multiple venues in one evening, tasting the signature cocktails and small plates each venue has developed for the occasion. 

Taking part in the 2013 Regent Street Cocktail Safari are MASH, Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel, aqua, Gaucho, The Living Room W1, Sartoria, Courthouse Doubletree by Hilton, Le Meridien Piccadilly, Dirty Martini and Inamo.

To experience the Regent Street Cocktail Safari, visit Regent Street Online, plan your route, reserve a time at your chosen venues, gather your party and enjoy.

For mint lovers, the Cos-Mojito at Courthouse Doubletree, and Dirty Martini's Tropical Pear Martini

Here are some suggested itineraries to get you started:

Start at MASH on Brewer Street to try their movie themed cocktails, the American Psycho and the American Beauty. Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel will be serving Salt Beef Bagels, Hot Dogs and Slider Sandwiches alongside their signature Chrysler Cocktail, with a Cognac base. Go to aqua for their Iron Lotus and Guatemalan Spirit cocktails to complement their Spanish tapas.

Gaucho have created their own Regent Street Cocktail including Smirnoff black with Aperol and a saffron infusion. The Living Room, W1 are launching their brand new Bar Sliders menu, a new concept, with their Regent Street punch. Sartoria have designed 3 cocktails to embrace the West End spirit including a RegentStreet special, made with lychee juice, whereas Courthouse Double Tree by Hilton have created the Regent Street Cosmojito.

At Le Méridien Piccadilly (a personal favourite of mine for these reasons) you can try the mini tasting menu with three mini food plates and three tasting cocktails. If you’re a sushi fan, Inamo is offering a sushi selection with their signature spicy cocktail the Inamo, with chilli syrup. If you’re looking for a martini, head to the experts at Dirty Martini to try their Tropical Pear Martini, Mango & Chilli Martini, or signature Dirty Martini. 

And here's what's in those delicous cocktails along with all of the other details:

Le Méridien Piccadilly 

21 Piccadilly
020 7734 8000

Cocktail: Bloody Mary Fizz. Twist on Red Snapper, Citadelle Gin, Mix Of Spices, Clarified Tomato Juice with a foam top. £14.50

Mini tasting menu: 3 mini portions of food, including Pork Belly & Hock Brawn, Liver Parfait, Prawn & Crab Cocktail & 3 tasting cocktails: Just Like That (Crystal Head Vodka infused with Rosemary, Mandarine Napoleon Liqueur, Homemade Limoncello, Fresh Lime ), Noble Swizzle (Tanqueray No.10 Gin, Pierre Ferrand Premier Cru Cognac, Swiss Absinthe, Almond Butter, Fresh Lemon, Lemon Bitters), Bees Knees (Appleton 8yo Rum, Drambuie, Honey and Lemon Juice). £20 - one tasting selection.

Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel

20 Sherwood Street
020 7734 4888

Cocktail: The Chrysler Cocktail. Cognac, Chambord, Port, Campari, Orange Curacao, Bitters. £9.75

Small Plates: Salt Beef Bagels, Hot Dogs, Slider Sandwiches. £3.95 each.

Courthouse Double Tree by Hilton

19–21 Great Marlborough Street
020 7297 5555

Cocktail: Cosmojito. Fresh mint, lime, sugar, orange bitters, Grey Goose Citron Vodka, Cointreau and a splash of cranberry juice built over crushed ice. £9.50

Small Plates: Light Bite - Bocconcini and Cherry Tomato. £5.95 Spanish tapas platter - Stuffed olives, Spanish chorizo, chilli garlic chicken with tomato, garlic bread fingers. £17.95

Dirty Martini

10c Hanover Square
0844 371 2550

Cocktails: Dirty Martini - made with Ketel One Vodka or PlymouthGin, Dry Vermouth and garnished with Kalamata Olives and a sprig of Thyme. Mango & Chilli Martini - muddle a small slice of chilli and absolut mandarin, mango liqueur, mango juice, sugar syrup, lemon juice and garnish with a red birds eye chilli. Tropical Pear Martini - Absolut Pear Vodka with Amaretto, orange Curaçao, Creme de Banane, pineapple juice, lime juice and garnished with an edible flower.

If you're in London, you'd be mad not to go! 

Macaron Day Overload!

The master of macarons, Pierre Hermé, created this fresh and unusual recipe of mint, apple, cucumber and rocket for his July offering for the Les Jardins 2013 collection

Leave it up to Pierre Hermé to bring us National Macaron day - that's Jour du Macaron in its originating country of France - in association with Relais Desserts. This is its 8th year running annually on March 20th and it's not just about celebrating the beloved macaron and the beginning of spring, it's to support a chosen charity, and this year it's Vaincre la mucoviscidose, the association for beating cystic fibrosis, in France. The idea is that participating patisseries in France and abroad will offer their macarons in exchange for a donation to the charity - that's a great way to truly enjoy your macaron guilt-free. 

In addition to Paris, the cities I've found to be officially participating are Toronto, Vancouver, New York and Budapest, and although I can't find a website for London, surely Pierre Hermé (in Selfridges) is supporting a UK charity; last year it was Ambitious About Autism. And the young pastry chef we know from Masterchef Australia, Adrian Zumbo, joined in these last two years but this time is in Kuala Lampur teaching his craft, according to his twitter. 

I spent the day perusing the participating patisseries for the most mouth-watering and craving-inducing images of macarons and it nearly killed me:

PARIS

Dalloyau's candied ginger and apple 

 

Christophe Roussel's macaron skewers (oh my god) and Variation de Moment (Changing Moment) of lavender and apricot

TORONTO

A sunny approach to sweet treats at Butter Avenue - love those minis!

 

 

Ruelo's varied selection includes some adventurous options, such as Black Truffle 

I'll have to investigate whether there's some pistachio chopped up on there next time I visit Rahier

 

J'adore Cakes Co. does a pistachio rosewater macaron, two of my favourite flavours, which makes J'adore a high priority on the list to visit this summer

Moroco Chocolate just may have the most beautiful boutique in Toronto, and they create personalised macarons

NEW YORK

Macaron Parlour likes to experiment with flavours including candied bacon - why not! - as well as Earl Grey tea and black sesame. 

BUDAPEST

It appears as if this is the most celebratory Macaron Day going in terms of centralising it into a ticketed event and bringing Hungarians together in one space to indulge in macarons. The images I found in their site's gallery may not actually be from Hungary, I recognise one from a New York cafe's site, but rather they're a collection of images people were encouraged to send in - unfortunately they were posted without credit. If one is yours please let me know!

 

Thanks to Yashesh!

Pink Bliss: Rose Water Cupcakes

Rose is one of my favourite flavours for sweet things, alongside my since-childhood other love, pistachio (which back then I referred to as 'green' flavour). It's delicate and fragrant and is a nice change from chocolate and the usual other 'pink' flavours. I once made rose ice cream which is what I ended up with after making a Le Creuset recipe for a rose souffle which was frozen. It may not have turned out to as intended, and even if my texture needed a bit of refining (it did), the flavour was gorgeous. And of course you can't have had a macaron without trying the rose at some point. 

Last week I was invited to an evening with Nielsen-Massey, who make the most premium extracts available, and Master Patissier Eric Lanlard which I am unfortunately not able to attend due to the fact that there is 400km between where I live and London (and the train companies are not sympathetic to this fact when pricing routes). However, Nielsen-Massey sent me a recipe for simple and delicious rose water cupcakes that use their Rose Water Extract, (RRP from £4.49 at Sainsburys and Waitrose) so we can make our own. And if you're more of a savoury person, floral-inspired baking and Turkish cooking are key foodie trends for 2013 and the rose water extract compliments both of these perfectly, so you can put that bottle to good use beyond a specific cake craving.

Here's the step-by-step, and don't forget to top it with a pretty pink petal! 

 

Nielsen-Massey Rose Water Cupcake Recipe

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Baking time: 25 minutes

 

Ingredients for the cupcakes:

200g  Unsalted butter, softened

200g  Golden caster sugar

1tsp   Nielsen-Massey Rose Water

4        Medium eggs, lightly beaten

200g  Self-raising flour

Rose water syrup, recipe as below

 

Rose water syrup recipe

Place 50g golden caster sugar in a pan with 4tbsp of water. 

Simmer for a few minutes until dissolved, then take off the heat and set aside to cool.  Once cool stir in 1tsp Nielsen-Massey Rose Water.

 

Ingredients for rose water buttercream frosting:

200g  Cream cheese

100g   Unsalted butter, softened

600g   Golden icing sugar

1tsp    Nielsen-Massey Rose Water

Pink food colouring paste (optional) 

 

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C, fan 160C, gas mark 4. Using either an electric mixer or mixing bowl and whisk, beat the butter and golden caster sugar together until pale and fluffy, then whisk in the rose water. Reduce the whisk speed and slowly add the eggs, along with a tbsp of the flour to prevent it from curdling.

2. Once combined, add the remaining flour. Using either a piping bag or ice-cream scoop, divide the batter between the cupcake cases and place in the oven for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden and firm to the touch. Leave the cakes to cool a little on a wire rack then add some sugar syrup to the top of each one.

3. Once completely cooled, remove from the tins. To ice, put the cream cheese, butter, rose water and golden icing sugar in a mixing bowl and slowly mix together until light and fluffy. If using, add a few drops of pink colouring until you reach the desired shade. Place in a piping bag and ice accordingly.  

The Perfect Sunday Morning Ritual

With our lives being so hectic during the week and Saturdays being about grocery shopping, taking the kids to lessons, laundry and tending to the garden, it’s essential that we have Sunday mornings to sit back and relax, as it may be our only opportunity of the week to be peaceful and regain our sanity. 

A great Sunday morning begins with a good breakfast. We can treat ourselves to a proper hearty full English or be good and go for the healthier options of homemade fresh fruit smoothies or berries and yogurt. But then there's pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup, sweet or savory crepes, and French toast with sauteed applies and pecans...never mind Sunday morning, excuse me while I run down to the kitchen! 

Tea is a British favourite, especially milky and sweet. There's the traditionalists with their tea and scones and the hard grafters with their tea and bacon sarnie whilst at work. Still, coffee is the world’s favourite hot beverage, and with such an extensive range of coffee machines available, everyone can make their perfect cup at home, from the intense wake-me-up espresso to the morning treat of a chocolate-topped cappuccino. I'm a latte girl myself, the taller the better, and I've finally conquered the perfectly steamed foam. It's like riding a bike, once you get it you never lose it. (Just don't misplace your stainless steel jug or it's back to drippy milk!)

The key to a perfect Sunday morning is giving yourself permission to take it easy, so after breakfast (preferably in bed, though that really only works when it's served to you so see if you can wrangle that) just stay put and relax with your loved one under the duvet, whether that be your partner, children, dog, cat, or even your favourite TV show or book.

Just be careful not to do what I do when I get the chance to laze about on a Sunday morning: fall asleep again! There's too much of a good thing, so know when it's time to get up and re-join civilisation. That's where a second cup of coffee may come in handy.  

Harrogate by Night...

Earlier this month I spent a girls weekend in Harrogate in North Yorkshire. I'd heard Harrogate was a lovely Victorian town and being not that far from where I live - about one and a half hours on the train (if your train connection from York isn't cancelled like ours was) - I probably should have visited before now. Unlike Canada, which is the size of the universe compared to the UK, here you can get on a train and visit all kinds of charming towns and villages up and down the country, from coast to coast. However, it would definitely help if train tickets weren't extortionate - flying is cheaper! I would be off for something with the family in tow nearly every weekend otherwise. Lottery tickets. 

If you've got an itch to travel beyond the next county over to France or Spain, but are also feeling the crunch, you can get up to 30% off summer holidays with Pierre et Vacances. And if the Big Apple is calling you from across the Atlantic, have a browse of these flights to New York from £420. 

(Thanks go out to my lovely friend Caroline who arranged the weekend and then got too sick to go!) 

Every time Harrogate was mentioned to me the name "Betty's" was tagged in there as a place I would love. My friends know me well. And so we went, twice. When I first came up to it I was surprised that it looked French and would seem right at home on St-Germain in Paris. Betty's was first established in 1919 by Frederick Belmont, a Swiss who was orphaned at an early age and so immersed himself in the world of bakers and confectionery through apprenticeships all across Europe. This one in Harrogate is the original, still family owned, and you can feel their commitment to keeping the spirit going in the manner it was intended. We queued outside in a line that eventually snaked around the corner (Betty's is massively popular and they don't take reservations) but a smiling host would greet each guest and take their names, and because the place is so big - cafe and shop with a large tea room on two sub-levels - it didn't take all that long to get inside. And it was worth the wait. I had the butternut squash tortellini after struggling to choose between several equally appealing options - you can see the menu here - and my two friends had the afternoon tea, one for the first time so she was in the right place. I didn't have a dessert but I raided the shop for the last of the macarons to bring home for my daughter, along with some Valentine's treats including a box of pink and white fondant fancies. There was also a chocolate heart lolly with chocolate ganache and raspberry inside, and if they do that in a more permanently offered incarnation, I would hignly recommend seeking it out. I had a tiny taste and it was so good I made noises. 

 

There was a green space in the town centre and all of the trees were lit up. I'm assuming they do this throughout the winter. 

Who knew Harrogate had a French district? Not me. We certainly had our choice of French restaurants (well, we would have had we made reservations earlier.) We were lucky to get a late table at Mirabelle which was just fantastic, our waiter was great fun and the food was gorgeous. I went for the Oxtail soup with dumplings for my starter as I'd never had it before. It was served in a Le Creuset mini cocotte so I was happy before I even took my first spoonful. (It was delicious with a bit of a gamey flavour, you'd never mistake it for beef.) Mirabelle's chef and co-owner Lionel Strub has a cookbook out for his recipes that fuse French and British cuisine, and I'd meant to pick it up on the way out but that one and a half glasses of wine really hit me and I forgot (unfortunately it is true that that's all it takes to do me in).  If this dining experience is anything to go by, Montpellier certainly warrants future investigation. 

This unusual staircase was an eye-catching feature of the lobby of the Hotel du Vin where we stayed (I highly recommend it, and the mini bar is actually reasonably priced, I did not think such a thing existed):

This mostly Orla Kiely decor shop window had every passerby pausing for an eyeful:

The L'Occitane window was a nice reminder on a cold weekend that spring is on its way, which is when I'll be returning. It'll make the queuing for Betty's a bit more comfortable. 

 

 

 

Photos © The Swelle Life

"I am Baker" Neapolitan Style: Rose Spritz Cookies and Layer Cakes

Neapolitan Rose Spritz Cookies by I am Baker

Thanks to Sweet Paul, who knows just about everyone doing wonderful things with food (and most importantly, those who also make it look good), I am now drooling over the sweet things on I am Baker, all original creations beautifully made and photographed by Amanda Rettke. Her signature style as a baker/decorator is working with that tasty trio of flavours - chocolate, vanilla and strawberry - known as neapolitan, which makes her expertly adorned cakes and cookies look even more irresistible. In her chatty posts she also includes the recipes so you can have a go yourself, and her tutorials offer a step-by-step for learning those 'wow' factor techniques such as how to get that pretty ruffle look with ombre icing, or how to surprise your guests with a big red heart when they cut into your cake. 

I am Baker's Neapolitan Rose Cake is one of those that looks so perfect and pretty you can't imagine cutting into it...

...until you discover what's waiting for you inside:

Pass the milk please. 

Images from I am Baker

Happy Place: Will Cotton Takes us to Candy Land

Will Cotton, TAFFY FOREST, 2007. Oil on linen, 72" x80"

A few weeks ago we looked at Wayne Thiebaud who often uses food, particularly desserts, to express the nostalgia he feels for his past, and he presents it to us from an unusual and intriguing perspective in his paintings. Now we're exploring Will Cotton who also works with sweets - he builds maquettes of the candies and cakes to create landscapes in his studio which he then paints hyper-real pictures of - as his preferred means to provoke discussion. But the similarities end there, according to Cotton (and probably anyone else who is familiar with both painters): "Thiebaud's cake paintings are in the tradition of still life painting, mine are about landscape." 

However, like Thiebaud's dessert works, his paintings are extremely appealing - who doesn't like the look, the taste, or at least the childhood association with sweets? - yet you sense immediately that there's far more happening on that canvas than simple representation. 

I'd love to go on, but I've been reading about Cotton for three days now and can't quite sum him up in a neat little package after attempting to digest his interviews which each take him at completely different angles. So if you're curious to know more, have a look here, here and here. And do it while eating a giant ice cream sundae with a disgusting amount of whipped cream and a cherry on top. 

 

 Will Cotton, PASTORAL, 2009. Oil on linen, 60" x 72"

Will Cotton, CROWN, 2012. Oil on linen, 80" x 68"

I never imagined I'd be talking about Katy Perry on The Swelle Life, but the result of her collaboration with Will Cotton  is too good not to get into. If  his paintings elicit an intense longing for a real-life Candy Land where you can wander around and have a nibble off a gingerbread house or a drink from a chocolate stream, then these videos from Perry's album Teenage Dream (2010) - Cotton painted the cover art for the CD and consulted on and built some of the video sets  himself - are the closest you'll get to the real thing. 

Before the video for the California Gurls single (which features Snoop Dogg wearing a suit covered in tiny pastel-coloured cupcakes) here's a look at how the packaging for the Teenage Dream CD was produced. It comes with a cotton candy scent and I love that the burly printing press operators were determined to find a way to get that sweet candy smell into the CD liner. 

 

 

When the nut house inevitably calls to confirm my reservation, I hope it's this one:

 Will Cotton, NUT HOUSE, 2007. Oil on linen, 36" x 40"

   

 Will Cotton, ALPINE RUIN, 2008. Oil on linen, 60" x 84"

 

 Will Cotton, CROQUEMBOUCHE, 2010. Oil on linen, 54" x 39"

Will Cotton's sculpture, clockwise from left: CAKE TOWER, 2010, polystyrene, acrylic polymer, pigment, gypsum, 48" x 16" x 16"; AGAINST NATURE, 2012, plaster, wood and pigment, 74" x 48" x 75"; SWEET, 2009-2010, polystyrene, acrylic polymer, pigment, gypsum, 46" x 38" x 38"
  Will Cotton, CUSTARD CASCADE, 2001. Oil on linen, 108" x 144"

Will Cotton, CHALET, 2003. Oil on linen, 70" x 80"

 Will Cotton, DEVIL'S FUDGE FALLS, 1999. Oil on linen, 96" x 144"

Will Cotton, FOREST, 2003. Oil on linen, 60" x 70"

Will Cotton, GHOST, 2007. Oil on linen, 72" x48"

Will Cotton, ICE CREAM CAVERN, 2003, Oil on linen, 70" x 80"

 

Will Cotton, SPUMONI RIVER, 2003. Oil on linen, 80" x 80"

 Will Cotton, PEPPERMINT HIDEAWAY, 2001. Oil on linen, 68" x 80"

 Will Cotton, MONUMENT, 2009. Oil on linen, 72" x 84"

 Will Cotton, SWEPT AWAY, 2000. Oil on linen, 68 x 80 inches

Will Cotton, "UNTITLED" 2003. Oil on linen, 80" x 120"

Big thanks to Julia!

Winter Escape to Ladurée

I've heard rumours that something called 'the sun' exists. Is this true? England is in a dreary deep freeze right now (well, for England). The south has been hit especially hard and hundreds of schools around the country are closed, unfortunately not my daughter's (is that wrong to say?). I got a face full of sleet walking her in today and my chin froze, that was weird. The winds off the North Sea sent kids' hats flying off and they had to walk into class with soaked, frozen heads. Yet I still saw a guy walking around in a t-shirt! That saying about Geordies having an aversion to coats may not be completely unfounded. To be fair, it's just a few out of thousands of others who aren't allergic to warmth who are responsible for this reputation. But, I guess there are worse things than being hardy? (I'm trying hard to understand, here.)

So I tend to do a bit of daydreaming on days like this, and right now I can't get Paris in springtime out of my head. But it's not spring and I can't be there anyway, so one of my go-tos is to see what's new at Ladurée. They've got new boxes, 'Petits Accessoires' - which according to the image below it appears to come with tiny accessories in the square version, hence the name - and 'Calendrier' or Calender, the contents of which is not forthcoming on their website. Maybe it's up to you. (I picked up the chickadee yellow 'Louise' design for my daughter in London last autumn and filled it with macarons. I didn't even sneak one. It wasn't easy not stealing candy from a baby.) That regal-looking treat is the Ladurée King Cake , a caramelised puff pastry filled with a fondant almond creme. Maybe wait until extra holiday pounds are dealt with before diving into that. And then there are candies in pastel stripes in six flavours; the Bonbonierre which is a box of chocolates and yes, the box is also chocolate so when you've finished the little ones the indulgence is far from over; and macaron chocolates. Macarons covered in chocolate. Ladurée chocolate. Homer drool. And although not new, I included the tea canister because it's so pretty. I have this one on display in my kitchen and it's filled with the Marie Antoinette tea. I admit I bought that because of the name. It's very nice but I just realised I'd forgot about it completely. You know how thngs become part of the scenery and they register anymore? I think that's why rearranging at least once a year is a winning idea. Or I can save the effort and just have a good hard look around the kitchen and reacquaint myself with lost loves. Maybe I'll have it tonight, it's a good night for keeping hands around boiling cups.  

The Delicious World of Wayne Thiebaud

Cakes. Wayne Thiebaud, 1963.

I can't believe Wayne Thiebaud hasn't featured on The Swelle Life before now. I remember seeing the American painter's work - he shuns the title of artist, looking down on "art" as "an abstract term that's still developing" - in art class in high school, it was one of his iconic dessert paintings and my eyes lingered on it for half a second before I turned the page in my survey text book. I didn't get it, I was too wrapped up in the fascinating, salacious and just plain weird lives and works of the Surrealists. At a time where adolescence is transitioning awkwardly into adulthood, the perpetual child-like curiosity and dreamstate exploration of the Surrealists just fit the teenage brain so well. 

We're looking at Wayne Thiebaud now because I became reacquainted with his cakes the other day, playing Go Fish with my daughter, of all things. We were using a deck of Modern Art cards I bought her that are made for the game  - a great way for children to learn the names of Modern artists and their works, and it comes in a set for Contemporary as well - and when it was her turn she asked me if I had any Wayne Thiebauds. A bell rung and I said Go Fish, and then later when I picked one up myself I looked at it with fresh eyes and realised I'd wasted so much time not appreciating what he did in 1960s, and what he is still doing. Yes, he is still with us at 92 years of age and incredibly, he still paints and does it as well as he ever did. In 2010 he created the google 12th birthday logo; it was of course, a birthday cake:

Like a Cezanne bowl of fruit, there's much more happening in Thiebaud's still lifes beyond his simple subject, whether it be a sundae, lipsticks, or a toilet. My initial response is noticing the presence of the subject; these are dramatic little pastries with their heavy, punctuating shadows that could not be reproduced in reality, and colours in acid hues that really stick. What I love is how each individual object, when conveyed as part of a group, has its own set of qualities and occupies its own space apart from what surrounds it. (This is the point where my dad is reading this, leans forward, squints and asks "Really?") What's been noted about Thiebaud's earliest work is its obvious 'pop' qualities derived from its focus on objects of mass culture, yet they predate Pop Art, suggesting that he may have influenced the movement. I'll take Thiebaud over Warhol any day. I can feel Thiebaud. 

For more about Wayne Thiebaud and to further understand (and fall in love with ) his work, watch the Smithsonian's video 

Wayne Thiebaud with one of his wonderful streetscapes. Like his still lifes, they also prompt us to look beneath the surface. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearwater’s Bespoke Hampers

So we are all done with Christmas and New Year festivites, over-indulged, over-ate and generally gorged on every Quality Street in sight. The last thing we're thinking about is food, right? Well, one browse of these hampers and we may just change our mind. There are hampers for every foodie taste, including some beautiful fruit selections for those of us determined to stick to the new year diet!

Themes

Traditionally for picnics and Christmas, Clearwater are doing something a little bit different with their themed hampers to make them a wonderful ‘all year round’ gift. Featuring hampers with themes from all over the world, from Germany to Australia, Clearwater are creating imaginative gifts. They even have a Canadian hamper with maple fudge - as a Canadian I can attest this is a real treat! The contents are thoughtfully chosen and well presented - what’s more exciting than rummaging around in a hamper for more food? They also have hampers for birthdays and occasions like Mother’s Day, anniversaries and new babies.

Make-Your-Own Hampers

One of the best things about this site is that you can make your own hampers, tailoring the choices specifically to the recipient (or yourself) and therefore keep the price within your budget. This is especially useful if the gift you’re giving is for someone with special dietary needs, a diabetic or a vegetarian for example. First you choose from a selection of sizes and types of hampers, either traditional wicker or more contemporary seagrass, and then the fun part begins! Create your own combination of individual food and wine from a choice of 400 items.

Decadent Delights

Only high quality products are available for your hamper, for that little extra spot of opulence. From teabags and coffee, cakes, biscuits, dried fruits and nuts, wine, cheese, cold meats and chocolate, everyone will find something that they love to scoff. Clearwater have a range of prices, starting from twenty pounds to over five hundred (an incredible hamper!), so you can decide how far to take it. The ultimate gift for that luxury foodie, whatever their tastes. They will be delighted with a hamper filled to the brim with goodies all jostling to be enjoyed. 

Sparkling Icy Winter Cakes

This deco-inspired, 'beaded' creation must be one the most gorgeous winter cakes out there

I was looking for Christmas-themed cakes but wanted something exquisite; I've realised the days of being charmed by fondant-sculpted snowmen and evergreens are over. (It was fun while it lasted.) Alternatively, winter themed cakes can be so gorgeous when they are expertly done up in icy blues and whites with just a bit of snowflakey shimmer, and they will still get you into the holiday spirit, regardless of what you celebrate. Most of the examples I found were created for winter-themed weddings as the approach is all-out for the occasion. (I never thought of doing a winter theme for my own February wedding nearly 8 years ago, as mentioned before I was strictly efficient with the cake, dress and all other decisions so as not to drive myself insane with endless options - I didn't really have far to go.)

These delicately ornate toppers in pale gold make me think of a winter garden party

Icy blues are lovely with silver

The sugar snowflakes are hand made, painted and arranged with royal scroll detailing - stunning!

I LOVE the dusty blue with the snowy pinecones from Gateaux Inc

Isn't this Winter Wonderland cake incredible? It's by Highland Bakery and looks like a Wedgwood bauble

Julia's Challenge-Winning Melting Moments

I'm not sure why they are called Melting Moments, but these little biscuit sandwiches filled with vanilla icing and tart jam won Julia Taylor an early challenge on Masterchef Australia series 4, the judges fell in love with them. Did you watch the finale? Julia lost to Andy Allen but she really didn't lose, she was surprised to find out she would receive $15,000, and then patissier extraordinaire Adriano Zumbo offered her a paid apprenticeship, which she excitedly accepted and is having a fantastic time with, according to her twitter. Her goal is to learn as much as she can and then open her own pastry shop. I watched the series religiously with my daughter and we were both rooting for Julia to win, she is as focussed and disciplined as she is tall and blonde.

She's since set up a fantastic website and she shares her recipes including the Melting Moments, offering tips to help us from making rookie mistakes or to fine-tune techniques. Thanks Julia!

Photo: JuliaTaylor.com.au

Feeling Festive with Sweet Paul

A gloomy, windy, sort-of-rainy day like today isn't ideal for getting into the festive mood, so I went straight to Sweet Paul's winter issue which just came out, my go-to for holiday inspiration. (I like a build-up to Christmas but it's hard when you're struggling against the wind with your umbrella and trying not to get Mary Poppin'd into the North Sea.That's not very cheery. Or jolly.)

Sweet Paul's world is all about creating a warm and inspired home no matter the season, but the holidays are the one time of year that many of us will actually take the time to do that! So if you're looking to change up your traditional rituals a bit, or have a go with something you've never done before, there are lots of things to try (my favourites are below. Some of them. I love it all).

There's a fantastic interview with textile artist Richard Saja that will have you thinking about embroidery differently, and you may never look at a traditional toile de jouy the same way again. He uses needle and floss to alter existing toiles, not only adding colour and texture to the monochrome pastoral motifs, but injecting a bit of humour with the unexpected (a wolfman pushing a maiden on a swing in place of the doting young gentleman, for example). And you'll get some history behind the toile de jouy, too. Good read!

We also get to hear from the boys of Baked, the Brooklyn bakery so popular that it spawned three cookbooks and a legion of drooling fans. And there's a special bonus: the recipe for Baked Wintermint Cake, created specially for Sweet Paul readers. Who wouldn't want to make something with a name like that that looks like this:

I love this Nordic table styling which I would be tempted to keep around well past the holidays:

This issue's cupcake is a tall drink of bubbly. Copy Sweet Paul's styling for the centrepiece and surround it with others decorated with just the silver balls:

Sweet Paul's brunches look aspirational, but he makes it easy to recreate the magic in your own kitchen:

 An icy blue Christmas is a gorgeous alternative to the traditional colour scheme:

Why not citrus in winter? I'm dying to make the blood orange vinaigrette:

 

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but it's fun to think about what's next, especially when it's all about spring:

Images from Sweet Paul magazine

Peter Gilmore's Eight Texture Chocolate Cake

I've been hooked on the latest Masterchef Australia series, which to me is the model for how television cooking competitions should be presented. (I'm not linking to it in case there's a spoiler on the homepage, it's still running in the UK and I can't know who won and don't want to ruin it if you're watching, too!) There's no drama amongst the competitors, because the show doesn't exploit any that may exist; the aspiring chefs are truly lovely people who are talented and passionate about their cooking; the judges - award-winning Australian chefs Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris, and Liberty print-loving, internationally acclaimed critic Matt Preston who loves his cravats as much as his ceviche - are supportive and constructive and clearly not prompted to be horrible for the sake of 'good' TV. And! Every few shows they do a masterclass which airs in almost real time, with measurements clearly given, so you can actually follow it and make the three dishes yourself. I record them so I've got a library of lessons. I can't watch any other competitive chef shows, especially the US ones which are more like soap operas than educational, so you don't really learn anything. (Hell's Kitchen is just a series of bleeps and screaming - that's fun?)

I had a point to this post! A big highlight of the show is the guest chefs they bring in to provide the challenge for the elimination round, a pressure test where the cooks fighting to stay in the competition are tasked with replicating a signature dish chosen by the star chef to demonstrate their skills with particular techniques. One of the standouts was a chocolate cake consisting of eight layers of complementary textures, created by chef Peter Gilmore of Quay in Sydney. No small feat to make and assemble, and if that was not enough, you had to finish by pouring melted chocolate over the centre which is meant to collapse in gooey, dramatic fashion. The brief video above takes you through the dish, and if you want to try it yourself, the Masterchef Australia website has the recipe for you which you can see here - it's spoiler free!

I can't mention Matt Preston and not show him, he has a cult following due to his commanding physical presence, wicked hair, love of colour and extensive cravat collection:

I have to wonder if he ever gets sauce on that cravat and how he would handle it...I'll bet he brings spares!

Sugar High: "The Home of Fabulous Cakes"

On Sundays I've been watching The Home of Fabulous Cakes, a baking show presented by Fiona Cairns, the creator of that royal wedding cake. Despite it being a show about cakes, an English show about cakes, I still cannot believe the amount of sugar and cream that they require! It's unapologetically decadent in that "It's tradition, dear" kind of way. It seems that although I have lived here for seven years, I'm still an outsider when it comes to understanding why anything as gooey as an Eton Mess needs to exist, never mind actually eating it. And there are things at our local bakery that I just can't get my head around. (I say 'things' because I have no idea what they are, one is rudely shaped and the very pale pink colour of the super shiny icing coating doesn't help, and it's just full of whipped cream. It is iced whipped cream. When you buy one it should be served on a diabetes fact sheet.)

Having said all of that, I do enjoy the show. It's pretty and it lulls me into a semi-hypnotic state with its gentleness (would anyone who knows me be able to tell the difference?). Fiona is easy going and nice to listen to, and you can learn a few things, especially if you're trying to master the fundamentals of baking. The reason I'm featuring the show is due to a segment in tonight's episode where Fiona goes to Pearl, a London bar owned by young mixologist Tristan Stephenson. He makes a cocktail called Aviation for Fiona which sounds and looks divine: gin, violet liquer (crème de violette), maraschino liquer and fresh lemon juice. Shake vigorously with ice (he really gets into it to get the temperature just right) and strain into a martini glass, top with a cherry. Then he has Fiona make a custom version of the drink by substituting the maraschino with raspberry liqueur. But the real twist is how it is served:  Earl Grey scented smoke billows out of a sterling silver teapot, like some kind of aromatic, magic cauldron. Inhale, sip and repeat. And then they go back to the kitchen and make violet and rose creams with the violet liqueur from Tristan's bar. That is a good day in my book.

Click any of the images to go to the ITV Player to watch the episode - be quick as each episode is only available for a limited time. I'm not sure if it will play outside of the UK so apologies if not. (It includes adverts which you can't bypass but you can move ahead and back within the actual show.) Enjoy!

The Aviation cocktail with crème de violette

The variation with the aromatic Earl Grey smoke accompaniment

A retro sweetheart candy-topped Victoria sponge that will likely actually stop your heart

Fiona's Turkist Delight Meringue Cake. Dear Lord.

Gothic Cakes for a Dramatic Halloween

This is the one time of year black may feature heavily on The Swelle Life! For this season's Halloween edition of cakes, I began searching as I always do for interesting sweet things, but was flooded with images of cutesy pumpkins, ghosts and witches that were more suited to a children's party. I was looking for something more stylised and well-executed, so I searched 'Gothic cakes' and was immediately rewarded with those kinds of cakes that put you in awe of their creator - people who have that special combination of vision, skill and patience. (I watched Choccywoccydoodah last night and was mentally exhausted just observing a few minutes of one of their chocolatiers carving out Manolos and Louboutins from white chocoate for a shoe-themed wedding cake. But to be fair, I didn't have far to go.)

The cake above is an homage to Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, but unfortunately I don't have a credit for it because I found it on a spam site. (Those sites use like to entice googlers with cool images and of course they never credit the original source. If you know who created this fantastic cake please let me know!)

A dark twist on the red velvet cake, here is the Black Velvet Cake by Jaclyn of Food Plus Words

It is topped with a 'deeply chocolate, fluffy marshmallow icing', and Jaclyn warns that this cake will 'absolutely turn your mouth black' but that it's totally worth it. I believe her! And a gross mouth kind of fits with the Halloween theme anyway so that just adds to the appeal. (Not a date cake, then.)

Want to make it yourself? Jaclyn shares the recipe here

And below is a Gothic wedding cake (no credit given for this one either!) featuring skulls with extremely long teeth which keeps it from looking too sinister (it's slightly comical but that's ok):

If you're looking for a major project, how about this haunted house cake? It combines baking with craft - you have to make the house, tombstone, tree and the man out of black construction paper using templates, and I have no idea how they get thehouse to look as it does, I think you could spend all day finishing that alone. If you're brave you can find the recipe here

 

If you'd like to see more Gothic Cakes, this Pinterest board will help you indulge!

LM Series: A Most Unique Afternoon Tea...

This is the first installment of the LM Series, documenting the discovery of new and wonderful, world class, art and food during 'Le Méridien at Frieze' at which I was a guest in October, hosted by Le Méridien Piccadilly in London.

Imagine that instead of pouring out your tea to have with a few scones and finger sandwiches, you've got a pot of gin - infused with chilli and vanilla - and rather than adding milk, you top up with tonic. Le Méridien’s homage to two of the most recognisable English traditions, their G&T Afternoon Tea offers a contemporary makeover combining both, giving you a deliciously unique experience. I first had this special G&T in the spring when it accompanied the dessert course at their Damien Hirst-themed dinner, and I was instantly smitten by the clear glass presentation and how beautifully the two flavours and the gin complemented one another.

This time, we were treated in the afternoon - along with a selection of sandwiches and pastries - to the range of fruit and herbal infusions Le Meridien offers, each paired with the perfect gin to bring out the flavours of each ingredient, and meant to be sipped, like traditional tea:

           • Monkey 47 Gin infused with Lavender
           • Bulldog Gin with Fresh Lychee Fruit
           • Cucumber infused Hendrick's Gin
           • Vanilla and Chilli infused Sloane's
           • Sweet Basil infused Gin Mare stirred with Rosemary
           • Japanese Green Tea infused with Beefeater 24

Although there were many tempting flavours to try, I couldn't help but go back to the vanilla and chilli because I'd enjoyed it so much the first time, and then I finished with the sweet basil which was nicely refreshing. But I noticed something interesting this time, when I added the tonic myself: add a little and you get a hit of the chilli, but add more and you don't dilute the drink but rather the tonic brings out the sweetness of the vanilla, allowing you to custom blend your G&T just the way you like it. I asked the mixologist (who was so knowledgable and passionate about his craft) about this and he explained that the tonic has been reduced to create a syrup, and you can do this for yourself at home by boiling it down on the hob to make the reduction. He also told us how to infuse gin (or whatever you'd like) very quickly - using the dishwasher! Add your ingredient(s) to the gin in an air-tight container, run it on a long cycle and let the heat and steam do the work. Just be sure the container is well sealed and do not try to get in a wash at the same time - no detergent!

The G&T Afternoon Tea (£32) is such a fantastic way to do the ritual with friends, and you won't find it anywhere else in London, it's Le Méridien's special service. And it comes with the traditional delectable: finger sandwiches of cucumber and cream cheese, honey roast ham and mustard, Scottish smoked salmon, and egg and cress; warm homemade scones with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream; and a selection of fresh pastries - ours had macarons! Just delicious and such a treat. I can't think of a better way to begin a special day such as a birthday. Or a Tuesday!

Photos © The Swelle Life

Monday Sugar High: Maisie Fantaisie's Floral Cakes

Today is one of those tired Monday mornings and I needed a lift, so I went straight to Maisie Fantaisie and found some new wedding cake styles in florals that are so gorgeous it's impossible to be crabby after seeing them.Their styling is always exquisite and the photos are just a dream.

Let's indulge beyond the visuals and look at what's beneath that squeal-inducing exterior:

'Anemone' wedding cake (top left) : Meyer lemon cake, vanilla bean buttercream, Fortnum's rose petal jelly, polka dot ribbon and pale pink sugar anemones.

'Hydrangea Cascade and Roses' wedding cake : Madagascan vanilla bean cake, Amedei Chuao chocolate buttercream, satab ribbon (Satab is a French ribbon company) , sugar hydrangea flowers and sugar roses.

'Hibiscus Flowers and Pearls' wedding cake: Meyer lemon cake, 'Duchy Originals' lemon curd, vanilla bean buttercream, satab ribbon, sugar pearls and sugar hibiscus flowers.

'Sugar Swag and Buttons' wedding cake: Orange zest cake, Amedei Chuao chocolate buttercream, caramel, satab ribbon, sugar swags, pale pink and lilac sugar hydrangea flowers and sugar buttons.

I like playing this game where I pick my favourite design, and then which one I would most want to eat. I have a thing for textures and lots and lots of small flowers, so I think my favourite is the Hydrangea Cascade cake (top right).  And if I had a cake lifter put up to my throat demanding I destroy one of these beauties by cutting into it, I'd go with the Sugar Swag and Buttons cake because I have a weakness for chocolate and orange together, and this would surely be as good as it gets.

Could you choose?

Photos: Maisie Fantaisie

Chocolate Paradise: Sweet Paul's Fall Issue

You may want to grab something sweet before you see this post! Trust me, it will make it easier. (I am armed with a ridiculously decadent fudge brownie from our local chocolatier. Without it, putting together this post would be too much to bear.)

Sweet Paul's fall issue is out and it boasts the magazine's "most sinful, delicious and amazing chocolate treats ever!" If you've been keeping up with Sweet Paul you know this is saying a lot; Paul is one of the most fervent fans of chocolate around and tries to outdo himself with each new issue. However, I highly recommend going through the back issues to see what you've missed - it is ALL worth making. I think I may start with the Whoopie Pies with chocolate ganache (scroll down if you want to be tempted yourself).

The cupcake for the season is Pineapple and Pecan (lower left), and there's a story extolling the virtues of the beloved Apple (right); Paul always finds inspiration in the simplest ingredients which is what keeps his recipes so homey and welcoming. I thought I was looking at doughnuts but these are actually Beignets, in which fresh apple rings are battered and shallow fried to produce this gorgeous treat that is soft, chewy and crisp at once. And if you can take it, there's a caramel sauce to go with them.

I love this DIY, who wouldn't want to try dip-dyeing after seeing the bright, fun things Paul came up with? Paul is on a fabric-dyeing kick and says "Anything not bolted to the walls is going into a color bath"! Have you tried the dog yet, Paul?

My Happy Dish is a favourite regular feature because I love to hear the stories behind the contributing cooks' recipes, why this food means something to them. This time it's a cheery and rich Pumpkin Soup with Chanterelles, from Ewa Ostoja-Helczynska.

More savoury: Chevre, or goat cheese, is one of most favourite things to eat and I cannot wait to try both of these dishes:

Back to the chocolate!

HAVE MERCY.

Whoopie Pies filled with chocolate ganache!

There are loads more irresistible things to make so have a long browse through Sweet Paul magazine online, or download a copy so you can browse the PDF version offline (look for the download button in the top right menu). 

Photos from Sweet Paul Magazine

Fashion Tea and Petites Madeleines

The current collection of Twinings' fashion-illustrated packaging

If you're in the Philadelphia area, you can attend the book-signing party for  Birds of a Feather Shop Together, a book of fashion fairytales gorgeously illustrated by Bil Donovan. It's September 13 at Hotel Palomar Philadelphia in the Burnham Ballroom. You can buy tickets here. And not only will you be leaving with your own signed copy of this stunning book to take home, but also meet Bil who is just lovely.

A while back, Bil Donovan sent me images for Twinings' new limited edition Earl Grey flavours which feature his illustrations, to be sold in the European market. I was so excited about this collaboration between the English tea kings and Dior Beauty's resident artist (among many other designations); firstly, to be able to have Bil's gorgeous work greet me in my kitchen everyday is an absolute delight, and ultimately I was overjoyed by the fact that illustration is proving to be seen as fresh and desirable and worthy of investment by commercial entities, rather than a forgotten artform of days gone by (more proof of that to come). It's just very reassuring that in our trend-driven digital age, the value of the beauty of traditional fashion illustration is being upheld and celebrated.

However, in my haste to get these boxes into my kitchen I went out and bought some that feature the current packaging which is more dramatic in black, not realising there was a previous edition thus leaving me very confused because it didn't look like Bil's style! I don't know who these ladies belong to, but in their saturated watercolour couture they are a lovely accompaniment to your morning cup of tea.

So I'll be watching out for the next 'season' of these teas featuring Bil Donovan's work, which include these gorgeous illustrations (I love that each tea bag packet is like a little piece of art):

And as for the petites madeleines, the French crispy cakey cookie that I love but would forget about when not in Paris (which you can even buy in vending machines if you're desperate), I've found they are really easy to make and even easier to eat. Especially if you make the mini ones like I did. I used a silicone mould and it worked brilliantly, no sticking whatsoever so none of the nice crispy shell was lost.

And being French, they have a history. They go back to the 18th century in the French town of Commercy, in the region of Lorraine. The story goes that a girl name Madeleine made them for Stanislaw Lezczynski, Duke of Lorraine, who loved them so much that he then gave some to his daughter, Marie, the wife of Louis XV. And royal endorsement will make anything skyrocket to wild popularity, so here we are!

You can find the recipe I used at Joy of Baking, and I added a splash of rosewater which I could taste in the batter, but of course it lost its richness when baked so maybe some rose essence would help maintain the flavour. I'm still trying to find some test this out, and lemon poppyseed are next. Chocolate is inevitable. 

 

Sweet Music: Record Album Cupcakes!

Victoria Gadsdon of Victoria's Kitchen has done it again. Following on her widely popular book topper cupcakes, she's made a record album version for her brother's 50th birthday - a collection that represents the music that has shaped his life.

As soon as I saw these I was reminded of something from my childhood in Canada. Now this is going waaay back, to a time where ABBA was current (although past their heyday). At the corner store you could buy these mini reproduction albums that had bubble gum records in the sleeve - does anyone remember that? The only ones I can recall were ABBA (who I didn't really like) and Blondie. Even back then I dismissed almost everything if the artwork wasn't colourful and evoking some kind of excitement.

Ha, I found some thanks to the internets. They were called Chu-Bops!

And back to Victoria's brilliant, edible albums:

Cutest Cake: Rubber Duckie in a Bubble Bath

At the recent shoot for Ladybird Cakes, in addition to the gorgeous pastel ribbon and floral three-tiered celebration cakes, there was a little friend looking on. On the table of owner Laura's studio, where her decorating classes take place, was the cutest cake I've ever seen. The cake was done up like a bathtub in fondant, with lots of bubbles and a 'rubber' duckie floating on top, and it was set on a base made to look like  a wooden plank bathroom floor, complete with bath mat and towel (I don't know why I'm describing it, you can see it all here!). I had to get some shots to share, and Laura told me this is one of the cakes you can learn to create in her classes. I have to admit that after trying the duckie in her cupcake decorating class, which seemed simple to fashion in fondant after watching Laura, but winding up with the saddest little creature that appeared to be melting into itself, I'm happy to let capable others do the modelling!

Photos © The Swelle Life

A Sweet Read: Literary Classic Cupcakes!

Just when I announce I'm doing away with the Cupcake Monday title, I see yet another example of someone doing something incredible with cupcakes. You may have seen these book toppers already, these ingenious literary creations in fondant from Victoria's Kitchen have gone viral, because once you see them you can't not share them!

Victoria Gadsen is the talent behind the London-based business specialising in bespoke cakes, cupcakes and cookies. She's been taught by some of the greatest cake decorators in the UK and New York and is dedicated to keeping her cakes genuinely homemade: everything is made from scratch in small batches using traditional recipes, and never with pre-mixes, industrial ovens or freezing. All of the decorations are completely edible and handcrafted by Victoria herself. I think it's safe to assume Victoria is a very busy woman!

The collection of cupcakes above were made for a lady celebrating her 60th birthday and include all of the books that have shaped her life - including Christiano Ronaldo's autobiography and Chicken Licken!

You can keep up with Victoria's Kitchen on her Facebook page and join the adoring masses - and she's super nice, too!

Photos: Victoria's Kitchen

Cupcake Monday! What to do with leftover raspberry coulis

Or strawberry, or blackberry, etc. Such a simple thing to make, fruit coulis is a versatile sauce that can make desserts a bit nicer if you're in the mood for extras, especially with panna cotta and chocolate mousse. I made some raspberry coulis the other day to top a lime cheesecake I baked (the recipe didn't deliver enough lime and it was generally unpleasant so I'll be trying another recipe, though none of that stopped us from eating the entire thing over a few days), and I had a big bowl left over. It was great over fresh berries and ice cream, but we still had loads left. So I did two things with it: froze it in an ice tray, making coulis cubes that can be dropped into sparkling water for instant fruit pop, or thawed and drizzled over whatever; and the rest I used to add some sauciness to berry pastries. (All good, but I wish I'd saved some for making brie and phyllo appetisers, I'm doing a Homer drool right now thinking about that.)

PASTRY

I used store-bought puff pastry. I made my own once and it worked out, so I no longer have something to prove, and my family gets treated a lot more than if I had to find the time to make it myself. (I've learned that it's ok to take shortcuts for the greater good.) But this time I decided to try the 30% less fat variety alongside the usual, to compare. Could it actually be that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference? Big surprise, it turns out you can't have it both ways. I might as well have saved the effort and spread jam on a cracker. Or a playing card. It was that bleh. Good pastry is made with lots of butter. I can live with this.

FILLING

As for the part I did have control over - easy peasy, and quick! For the filling/topping, I placed a bunch of fresh berries that were on hand (straw, black, blue) onto each square with some chopped macadamia nuts, and spooned some coulis over. I was worried if I used too little it would be absorbed during baking, and so I wound up using too much, and it spilled out a bit and weighed down the edges of the pastry in places, preventing it from rising properly. So for the next batch I used one tablespoon for each and it was fine. (Another thing I've learned is if you're not sure, try just a few first. I must finally be learning patience, my MO used to be 'dive in head first and don't look back', which backfired almost always.) I finished them off by brushing the edges with egg wash and scattering demerara over all of it before popping the tray into the oven for about 10 minutes. For serving, I poured some of the leftover coulis - that bowl was endless! - into a cup for drizzling.

MAKING COULIS

You don't have to be precise. Take what berries you have (thaw before using if they're frozen) and add sugar to taste (I used white caster), throwing in a few tablespoons and adding accordingly after. Then puree in a blender or food processor.  The amount of sugar you use depends on how sweet your fruits are, and how sweet you like it. Some recipes suggest you make a simple syrup first then puree it with the berries, but I find that can make the sauce quite thin. Most suggest a tablespoon or two of lemon juice, but I can't imagine how that would help sweeten the raspberries which are so hard to find not tart, I think I've had properly sweet raspberries twice! - can anyone attest to this? You can also add some boozy flavour to your coulis with a tablespoon of Chambord, Kirsch, or framboise eau-de-vie.

Be sure to strain your puree through a sieve, using the back of a ladle for efficiency, so you have a smooth, seed-free coulis. It should last in the fridge for three days, and if you have any left, you know what to do!

Served with extra coulis for drizzling (which I admit I kind of wound up drinking)

Photos © The Swelle Life

Cupcake Monday! Nostalgic, Illustrative Wedding Cakes

A few weeks ago we admired the painterly cakes of Nevie Pie Cakes, and I had saved her wedding designs for a separate post, they were just so charming and sweet, in an understated way. I thought I'd seen it all when it comes to types of wedding cakes, but this is the first I've seen of the cakemaker creating a nostalgic feel by drawing upon the illustration style of children's books of the mid-1900s. My mother-in-law kept every book from my husband's childhood, which are all in near-perfect condition, despite being read often (this was not the way things were in our house, covers looked chewed even after we had to give away our dog), and we now read them every summer with our daughter when we visit. I especially love the Golden books. When I look at the cake above it reminds me of them. I don't think I could eat this cake, it would be like devouring childhood memories! 

Nevie-Pie Cakes' display at Selfridges - could you walk by without picking up something?

A vintage blue love-bird budgie wedding cake with 'lace' appliques and handpainted flowers

Photos from Nevie-Pie Cakes

Cupcake Monday! Pastel Shades, Flowers and Ribbons

Last week I did a shoot for Ladybird Cakes, a local cake supply shop and a place to get gorgeous occasion cakes, too. The talented owner, Laura, bakes and decorates the cakes herself, always from scratch; she says, "It's really the taste that counts" and you can't argue with that, as beautiful as they may be, they are meant to be eaten! 

I love her simple yet elegant approach to her cakes: soft shapes and the prettiest shades of fondant. The floral decorations are handmade by Laura, it's her forté, but you can learn her secrets in the classes offered at Ladybird which also include specialty cakes, figure modelling and cupcake decorating which I did early this year, and it was well worth it (and included a very nice lunch, too!).

Or if you're already capable, her online shop stocks everything you need to make your own delicate beauties. 

 

Photos © The Swelle Life

Cupcake Monday! Painterly Floral Cakes

I thought I'd had enough of the bunting theme after months of jubilee celebrations, but then I saw this floral bunting-inspired cake by Nevie-Pie Cakes (thanks to Argie who sent it to me) which is anything but tired and has propelled me into celebration mode - the cake alone is reason enough to throw a party! Natasha Collins is behind the extraordinarily pretty creations at this boutique cake company in Hertfordshire, who has earned her title, 'cake artist'. Her signature style involves handpainting her cakes, cupcakes and cookies, and she's especially talented with florals, as you can see.

What a vibrant way to celebrate 90 years!

Want to try your hand at painting cakes? Natasha shares her expertise through classes at her Berkhamsted, Hertsfordshire studio, including basic roses, painting cupcakes, and learning how to create her incredible gingerbread birdhouses. For classes see here 

Photos: Nevie-Pie Cakes

Cupcake Monday! Pink Mini Fluted Flans

I haven't adequately expressed my love for Le Creuset just yet; I've been sitting on ideas for posts featuring my pastel mini cocottes, but wanted to try out the recipes first without the pressure of worrying about presentation for photos (and sometimes I just can't wait to dig in and make a mess of things). Then a couple weeks ago I found out I'd won a Junior Baking Set in a Le Creuset competition I entered for my daughter which was a nice surprise, the prize being the set you chose in your entry, offered in both pink and graded blue options. I went for the pie baking set in pink which includes a mini fluted flan dish, a small square dish and a silicon and wood pastry brush, all of which are great for little cooks and big cooks alike. 

We made the super easy recipe for Very Berry Pie that came with the set (you can collect Le Creuset recipes in your own 'cook book' on their website). It's a sweet shortcrust base filled with sponge cake with a mix of fresh berries. We used strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. We like berries. (Which reminds me of the time when my daughter was two and asked me if she could have some 'bolies'. I said 'Bolies? What are bolies hon?' and after going back and forth about what she meant she looked at me very frustrated and said very sternly 'BOLIES! You know, STRAWbolies, RASPbolies, BLACKbolies...BOLIES!' I laughed and she was appeased after eating a whole punnet of blueberries. Her berry eating still knows no limits, but after a trip to A&E a few months ago after overdoing it on strawberries and us thinking it may be her appendix - a mix of relief and embarrassment that you brought your kid to hospital at 3am for massive gas - we're more strict with curbing her gluttonous ways.)

The little tarts were so simple and delicious, we're going to buy a few more of the fluted flan dishes and experiment with different recipes. If you have any suggestions please share in the comments!

Photos © The Swelle Life

Cupcake Monday! A Ladurée-Inspired Patisserie Party

Wipe down your screen because you're probably going to lick it. (No? Just me?) I was asking all kinds of questions when I thought this was actually some lucky girl's bridal shower - did she get to eat during? What happened to the leftovers? And how can I get an invite to her next party? But this heavenly scene is just that, a set-up for a photo shoot. Amanda of Ruffled, an inspirational wedding blog she began after finding a lack of resources for creating a vintage wedding - see her stunning 1930s-themed nuptials here - worked with a team of talents to produce this patisserie brunch bridal shower shoot, including event designer Melissa of The Loveliest Day. It's not hard to see that Ladurée and other tea and pastry salons of Paris inspired the shoot, the centrepieces being a dessert table and a tea bar, and it's all been done to give you ideas so you can create your own. So better get going on amassing an enviable collection of cake stands and plates for styling! Some of the stands and platters you see are available at the My Sweet & Saucy Shop.

The tea table was set with vintage teacups, saucers and silver teapots and no detail was spared. Each variety of tea had its own custom colored label, and the chalkboard menu, hand drawn by Jane of Olive Hue Paper Goods, identified which color tea tag coincided with each tea.

Melody of My Sweet & Saucy created the pastries for the shoot including this cake for the shoot, and due to all the begging, shared her decorating secret here

Even the sugar cubes were displayed in a way that elicits squeals. Squeeeeeal!

Photos from Ruffled, shot by Ashley Rose of Ashley Rose Photography 

'Damien Hirst Experience': Molecular Cocktails, Skulls & Chocolate

This dramatic edition of Cupcake Monday gets molecular and chocolatey, and skulls make an appearance, too! Over the Jubilee long weekend, I was invited to a two-day 'Damien Hirst Experience' as a guest of Le Meridien Piccadilly in London, in collaboration with Tate Modern, who are currently hosting a major exhibition of the British artist's key works. (The full review will follow later this week.) The themed evening began the moment we walked into our room (my husband was also invited as my guest), when we noticed on the desk the Damien Hirst volume that accompanies the exhibition, and a black glass tray with fresh strawberries and a crystal skull filled with melted, dark chocolate. We smiled and said "Ahhh...how clever!" and wasted no time dipping in.

Our first Damien Hirst Experience event took place in the hotel's Petit Trianon-esque Adams room, where we were warmly welcomed, amidst an amethyst glow, with a selection of molecular cocktails. They looked so good, and so interesting, that I am still lamenting not being able to try each of the five varieties offered. But I did get to three. (Luckily the dinner table was just a few feet away and I floated blissfully to my seat.)

What is a molecular cocktail? Molecular mixology uses the scientific equipment, such as blowtorches and vacuum sealers, and techniques, including airs and spherification, of molecular gastronomy to manipulate states of matter to create new flavours, feels, textures and visuals, tying in beautifully with Le Meridien's sensory-engaged approach to hospitality. What you get from the mixologist's magic is an intriguing, drinkable concoction - that may or may not require spooning up 'caviar', that just a few minutes previous, were a measure of rum.

These are the molecular cocktails we were served:

Passion Fruit Mojito-Syphon Soda: Passion fruit flavoured mojito served from Syphon soda bottle, with a foam texture;

Brambioli: Bramble style cocktail, served from small saucers and sliced green apple on the side, with a jelly texture;

Pina-cavia-da: Pinacolada style cocktail, with pineapple pudding and rum caviar on the top;

Apple martini: Classic apple martini cocktail with extra fresh apple foam on the top;

Classic Champagne cocktail: with caramelized brown sugar soaked with Angostura bitters.

The last three are the cocktails I tried and they were heavenly, and light enough that I would be able to enjoy each of the four courses of dinner - complete with drink matchings - that were to follow. This is a feat in itself!

Let's fast forward to the dessert course. The table was presented with a grand "Board of Discovery" of bite-size treats arranged around an irridescent skull that was specially crafted for the course by Michael Dutnall MCA, Le Meridien Piccadilly's Chef de Cuisine. The board was a hollowed-out log that I figured had to be about five feet long. And there was more. Trays of petits fours were placed around the table, and in front of each guest a plate decorated with Hirst's butterfly motif offered a lovely white and dark chocolate pannacotta. After this I attempted to balance my desire to try as many of the desserts as possible while ensuring my ability to get to my room without having to be rolled down the hall.

What was on the Board of Discovery? 

• Chocolate mousse with salted Carmel
• Chocolate & Vanilla Ice cream Lolly pops
• Caramel Truffles on sticks
• “Antibiotic pills” - Chantilly filled éclairs dipped in white and red chocolate
• Butterfly pieces
• Ground praline and pistachio

And the Petit Fours:

• Tomato, Chocolate & Caraway
• Cherry & coffee bomb
• “The Firecracker” which was a caramel truffle with popping candy (this was wrapped in the Union Jack which you can see under the board in the photo above)

 

What a way to go out! If only I could have had half a day alone with that board. And the petits fours. And the gorgeously smooth chili and vanilla-infused gin and tonic served in the glass teapots, cups and saucers that reminded me of Cinderella's glass slipper, (but much better tasting):

This was one of the best nights I've ever had; it was great fun with lots of laughs, exceptional food and drink, and the theme was so thoughtfully carried through all aspects of the evening, that writing this I feel as if I'm back in Le Meridien Piccadilly's Adams room for another go. Just wonderful.

 All photos (except the second) courtesy Dave Watts Photography ©

Cupcake Monday! The Confections of Cake Opera Co.

 

Marshmallows in Toasted Coconut, Raspberry and Vanilla Bean & Cocoa

As promised, here's more from the incredible Cake Opera Co. in Toronto. A few weeks ago we were treated to their artistic cakes, and now we're getting gushy over their pastel confections, made even more tempting by their gorgeous styling. One of the first things I'll be doing when I arrive in Toronto in July is visiting their Eglinton Avenue West boutique and studio. I will not be eating sugar the previous week to get my craving good and ravenous because I plan to do some gluttonous shame eating (except that I don't feel the shame).

Crispy meringues in Toasted Almond & Vanilla, Strawberries & Cream, and Cocoa and Coffee.

Nothing impresses like the Tower. Choose from macarons, truffles or croquembouche.

Petits Gateaux - how do you choose just one? You don't!

Butter cookies layered with creamy ganache fillings in lemon, cocoa, lavender and hazelnut

Macarons, of course. That is the most perfect shade of blue!

Photos: Cake Opera Co.

Sweet Paul Magazine Delivers Summer Bliss

Make your own palettas! Mexican ice pops in watermelon & chili, and pineapple flavours

Sweet Paul magazine is out again, just in time to give us all kinds of inspiration for cool summery treats, 'unfussy' DIYs (I like that kind) and beautiful presentation ideas. The styling and photography in the pages of Sweet Paul is so irresistibly gorgeous that it's a delight just to browse, but you'd be nuts not to try something for yourself. As usual, Paul Lowe brings us ideas that are so simple to make yet will greatly impress, without any pretension - hence the 'Sweet'! (At the weekend I finally made the Polka Dot Milkshake from the Spring 2011 kids' issue for my daughter and it was a huge hit, she loved the 'surprise ingredient' of the marshmallows. And of course I had some!)

Some of my favourites from the Summer 2012 issue are the palettas, above (I now know that's what Mexican ice pops are called), and these have my brain swirling in the best way:

Kris Mullen contributed her Orange Creamsicle Milkshake to the 'My Happy Food' feature

'Perfect Day for a Picnic' offers ideas for gourmet snacks on the go

The gorgeous styling of the radishes in blue, pink and green in 'The Best Summer Pickle' might actually get me to eat a radish

From 'Memories and Inspiration: How Flea Market Finds Can Inspire You' - if it gets anything like this out of me I'll have a go!

 

 
This issue's cupcake is a simple strawberry and cream - perfect for Wimbledon!

Never mind the kids, we could all benefit from a Princess Party! And below, a simple recipe for homemade caramel corn (I am in such trouble) plus a few sheets of colourful paper turns a regular snack into an irresistible party treat:

 

Read, ogle and drool over the entire Sweet Paul Summer issue online

Photos from Sweet Paul magazine

Cupcake Monday! Pretty, Perfect Meringues

I have to admit that I don't really go for meringues, as in eating them. Looking, I like. For me, it's all just too sugary, although I do live in the land of meringues, GIANT ones (I'm not talking about the Royal Wedding), so I think it's time I finally went for it. A local cafe has ones the size of my head, so I'll stop in this week and see what it's all about and hopefully not invite diabetes into my life while I'm at it.

These beautiful little meringue sandwiches - essentially macarons then? -  are by Tessa of Cakes by Tess. She's filled them with a mango cream, and if this is how they were served around here I'd surely have tried them by now. Their one-bite size and pink ball decorations make them irresistible.

Have you tried making meringues? Obviously, I haven't. But I found what appears to be a comprehensive tutorial on how to make the perfect meringue that includes the benefit of an experienced cook's own mistakes and other expert's tips, which is the ideal way to begin - less mistakes of your own, and less swearing at a bowl of egg whites! Read it here.

Photos: Cakes by Tess

Cupcake Monday! The Magnificent Artistry of Cake Opera Co.

Cute cakes have their place - it's nice to eat something pretty without feeling as if you're destroying it. But there is another level altogether in the world of cakes, an artistry where the ingredients are regarded as media, the edible kind, and cakes are masterfully transformed into objects of exquisite beauty. 

Alexandria Pelligrino is one of these extraordinary talents. As a fine artist she travelled to Florence to continue her art studies, then took up residence in Bologna, the gastronomical centre of Italy, where she became enchanted by food. This led her back to Toronto where she enrolled in the Patisserie program at Le Cordon Bleu. It was here that she met her future partner and pastry chef, Jessica Smith (more on her later!). Alexandria went on to found Cake Opera Co. in 2007 and has since achieved international recognition as one of the industry's leading cake designers. One glance at her stunning cakes - and her! (below) - and you wouldn't question why.

 

There are dozens of incredible creations on the Cake Opera Co.'s website, so I'm going to focus on my favourite of the cakes for this post. In the header image we see the Masquerade Ball-inspired Morretto Mask, one of the first of her signature 18th Century French figurine cakes.  The "doctor death" mask, worn by bourgeoisie to conceal their illicit rendezvous, juxtaposes the fawn in her arms, a symbol of birth and innocence. How often do we get symbolism in our cake?!

This is Cake Opera Co.'s Milk Glass cake which I think is my favourite for its simple yet luxuriously textured detailing, created to resemble 1920s milk glass. The original was created as the piece du résistance for their table display at the 2010 Wedding Co. Show. A milk glass collector herself, Alexandria studied and combined many of her own cherished pieces into the final design. The desired result was to be a sleek yet vintage looking cake, evoking interest with its dynamic architectural form and contrasting this silhouette against more simple, pressed glass-like motifs. It is finished with a spray of confectionary glaze to resemble lustrous glass.

The Château de Versailles' Galerie des Glaces inspired this magnificent Hall of Mirrors cake. Created completely of cast sugar tiles and 24Kt gold molded details, it was constructed as an ode to Louis XIV, Dauphine of France, lover of luxury and excess. I think it's almost as ambitious an undertaking as the Hall of Mirrors itself!

'Pomegranate' is the four-tiered beauty that was borne of a request from event stylist Cynthia Martin to collaborate on a project at The Fermenting Cellar. The Style Me Pretty wedding blog had chosen Cynthia to take a Bohemian Romance-themed inspiration board and turn it into reality.

The cake is adorned with luxurious hand-sewn ribbon medallions and brooch detail, as well as an evocative hand sculpted pomegranate crowning the piece which denotes mystery and opulence. I love it when the cake designer uses textiles as decoration, it's such a lush effect.

Cupcake Monday! The Tynemouth Food Festival

Hot Chilli & Fennel popcorrn from Corn Again, and a Lemon Blueberry cupcake from Pet Lamb Patisserie

This past weekend, my favourite coastal village celebrated the first Tynemouth Food Festival, and it was a smashing, drool-worthy, success. The event included cooking demonstrations from some of the region's best chefs, and samplings at local restaurants and shops - I tried and subsequently bought some Black Bomber Cheddar (the best cheddar I've ever had) and the most gorgeous Stilton, plus a bottle of red wine from The Deli Around the Corner, a friendly, fine foods shop we're so lucky to have on our doorstep.

Queen Victoria Park was transformed into a fabulous food market with north east food companies selling everything from Australian 'Safari' takeaway (I ate a springbok burger which was delicious and am feeling a bit guilty now) to savoury pies - my favourites were the Steak and Cheese from the New Zealand Gourmet Pie Company, to posh condiments, chocolate and cakes of all kinds. The queue for Sachins' wildly popular Punjabi dishes was long and well worth the wait for their freshly made naan. The crowds were so ravenous, many stalls sold out hours before the day finished at 4pm! (So pleased for Katie of Pet Lamb Patisserie whose yummy cupcakes were so popular they virtually blew out of there with the wind!)

I'd like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who worked tireless hours, including my friend Katherine, to bring this incredible food, and some education as well, to us gluttonous insatiables.

Speaking of ravenous, I'm now addicted to Corn Again's Hot Chilli & Fennel and Garlic & Herb popcorn who also sell online (I'm in such trouble.) Presented in another new love, my crumpled ceramic Revol espresso cup.

Photos © The Swelle Life

Cupcake Monday! English Tea Rooms Wish List

A stunning country view accompanies your tea at Barnsley House, Cotswolds

**Should I change the  name of Cupcake Monday? It's not just cupakes, it's any pretty food, and places to eat pretty food. Anything related to all of that, really.  And tea. Is it confusing? If you came here to look at cupcakes and found a pie, would you wave your fist at the screen? Please feel free to weigh in with suggestions in the comments!

Dalani magazine has compiled a short quide of some must-see tea rooms, shops and events in the south of England and I'm sad to say I haven't been to one of them. So I've added the most intriguing of the lot to the growing list of London tea rooms and patisseries I am determined to visit.  I'm planning a tour of the loveliest and grandest ones - it's about the experience as much as it is about the tea and cakes, and it all lies in the details of the room, the cafe, the shop. This isn't something I can do all in one weekend (and surely my stomach would be screaming at me if I didn't pace myself) so it will be spread out over the year, and it would really help if train prices were just a bit less cruel!

As part of their Jubilee celebrations, Selfridges rooftop will be opened from May 31st to play host to the “highest” tea room on Oxford St and a spot of golf like it was in the ’30s.

The rooftop was re-opened in July 2011 for the first time since 1940 when it was destroyed by bombing in WWII. It included a boating lake the colour of radioactivity, thousands of plants, and a cocktail bar. In the 1920s and 1930s, the roof was often used for fashion shows. I think it's been used for fashion events more recently, if I recall correctly. 

The V&A Cafe at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is set in the 160-year-old refreshment rooms designed by William Morris. Afternoon tea is accompanied by a pianist on Mondays or harpist on Wednesdays. Gloriously grand and traditional.

Cupcake Monday! Celebrating 150 Years of Ladurée

It's been 150 years since Louis Ernest Ladurée, a miller from the southwest of France, opened a bakery at 16 rue Royale in Paris. Baguettes, pain, brioche. No macarons, no Religieuses just yet. The patisserie was built after a fire destroyed the boulangerie during the Paris Commune uprising of 1871 (I guess it gave them a chance to rethink their potential alongside their luxurious neighbours?) and Jules Chéret was commissioned to create the interior decor. The cherubs dressed as pastry chefs that he painted on the ceiling, and the gorgeous celadon green he used for the exterior and interior (one of the  most beautiful pastel colours in existence), were used to create the Ladurée emblem and are a strong element of their branding today. 

Ladurée began celebrating the anniversary in January and have been introducing a special edition box of macarons and a pastry each month.

This gorgeous box by Tsumori Chisato (I included a look from her SS12 collection that seemed reminiscent of the box design) contains special anniversary Cherry Blossom macarons created by Ladurée chef Vincent Lemains, who, for the first time in their history, changed the filling to a guimauve, or marshmallow.  There's a scented candle as well if you want the full cherry blossom olfactory experience. You'll have to find your own matching coral-pink hanky to wipe up the drool.

I will be checking out the anniversary collection for myself, preferably on the other side of the Channel. (And in all likelihood I will not feel like sugar that day - that happened last time I visited the Champs Elysees location in Paris last spring, I was in the mood for savoury! Good thing they do gorgeous food, but come on eh?)

Cupcake Monday! I Finally Made My Own

I've found on a few occasions that people assumed I was great at making cakes because of Cupcake Monday, and rightly so! You would think if someone was so into something that is so simple in its most basic incarnation, that she would be doing it herself. Well, I tried. Sort of. I bought fondant icing on two occasions and both went rock hard after being abandoned in the cupboard. I've seen people do incredible things with it like this and this, so that block of turquoise gum paste represented seemingly impossible challenges. What about buttercream, then? I tried using a piping bag once and nearly beat it to death. And our oven sucks. Baking is less forgiving than regular cooking so I was put off knowing that whatever came out would not be as good as it could be. It was put in new by the previous owners and is unbranded - no manufacturer wants their name on it, it's that good! I like the gas hob, but the electric oven cooks very unevenly so you have to rotate the dish or pan halfway through, so you can't cook anything that could fall. No souffles for us! Finally, I put my name down not once, but three times, for classes at a local cake decorating shop. They never called. I wondered if I was destined to be a spectator and never a participant.

Then a few months ago a shop called Ladybird Cakes moved to a location that I walk by often and of course I went in. And they don't just collect lists of names, they actually do the classes! And this is where I spent six hours yesterday learning that it's very easy to make pretty decorations if someone knowledgable just shows you how. (Not counting sculpting a cute rubber ducky-type duck which looked great when Laura, the owner, did it, and just sad when I had a go. It wasn't good to begin with, then the heat in the room made it sink into itself and in the end I just rolled it up into a ball to put it out of its misery, and to keep other people from seeing my shame.)

We did three other things - rolled out fondant and pressed out decorations using flower-shaped cutters, or pressed in using moulds to make all kinds of buttons, vintage patterned buttons, and veined flowers such as hydrangeas. We embossed swirly designs and button patterns (see the bottom left cupcake above for embossing and decoration with fondant buttons) ; and finally we used the piping bag to decorate with buttercream and add fine detail - no violence even! I have a lot of practising ahead of me to get it perfect, but I was chuffed when I got by without having to scrape off any mistakes - some  were meant to be one thing but wound up something else, yet still worked. I think the hard part is actually making huge batches of frosting and sticking it in the bag, and then having to deal with cleaning it after - all of which was done for us. That was worth half the fee!

My decorations made and laid out. I chose the best ones to use and was proud that I made the biggest mess.

It was a great day and I came away being able to do something I couldn't before. And I found that if you make large decorations, you can cover up a whole bunch of icing sins with no one the wiser (see the cupcake with the big daisy in the header photo). And I learned that although fondant/royal icing/gum paste (they're all the same thing) decorations look fantastic, you really don't want to eat them, even if you made them. Hands have been all over those things.

Photos © The Swelle Life

Cupcake Monday! Delicious Minty Blues

 

These soft, powdery blues are so pretty the cakes are as nice to look at as they would be to eat! And that assertion works for me since there are no treats being passed in front of my face along with a napkin anyway. Tessa, of Cakes by Tess, is a cakemaker based in the Netherlands who also collects beautiful teacups, cake stands, dishes and platters that she uses to style her gorgeous cakes. I recognise the set below, it's Royal Albert's Polka Rose teacup, saucer and plate set (whenever I see Polka Rose I can't help but think of Polkaroo). I adore that set - a design from the 1930s and part of the company's '100 Years of Royal Albert' anniversary collection- but I passed it over in favour of the Hartington Lane set. From the 90s. I must have been listening to Nirvana that day while wearing blue mascara. No, it's a lovely set - see it here - and I chose it over the gorgeous mint, my favourite colour along with washed out aqua, because it's lilac, you just don't see much in lovely lilac. But there is something dated about the pattern which is curious, considering it's 60 years younger than the Polka Rose which still seems fresh. Good design endures.

...However, I did recently start my Polka Rose collection with the oval sandwich tray because I found it at half price. It's beautiful, but I'm not sure how it's considered a tray, it's absolutely tiny. If a cat could walk upright and carry a tray, that's about the proportion of it. (Now I'm imagining what a cat butler would look like...)

Back to Tessa's cakes - they are so elegant and ornate, but never overdone. And I love that she'll use real ribbon which gives the cake a refined look, like a pretty present that is mostly edible.

Photos from Cakes by Tess

Buca di Beppo Serves Up Home-made Italian for Newcastle

Recently I was invited to have dinner at Buca di Beppo at the Village Hotel in Newcastle, the first of five UK locations in a growing chain of American-Italian restaurants which have been popular Stateside since 1993.  Along with four other local food-loving bloggers, I was invited to review the Buca experience at the Godfather table - a large, lazy Susan-style family table made for sharing several courses at once. We were hosted by Andrew and Karen from the Village Hotel, both lovely dinner companions who kept the food generous and the conversation rolling.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous about reviewing a chain restaurant, especially an American-Italian one. My experience with eateries offering this type of fare has been inevitably disappointing - any place I once liked eventually turned to cheaper ingredients, and that's never a good thing. Or they just start off that way!

Back to Buca. Upon entering, I found the scenery very familiar.  A 'theme' trend has emerged in the past few years  with Am/Italian chains looking to create a homey, nostalgic atmosphere by covering the walls in old black and white family photos (which may or may not include a lady's bare bum and a baby giving the finger.) There's the fedorad Mafioso-types and Brando at the Godfather table, and of course, the Rat Pack with extra helpings of Frank Sinatra, who serenades us over the sound system. You can dine in the Sophia Loren room if you like your Italian icons more sultry, and you don't mind eating in the presence of someone infinitely better looking than you.

The good news is Buca doesn't need a gimmick. The food is good. After a round of cocktails - I tried the Wildberry Mojito which was too sweet for me, but I found the Italian Margarita to be a perfect blend of sweet and sour creaminess - we ordered enough food to feed all of us plus most of the people on the walls. The platters and bowls began to arrive - Buca offers small and large options for their entrees, plus a set family-style menu for eight or more. I tried a bit of everything, starting with the Stuffed Mushrooms which were really tasty with prosciutto, cheese, fresh sage and rosemary. I could have eaten the entire platter myself if left alone with it. The Bruschetta Florentine was typical OTT American in that it was loaded up and heavy with tons of cheese, topped with spinach, tomatoes and garlic, the latter which Andrew tells me is poached for rubbing on the garlic breads.

The Baked Rigatoni with spicy Italian sausage and dollops of ricotta (which I love), was recommended beforehand by Adele who coordinated the gathering, yet somehow it was one of the few dishes that didn't make it onto the table! We had platters of Meatball Lasagna, Spicy Chicken Rigatoni, Chicken Parmigania, pizza, Linguini Frutti di Mare, their giant half-pound meatball with their homemade marinara sauce as well as a fresh Caprese salad which is a favourite of mine, and steamed green beans and broccoli - yes, I did eat my veggies and they were nicely cooked and seasoned. All of the aforementioned dishes were lovely, many made with Buca's special homemade tomato sauce. The standout entree for me was the Saltimbocca veal (a meat I usually don't order because I don't eat children), served with fresh sage and prosciutto, artichoke hearts and lemon butter sauce with capers. I was impressed by how tender the meat was, and the sauce was flavourful and fresh. The veal was perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious -  it sent my values straight out the window. The garlic mash and roast potatoes, which are usually a 'phoned in' dish (Canadian translation - minimal effort to get it done) each had a gorgeous, smooth texture and were perfectly seasoned, well above the standard starchy fare. Normally I'd not think twice about potatoes when Italian is on the table, but I'd make a point of ordering them again.

Buca could serve food at half the quality and still do good business as exemplified by their competitors, but they choose to use high quality ingredients and cook the food properly; it's clear the food is the focus. The prices are reasonable and competitive, and the sharing options allow you to indulge in a few favourites with family or friends, rather than having to decide on just one.

But we're not finished yet, there was dessert. Oh boy was there dessert! An imposing presence  on the table, the Dolce Platter (£19.95) which could easily satisfy 10 people, was set in front of us. There was with the hugest piece of chocolate cake I've ever seen, a massive bowl of Tiramisu, a big slice of cheesecake and a pile of Chocolate Chip Cannolis. We sat there wide-eyed and stunned, and I tried to summon Caligula to help us out with it all but he didn't materialise. I was full - ordering a cappucino didn't help - but I had to try a bit of each. To my delight and the relief of my stomach, the cake was espresso chocolate, and rather than being super rich and sweet, it had a delicate, dark flavour which was the perfect balance to the feast. (I didn't partake in the chocolate Sambuca sauce beneath the cake because of an overindulgence in Sambuca when I was 21 that turned me off the taste of anise for life.) Tiramisu is too much for me to handle at any time so I tasted a tiny bit of the creamy mascarpone, and then went in for the cheesecake. It looked like typical restaurant cheesecake with a berry sauce, but to my  surprise it was just gorgeous. The texture was velvety and the raspberrry and hazelnut sauce wasn't the usual sickly sweet, artificial-tasting topping that I would normally ask to be left off; it was fresh and light and an asset to the cake. By now I was in danger of having to be rolled out of the place so I stopped short of the cannoli. But one did come home with me in two doggie bags full of leftovers - one dinner, one dessert - which each of us got to take home, and my daughter devoured it. (Yes, I love restaurant leftovers and I'm not ashamed to admit it!) I must mention that due to the quantity of the desserts they lasted about three days in the fridge, we nibbled a bit each day, and at the end the cake was still moist and hadn't dried out at all. Lovely!

Thank you to Andrew, Karen and Adele for a lovely time and the introduction to Buca di Beppo and the Village Hotel. I'll be returning with my family, all of us with empty stomachs, and I will definitely be ordering the Baked Rigatoni!

Buca di Beppo is owned by Planet Hollywood International Inc. and has locations within the Village Hotel in Newcastle at Cobalt Business Park, as well as in Wirral, Blackpool Heron's Reach, Swindon and Watford Eltree.

Photos © The Swelle Life

Cupcake Monday! Easter Ideas from Sweet Paul

No one does Easter, and shows us how to do Easter, so beautifully and homey as Sweet Paul. His new Spring issue is full of things to do with flowers, ribbons, and eggs (eating as well as Easter decorating) for the holiday or just because it's spring.

Here's a look at some of the Easter ideas inside the 140 page issue:

 Paul shows us how to decorate our own eggs, this one using a floral paper punch

This table is decorated with a gorgeous mix of fresh and cut-out paper flowers, and old letters make for warm place settings. Each plate (Paul's own ironstone vintage) is set with a letter, a quail's egg and greenery (shown here in detail)

Do you see the gorgeous plate in the lower left? It's a Marinated Citrus Salad with Honeyed Pistachios. They're cut so beautifully in thin layers, they remind me of the little umbrellas in tropical drinks. There are recipes for all of these dishes here

More of Sweet Pauls' fresh and paper flowers, set against his treasured French linen toile from 1809:

Photos from Sweet Paul magazine

Cupcake Monday! Our Local 'Old Fashioned' Ice Cream Parlour

Every neighbourhood benefits from an ice cream shop, especially when it brings a bit of retro - and French! - charm like our Beaches and Cream Ice Cream Parlour.  Overlooking the seafront, its tiny space spills over with sweet-toothed locals on sunny days. The ice cream is made here in the North East by the  family-owned Beckleberry's, which my daughter thinks is a flavour of ice cream because it's on all of the flavour markers. Hmm...how about it? Why not a house flavour called Beckleberry? I'm tasting blackberry with some pistachio bits for some reason (they do a wonderfully creamy pistachio!). And they do a fantastic sorbet- their Blackcurrant & Kirsch sorbet was awarded the Fortnum & Mason's Supreme Champion in 2008. (That's the ultimate accolade in the fine food industry.) I cannot wait to try the new Mascarpone.

Next door is the Beaches and Cream cafe that serves afternoon tea and some food. And of course ice cream desserts. I can't thank them enough for painting their exterior woodwork - which spans the ice cream shop and the cafe that stands on the corner - that gorgeous dusty duck egg colour.

 

 

Photos © The Swelle Life

Cupcake Monday! Spring Cheer from Sweet Paul

The Spring issue of Sweet Paul magazine is like a juicy jolt of Vitamin C. It's bright and sunny here on the coast, but this morning the winds are wintry and ready to wizen the lips of anyone who ventures outside today, so I'm in search of a bit of seasonal optimism. Sweet Paul has brought us a ton of fun, pretty and tasty Easter ideas using lots of eggs (his favourite ingredient) and pastel colours, but I'm going to save them until it's a bit closer to the date so we can indulge fully (if you can't wait, take a look).

As we can expect from Sweet Paul, a 'flip' through the pages is like daydreaming; the creative food styling, delicious yet easy recipes and gorgeous photography are absolute bliss. And none of it is out of reach, Paul and his equally imaginative contributors love to show us exactly how to bring it all into our own homes, all doable at very little expense and with minimal time commitment - that's what Sweet Paul is all about. (There's nothing more frustrating than having exquisite beauty put in front of our faces when there's no way we can get a piece of it!)

Food styling with illustration - how brilliant is this spread?

There's always a cupcake! This lolly version makes for great decoration and kids will go nuts

 

Each feature has its own distinct look. Always very Sweet Paul, yet exciting in its own way. The pages transition from bright washes of light and vivid colour to moody, muted hues and everything in between.

 

Simple pleasures - candy coloured striped drinking straws. Paul shows you what you can do with them (and they look great just sitting in the bottle, too!)

To see the whole Sweet Paul spring issue (clear a bit of time because you won't want to leave!) go here

Photos from Sweet Paul

Cupcake Monday! Cake ATM: Automatic Treat Machine

At first I thought "Ew, stale cupcakes" after I heard about this new cupcake vending machine in the US. But it's not what I thought, some heartless corporation exploiting the public's insatiable craving for tiny cakes. Rather, it's an innovative solution Beverly Hills bake shop Sprinkles - the world's first cupcake bakery according to their website - created to offer their popular cupcakes after-hours. It's like an ATM machine that dispenses treats. For $4 you get your choice of flavour in a Sprinkles branded box:

I'll take their Irish Chocolate cupcake over green beer any March 17th.

New Yorkers will be treated to 24-hour service soon, too!

Speaking of freshness, shop-bought is no guarantee of it. I've found that most don't have a self-imposed throw-out date if not sold, they just keep them in the glass display until someone orders one and then complains that they chipped their front teeth trying to take their first bite (I swear I had one so hard the 'cake' scraped off like dust when I tried to eat it.) It's not so much a problem in busy shops; however, a friend bought one at a very popular London shop-in-shop at a high-end department store and it was just bad. She cried it was so terrible. Ok, no she didn't, but how disappointing to have your little blissful cupcake moment destroyed by negligence! Is it really worth the £2 to destroy your repuation? Silliness.

Here's the machine in action (I like that the reporter's shirt matches the pink machine):

 

Email subscribers - to watch the video click the title of this post and it will be visible in the original post!

 

Cupcake Monday! Glucose in the Blood's Edible 'Tattoos'

It's not often I can say this, but these 'tattoo' cupcakes are something I haven't seen before (or seen done well, as it may be). These marvellous creations are from Glucose in the Blood - now that's a name that cuts through the sickly sweet! My ever-helpful friend Katherine proudly made the introduction - her longtime friend Yael is behind these impressive cakes which she makes from her home in Italy. Mostly she does it "for love", she says, but I think she's onto something...

Skull tattoos that won't make your mother cry.

No permanent commitment required with this declaration of love.

Photos from Glucose in the Blood, by Jenny Brover