Double Wedding

June 15th, 2010

Back in the fall of 2009 I had the pleasure of working with Tia and Tamara Mowry on the set of the Lifetime movie “Double Wedding”. Not only was I the on set cake consultant, but I created the “shoe cake” which is featured in the movie’s trailer and I was asked by the director to be an extra in the “cake competition” scene. Here are a few photos from the set as well as the “shoe cake”. I do have to say that it was a delight working with both Tia and Tamara. They are so nice! The movie will air on the Lifetime network in the US Sunday, June 20th 2010. You can view the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujk_YPCX7gI

Our first live cake competition

April 27th, 2010

This past Sunday, April 25th I entered my very first, not only cake competition, but live cake competition. It was held at Bonnie Gordon School Annual Cake Show. I was up against Bonnie’s own cake designer Isabelle.

I went into this competition knowing that I was up against 2 people with way more experience than me but was completely up for the challenge. Was I nervous? Yes.  As Patricia and I rolled, covered, cut and draped fondant and gum paste over our blank cake forms with a bit of sweat building up on our faces our competitors took their time delicately painting the trim and detail work previously done on their cake. It did stressed me out every time I looked to my left and saw what seemed to be, yet another, finished tier having appeared mysteriously from somewhere under their table. That didn’t stop Patricia and I though. We worked our tails off and through the stress, pressure, sweat, sore backs, arms and feet we accomplished what we set out to do. In 5 hours we produced the cake we had designed and although we worked down to the very last second and some elements were quite rushed and rough towards the end I really think that we did a heck of a job. I really would have liked to have seen what our competitors would have been able to do in the 5 hours having started from scratch like we did. Was it fun? Looking back on it, yes, but in the moment, not so much! Will I do another live challenge? Sure, but not right away. I really do think that the crowd enjoyed it too, as they were crammed around our table non-stop and couldn’t keep their eyes off what we were doing.

Did I win, maybe not but in my mind and of those in attendance the real winners were Patricia and I for having been able to pull off our cake in only 5 hours with our level of experience. Below are some photos from the competition of Patricia and I hard at work. Thank you to all of our supporters and those of you who stood by us and watched up work and gave us words of encouragement.

Live design challenge at The Cake Show

April 21st, 2010

So it’s spring again which means it’s time for the Bonnie Gordon School’s ‘The Cake Show’ and this year I’ve had the honour of being asked to participate in the Live Cake Design Challenge. This means my assistant, Patricia, and I have 5 hours to complete a magnificent cake taking into account the theme – A wedding at Versailles. We are up against Bonnie Gordon’s own cake designer Isabelle Loiacono. This event is open to the public and takes place this coming Sunday, April 25th 12-5pm at the Artscape Wychwood Barns on Christie just south of St Claire. For more info please visit http://www.thecakeshow.com/

Come out and support us in our live design challenge. Hope to see you there.

Media and Mentions

March 21st, 2010

Media – Newspaper, magazine and online reviews and articles;

Tuesday, February 9th 2010 – The Toronto Star

Friday, February 12th 2010 – Food Service World
“Try A Little Man-Caking”

Monday, February 22nd 2010 – Global TV
“Customers go wild for ‘manly’ cupcakes”

Monday, February 22nd 2010 – Calgary Herald
“Customers go wild for ‘manly’ cupcakes”

Monday, February 22nd 2010 – Kelowna.com
“No half-baked idea”

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010 – Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Canada.com and Ottawa Citizen
“New Market for Macho Cupcakes”

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010 – Nanaimo Daily News
“No Half Baked Idea”

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010 – Toronto Life
“Mancakes are selling like hotcakes in Toronto bakery”

Thursday, February 23rd 2010 – The Vancouver Sun

Friday, February 24th 2010 – Baker’s Journal
“Mancakes’ selling like hotcakes at Toronto Bakery”

Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 – New York Times
“Mancakes”

Thursday, March 4th 2010 – Metro news
“Liberty Village an industrial wasteland no more”

Thursday, March 4th 2010 – blog.tinyprints.com
“Gorgeous cake inspired by Tiny Prints”

Friday March 5th 2010 – The Toronto Star

Thursday, March 3rd 2010 – blogTO.com

Tuesday, March 9th 2010 – Metro News
“Head down to cupcake kitchen stadium in Liberty Village”

Wednesday, March 10th 2010 – Breakfast Television

Wednesday, March 10th 2010 – Yonge Street Media
“Going Crazy for Toronto’s Mancakes”

Thursday, March 11th 2010 – tobites.com
“The Iron Cupcake Challenge”

Monday, March 15th 2010 – Eye Weekly
“Mancakes, anyone?”

April 2010 – Toronto Life

Wednesday, April 14th – The National Post
“Sweet Victory”

Friday, April 16th – sweetspot.ca
“Let us eat cake”

Tuesday, June 1st – caterista.com
“Baking outside the box”

Wednesday, June 2nd – spotlighttoronto.com
“For The Love of Cake”

Bloggers:

Tuesday, February 9th 2010
“Mancakes”

Wednesday, February 10th 2010
“Cupcake Explosion”

Sunday, February 21st 2010
“For The Love of Cake and Iron Cupcake”

Saturday, February 27th 2010
“Food: Mancakes”

Sunday, March 14th 2010
“Pub Fare Cupcake & Friends at Iron Cupcake”

Sunday, March 14th 2010
“Two words; Cupcake. Contest”

Tuesday, March 16th 2010
“Green + Beer = Good Times”

Sunday, March 21st 2010
“Iron Cupcake Toronto”

Cupcake Deliciousness

February 16th, 2010

This is an email that I received from one of our cupcake fans.

“I recently ordered a dozen cupcakes (maple blueberry bacon, guiness chocolate and peanut butter and chocolate) for my fiance for Valentine’s Day. He is so hard to buy for – but these cupcakes included all of his favourite foods! Luckily he was willing to share so we are both enjoying a very cupcakey long weekend. I can’t decide which one I like best – they are all so amazing! I just finished a maple/bacon/blueberry one and am still thinking about the frosting and the blueberry filling. Don’t change a thing! We look forward to buying cupcakes from you for many occaisions in the future!”