Showing posts with label Cakes and Culinary Creations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cakes and Culinary Creations. Show all posts

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Sugar Coat It!

The wedding cake is a staple item for any nuptials and is often the pièce de résistance of the reception for some couples. But if you’re a twosome with a serious sweet tooth, then a cake or cupcakes might not cut the, err, mustard. Kick things up a notch with an all-out dessert table, festooned with your favorite treats from brownies and cookies to candy and fudge. There’s absolutely no limitation to the types of delicious eats you can serve—and for many folks, it could be the highlight of your entire reception! There’s nothing more fun and enjoyable then loading up a sweet little plate full of cakes, candies and cookies. (Now we’re just making ourselves hungry…)



If you decide to go the dessert table route, your cake doesn’t have to give up the spotlight. You can still display it proudly in the table’s center or even on a separate table to keep it distinct and standing out from its sugary neighbors. Use special track lighting or spotlights to highlight the tiered attraction and incorporate taller cake stands if you want to elevate it above the rest of the crowd. Another creative idea is to use all desserts from the same color family. If the bride or groom’s cake features chocolate frosting, then chocolate brownies, hard candies, fudge and chocolate cookies might be in order. It’s just as easy to go all white, too, with a beautiful white cake, sugar cookies, macaroons, white fudge and ivory chocolate-covered almonds, for instance.



Let Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations help you cook up a dreamy ensemble of tasty treats and eats for your reception’s main event: dessert! It’s one sweet deal.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Pocket full of Posies

With spring just around the corner, we’re seeing things all abloom at Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations and thought we’d lend some of our beautiful inspiration to you. Decorating cakes with flowers is a long-time tradition that has never lost its appeal; instead it only seems to become a more and more beautiful option to creating a gorgeous cake that takes your breath away. We spotted these blossoming beauties and now we have flowery images dancing in our heads:



Peonies, roses, lilies, orchards—they’re all pretty arrangements to adorn your wedding cake in any shade and shape. To prove it, we’ve also collected a few color-oriented photos for your inspiration. The blooms can come in a variety of textures, from real petals to appliqué-inspired flowers!





Butter cream cakes are a delicious way to go, but if you have high hopes for an intricate design, Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations can create it for you using fondant—which is pliable, edible and holds its shape. No cake is a boring cake when it’s infused with your personality, some gorgeous flowers and excellent taste!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Big & Tall, Short & Sweet (Part 2 of 2)

If you want loads of drama exuding from your cake table, then tall and big is the way to go. Multi-tiered cakes don’t necessarily all have to be batter and frosting—we can incorporate Styrofoam tiers for added effect without breaking the budget. Of course, if you’re expecting a large number of guests then more cake can be a good thing! Tall cakes are especially striking with flowers cascading down on side, or simply decorated for a chic and elegant look.



Lastly, the cake stand you choose will depend on the style and height of your cake to begin with. If you went with a cupcake tower, then there are several options to peruse. Square-shaped tiered boxes, wrought-iron individual holders, sleek and simple circular towers—select a look that complements your reception’s overall theme. You can even neatly place the cupcakes in even rows on trays or a decorative table for easy access. For short cakes, taller stands are more appropriate to add a little elevation and place your cake in the spotlight. Then, of course, for tall cakes you want a short and sturdy base to avoid tipping the towering tiers into a pile of frosting!




At the end of the day, however, the ultimate decision is yours. If you see something you love, go for it. You want to show off a cake on your wedding day that you are proud of and find beautiful and picture-perfect in every way, from tiers to stand. Let Cakes and Culinary Creations help you get frosted!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Big & Tall, Short & Sweet (Part 1 of 2)

Tall cakes and short cakes, two tiers and seven tiers—how do you choose the cake that’s right for you? There are several things you can take into consideration when comparing your sweet treat options and Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations is here to explore them with you.

One of the first factors is going to be the obvious one: price. If you’re on a strict budget without a lot of wriggle room, then a smaller cake will meet the bill. You could also consider cupcakes, as well, as they make a beautiful focal point when placed on a decorative cupcake holder. They’re also easy to serve and make mingling and conversation among guests much easier! (Plus you can still have a tier of cake set at the very top for you and your new spouse to keep for your first anniversary or to enjoy together on your wedding day.)




But if you have your heart set on a more traditional cake, don’t worry. Two-tier cakes can still serve plenty of people and we can advise you on the right size for your reception and your funds. Have fun with the styling, as two-tier cakes are just as versatile as the bigger ones! They lend themselves well to a rustic sort of style, if that’s what you’re after, but can also be made sleek and modern in a solid white or bold and bright in vibrant colors.



Watch for Part 2...

Bold Moves!

With the New Year, come new cake trends—and Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations couldn’t be more excited! We love the challenge of creating unusual cakes, beautiful arrangements, unique flavors and more. For the past few years, all-white cakes have been the trend, delivering a sophisticated look in a classic color. While this theme is still a wonderful choice for any bride, bold moves are creeping into 2011 and shaking up the cake design world with a bang.



Don’t be afraid of patterns and bright pops of colors on your cake this season, as whimsical prints, zig zags and stripes, paisley patterns and more take the spotlight. It’s the perfect opportunity to match your cake exactly to your theme. Each tier could be a different shade or feature different patterns and the shape of your cake is just as flexible! Square or round need not be your only choices, what about a pentagon shaped cake? Or combining the round and square by alternating layers? You could also have a cake that begins widest at the bottom and narrows toward the top, almost leaning inward, for a different look. Cakes can be fashioned after monuments, objects, flowers, symbols and more. Let your imagination run wild and go big and bold for a special cake.




To top off your original masterpiece, choose more dramatic-looking flavors like red velvet, chocolate hazelnut, orange or lemon. Pair them with a contrasting colored filling like white chocolate or caramel. Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations has a bevy of yummy options for you to choose from, so call us today to make your appointment. We’re here to sweeten the deal!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Cutting the Cake! (Part 1 of 2)

As your go-to wedding cake consultant, it’s our job at Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations to ensure that you receive the best dessert possible. There are so many things to consider, choose and remember when tying the knot and it’s near impossible to have them all down pat without a little help. So we’re here to provide ideas, keep you on track and organize the extra things so that you can simply enjoy the excitement mounting for your upcoming wedding.

One important item to be sure you have on hand for the big day is a cake knife. Often times this is gifted to the couple by their parents or close friend, or chosen carefully by the newlyweds-to-be as something they’ll keep and treasure for years to come in their own home. Here are some elegant options to consider when searching for the right knife to do the honors:

Monaco cake knife at Williams Sonoma

Martha Stewart cake knife set at Macy’s

Cake cutting set from Waterford

Stay tuned for Part 2....


Saturday, March 12, 2011

Color Wheel (Part 2 of 2)

Picture your wedding party wearing it. One of the best ways to further develop your color palette is to picture the hue on your friends. Your bridesmaids, especially, will be wearing the predominant color as their dress choice. With a million and one styles of frocks, it’s impossible to get a bad dress but it is possible to get an uncomplimentary color. So close your eyes and see if you can envision each of your leading ladies wearing said shade and if it’s the best option for the group. This can help eliminate any “question marks” you might have on your lineup.

Let the idea bloom. One of the most vital parts of big day décor is the flowers and these come in nearly every color and size that you can imagine. Further envision your wedding by seeing the centerpieces in your mind’s eye and what color the flowers of your choice appear in. If you want large, grandiose arrangements, having a neutral color as the base and using brighter or bolder shades as accents might be your best choice. Or make a splash with one statement shade and let the base color fall onto your linens instead. Visualizing what you want your day to look like will help steer you in a more clear direction.

Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations looks forward to creating a stellar cake for your wedding—one that both you and your guests will savor every bite. Don’t forget to book your appointment with us for more information on our services, and important details on the planning process. We are here for you!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Color Wheel (Part 1 of 2)

With a sea of colors out there to choose from, it can occasionally be hard to know where to begin for your wedding day color palette. Fortunately, Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations is here for you with some tips and advice on how to get the perfect shade for your perfect day—which includes your gorgeous cake!

Narrow it down. There has to be at least one color that you’re continually drawn to. Mentally set that aside, whether it’s bone white, chartreuse or royal purple and begin looking for a color to coincide with it. If your “base” color that you love is indeed on the brighter side, consider using that as your accent color and selecting a more basic hue to ground the duo. Good options for the latter include white, gray, black, metallics, ivory and off-whites.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

It's All in the Details - Part 2

Lighted table skirts are all the rage at the moment especially for evening weddings. They seem to make the cake table glow romantically, highlighting your frosted tiers in a soft, golden light. This can be easily recreated for any type of wedding and matched to the current theme you might be using throughout your décor.





The way you display your cake can be just as creative as the dessert itself. Lighting, draping, flowers, candles, colors—it’s all relative! One cool way to show off your featured treat is with a clear acrylic stand. These come in all shapes and sizes from large rectangular floor stands to tiered cake towers. They don’t distract from your cake and can add to it more with lights or decorations that can be tucked inside the clear casing.




Canopies are another great way to show off your cake. These can be elegantly draped high above the top tier and draw the eye inward toward your cake table. As in this photo, matching blooms can be suspended from the drapery for extra drama!



No matter how you display your cake, Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations will create a show-stopper dessert designed to your specifications. You’ll be proud to show it off in any way you can. Call us today!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Sweet Treat




Our favorite food is cake. Not that surprising, huh? But every once in awhile, we’re prone to consuming other tasty morsels and we assume you are, too. If you’ve got a favorite food item we can make into a cake—seriously! Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations has crafted sweet renditions of common edibles like pizza, cupcakes and even crawfish.

As the largest special occasion bakery in Houston—with three retail locations, to boot—we take pride in creating unique and memorable cakes in any shape, size and flavor. They are each chef-inspired and chef-designed by our talented team, and feature customizable options like fresh fruit, Belgian chocolate ganache or blossoming flowers.

Here’s a kind review we received in October from one of our blushing brides:

“Hi Amber, I wanted to say that the cakes were a super hit at the wedding ceremony lunch! I didn't get a chance to see them live, but saw some photos and they looked quite beautiful! My husband really loved the Michigan cake and especially that it was chocolate too! I actually had 3 slices…hehehehe. The fresh fruit was a hit and several people commented on how good it was! Thanks again for your contribution to our happy day!”
-Anjly

Give us a call to book your consultation and let us work with you to create the perfect cake for your upcoming event!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

On the Side

Cake toppers underwent a makeover long ago and now with all the creative and inventive cake shapes saturating the industry today, typical tier-by-tier decorations are getting a makeover, too. One of the latest trends are side-oriented decorations that seem to cascade from the top of the cake down to the very bottom tier in a grandiose display. Cascade cakes are complimentary on any size dessert, from just two tiers to seven. One of the most common “cascade” items is roses, which work beautifully when seeming to be frozen in flight round the edges of the cake. They are especially impactful when created all in one color atop a white cake.



But you can choose from more than just roses. Lilies, branches and trees and scrolling (imitating a tressle overgrown with flowers) are also absolutely gorgeous. We hand pipe or hand craft all the individual flowers then affix them to your cake with detailed precision, creating a blossoming waterfall effect.

Plus, don’t forget our fabulous flavors for your cascade cake! Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations specialize in tasty options like wedding white or chocolate, lemon, almond, orange, tiramisu and Italian cream cake. Choose a different flavor for each tier if you want! Our fillings are also a highlight, featuring peanut butter mousse, cinnamon, dreamcycle, Bavarian cream, amaretto, white chocolate, mocha, chocolate praline, almond, pineapple, lemon, raspberry and strawberry. Sweet!

Monday, February 7, 2011

White Out!

Sometimes tradition takes the cake. Or so we say. All-white cakes are classic and timeless, but they don’t have to be old-fashioned or plain. Modernize them with contemporary touches to make your cake go from drab to fab in a cinch.

Texture is a fantastic way to up the ante on your alabaster tiers, whether it’s fondant, or stucco-like dimension. White-on-white can be very effective when given additional layers. Consider scrollwork, monograms or fondant pieces to add a little extra “oomph.”

Flowery blossoms take any cake to the next level, especially when they’re gorgeous ivory petals like white roses, calla lilies or hydrangeas. Pile them on top as a stand-in cake topper, scatter them around the edge of each tier or cascade the blooms down one side of the cake for an impressive budding touch.

Crystals are a glamorous option for making your confection sparkle and shine—just like a blushing bride! Choose from monograms, brooches or strings of crystals lining the bottom of each tier. Better yet, frost the entire cake in a coat of edible pearlescent dust or scatter glimmering little diamonds all over.

Bows and ribbon are beautiful on an all-white cake, tying the entire theme together nicely. Use the real thing or have us create a fondant version. Oversized lifelike bows with ribbon legs that delicately drape down the front of the cake are very eye-catching. Want it pretty as a present? Place a shimmering white gift wrap bow made from fondant atop the final tier.




Visit our website at Cake and Culinary Creations!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Sports Report

Whether you attended Texas A&M University or root play golf on the regular, every groom needs his day, er, cake. To that end, Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations has the perfect dessert for you! We’ve captivated clients with our stellar pieces featuring team colors, school emblems, team logos and more. We’ve even recreated sports stadiums, complete with screaming fans!

If you want to make a statement without going overboard, consider your school emblem gracefully emblazoned atop your Italian cream cake (or any other flavor you want to choose from our tasty menu!). It says school pride and character, all in one bite.




Go big or go home… recreate your long-adored stadium. How about the Houston Astrodome? We’ve done it before! Your guests will be blown away by such a customized cake and appreciate the insight into your hometown.




Get visual with actual sporting items atop your cake, like footballs, baseballs or golf balls. We can add monograms, mascots, school initials and decorative flags. The sky is the limit, we can help you make the score!




Be sure to visit us at Cakes and Culinary Creations today!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Display Day

Once you’ve chosen your cake and Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations has created it for you, it’s time to show it off. Most weddings have a designated cake table to display both the bride and groom’s cakes on, but sometimes it may not be enough! If you are extremely proud of your beautiful cake, there’s no reason to give it a little spotlight of its own. After all, it’s a great opportunity for guests to admire the dessert before you and your partner slice into it with glee.

Cake stands are fantastic for elevating your cake off the table and slightly into the air, giving it an extra dimension that makes it pop against its background. You can choose from a minimal cake stand that might be short in height and clear in material, to avoid it being noticed or clashing with your cake. But if it’s a statement you’re after, consider a colorful cake stand that coincides with the hues on your dessert. Or select a beautiful iron cake stand with decorative scroll work. These can easily be spray painted to your desired color, like black, white or even bronze. Glitz things up with crystals or flowers to finish off your masterpiece!

Cake tables can also be a work of art, too. Consider using candles and flowers to jazz up the space and make it stand out. This can be accomplished with glass vases filled with floating votives or rose petals, draped floral garland or colorful linens. Sprinkle confetti on the table or scatter blooms in matching colors for extra detail.

If you’re looking for options other than a large cake table, consider an acrylic stand. These are perfect for an individual cake and easily placed anywhere in the room. It will look more like an expensive art work on display at your reception! Use track or spot lighting for added effect.

No matter how you choose to display your cake, we are ready to make the perfect one for you! Call us today to book your consultation.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Cool Shades

Wedding cakes started out predominantly white for the same reason the wedding dress was white—a symbol of purity. But modern trends, mixed families, second marriages and cultural traditions have prevailed over the years, transforming those once all-white cakes into colorful works of art. Now it’s perfectly acceptable to choose a cake in your favorite hue, or a shade the best complements the overall color scheme for your wedding. Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations explores several options for making your big day cake pop!

Something Blue
Growing in popularity, blue is an elegant and classic color for a wedding cake. It comes in many beautiful shades from Robin’s egg blue for spring nuptials to deep cerulean accents for a late fall wedding. Even light frosty blue invokes thoughts of snow and ice during the winter season. Envelope the cake in all-over color or simply use it minimally for an added statement.


Mellow Yellow
A bright and cheerful shade, yellow is flattering for a wedding in any season. Whipped up in a refreshing lemony shade, the color brings up thoughts of spring daffodils and warm sunshine. It can also be mixed with white and black accents for a super modern effect, or paired with warm brown for post-summer months.


True Red
Not a common color for cakes from top to bottom, red is more of an accent shade—and a beautiful one at that. Think blooming roses or other petals on your cake, a scripted monogram or delicate scroll work. Make a statement your guests will remember!


Colors of the Rainbow
Can’t decide which shade is your favorite? Why not incorporate them all? A cascading bunch of flowers or dots, lines and scrolls can easily accommodate various colors on your cake without looking like you went through the Willy Wonka factory.


Be sure to visit our website at Cakes and Culinary Creations!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cut the Cake!

Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations lists some super sweet songs for slicing into your dessert…

Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
The Sweetest Thing (U2)
How Sweet It is (James Taylor)
Cut the Cake (Average White Band)
Recipe for Making Love (Harry Connick, Jr.)
Eat It (Weird Al Yankovic)
Be Sweet (Gerald Veasley)
Cuts like a Knife (Bryan Adams)
Getcha Some (Toby Keith)
Ice Cream (Sarah McLachlan)
Pour Some Sugar on Me (Def Leppard)
Love You Madly (Cake)
Sweet Thang (Mary J Blidge)
Sweets for my Sweet (Ben E King)
Sweetest Sin (Jessica Simpson)
The Sweetest Things I’ve Ever Known (Lauryn Hill)
Cups & Cakes (Spinal Tap)
Build Me Up Buttercup (The Foundations)
Brown Sugar (The Rolling Stones)
Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Stadium Seating

In a true test of our culinary skills, stadium-inspired cakes are a study in detail and perfection. They are also the perfect show-stopper for your next event! Whether it’s a groom’s cake with his favorite team displayed on the winning scoreboard or the little league’s baseball banquet, we can handcraft the perfect stadium seating you’re looking for.





Stadium cakes require precision and talent to create, there’s no denying it. Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations has catered to many clients and their favorite stadium or favorite sports teams, from football to soccer. We’ll mimic the fans in the stands, the sports team logos and even stadium details like clock hands on the North tower. Goal posts, scoreboards, stadium lights, banners, flags—it can all be done! It’s amazing what can be created with loads of frosting, lots of patience and imagination. Be the ultimate fan and have your next cake made in your team’s likeness. You choose the teams, the game and the score. It’s a win-win!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Pretty In Pink

As spring flings come into play, it’s time to start thinking light and bright again. We found this pretty pink inspiration board and got to thinking about all the tiers of possibilities…

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Here’s a few of our own blushing confections:


Let Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations assemble a gorgeous cake for your next event!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Live TV

Cakes have come a long way since their inception. In ancient Rome, cakes were actually more like bread loaves and were sometimes enriched with butter, eggs or honey to give it a sweet taste and richer consistency. Cakes were also usually considered only for ceremonious occasions. Nowadays, cakes make frequent appearances at all types of events and in all kinds of shapes! Bakers like our professional staff at Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations push the envelope on a daily basis to come up with new ways to create amazing desserts. Icing, fondant and flavors—they’ve all progressed with the times, available in more choices than was once ever thought possible. Where’s the good news in all this for you? Any cake you can dream up. We have made everyday objects into edible works of art, from shopping boxes to baseballs to beer bottles. There’s just no limit to what we can do!




Popular requests are characters from television screens, like Dr. Seuss and Alice In Wonderland-inspired cupcakes to Harry Potter and Family Guy. Contemplating an unusual shape, special occasion or crazy reproduction? Think outside the box for your next cake from Cake Affairs and Culinary Creations.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Let Them Eat Cake

Wedding cakes have a unique and interesting history. According to Wikipedia, the wedding cake is a tradition that began back in the Roman Empire. At the time, it was a loaf of bread that the groom broke over the brides head as a symbol of his dominance in the marriage and over her. The color of the cake is typically white to symbolize purity. The joint task of the bride and groom cutting the cake is meant to symbolize their first joint task in married life. The gesture of feeding cake to one another is a symbol of the commitment the bride and groom are making.


One of the earliest forms of the wedding cake is the French Croquembouche. The legend of this cake says that a pastry chef, visiting medieval England, witnessed their tradition of piling sweet rolls between the bride and groom which they would attempt to kiss over without knocking them all down. The pastry chef then went back to France and piled sweet rolls up into a tower to make the first Croquembouche.


The wedding cake topper was especially popular in the US in the 1950s when it represented the concept of “togetherness.” Today, however, they are more varied and often reflect shared hobbies or unique design facets. Cakes & Culinary Creations crafts all sorts of special designs and toppers to reflect a bride and groom’s vision of the perfect cake.


Random fact: In the United Kingdom, the traditional wedding cake is made from a rich fruitcake, although many modern cakes now consist of either vanilla sponge, chocolate sponge or carrot cake. Among some more elaborate cakes the United Kingdom see are those prepared for the Royal Weddings. These cakes are actually decorated boxes with the fruit cake cut into portions on the inside, allowing them to be easily served to hundreds of guests.

Whether you have hundreds of guests or 50 close friends and family, Cakes & Culinary Creations is there for you!