**New Tempting Cake Blog URL**
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See you there!
TC x
An English Garden Tempting Table Dessert Table
A quintessential English garden with a contemporary twist was at the heart of this Tempting Table dessert table. One of the dessert tables we were commissioned to create at The Cake & Bake Show back in September, it was certainly popular with all the cake fans.
English Garden Tempting Table
The Backdrop
We knew we wanted to use a paper based backdrop, and the masters in laser cut stationery at Cutture created these delicate garlands for us in pastel pink and white, which we hung at long length over an apple green wall.
Laser cut garlands by Cutture. Image by Charlottle Fielding
The Flowers
The stunning climbing flower effect of the paper garlands were complemented with flowers by talented florist Vanilla Rose, who created tall vases completely containing blush pink lisianthus on vibrant green stems:
Lisianthus by Vanilla Rose peeking out of the top of a tall vase. Image by Charlotte Fielding
The Detail
To bring the dessert table bang up to date, we introduced a graphic chevron pattern to the table runners, a detail which was also reflected on the cookie decorations, the menu card and on the pink lemonade straws.
Striking chevron table runners contrasted with the pastel pink frou-frou detail. Image by Charlotte Fielding
Chevron iced cookies by Tempting Cake. Image by Charlotte Fielding
If the reaction to the mini milk bottles on this dessert table are anything to go by then this trend is showing no signs of abating! Their appearance on this dessert table caused at least one kitchen stand at the Show to sell out of them by lunchtime. These dinky glass bottles came from our friends at Out Of Love and if you’re quick you might be able to get some from them before they’re gone!
Stripy straws in mini milk bottles by Out Of Love. Image by Charlotte Fielding
Chevrons are a big trend right now, more on them soon!
The Menu
We’ve shared our buttercream rose piped cupcakes with you before, and we incorporated them into this dessert table, presented on their sides for maximum effect.
Buttercream piped rose cupcakes by Tempting Cake. Image by Charlotte Fielding
A fruity inclusion of some zingy lime crèmes, topped with lime zest, married well with the overall look of the dessert table:
Zesty lime creme shot glasses by Tempting Cake. Image by Charlotte Fielding
Ready for its close up…Image by Charlotte Fielding
We’ll be bringing you more of our Tempting Tables through out October so stay tuned!
TC x
Late Summer Tempting Table
Well we promised you that October would be Tempting Table month here on the Tempting Cake blog and we certainly don’t wish to disappoint! Kicking off the first post of the month is a Tempting Table dessert table we created towards the end of this summer. This South West London dessert table was set in a beautiful venue by the river and has some striking architectural features. The client opted for a menu based on classic cream and white tempting treats, with accent colours provided by decorative garnishes on the sweet bites and of course the coloured glass bottles and vibrant petals.
Summer wedding Tempting Table. Image by Tempting Cake
Mini cupcakes featured sage green daisy details to complement the beautiful floral displays by Steph from Fairy Nuff both on the table and elsewhere at the venue:
Ready for their close up. Image by Tempting Cake.
They were displayed double decker style with a glass cake stand on the top, which allowed for some good camera angles:
Mini cupcakes with green floral decorations. Image by Tempting Cake.
The vanilla panna cotta (panna cottae? panna cottusses?) were finished with a simple mint leaf garnish:
Vanilla panna cotta with fresh mint leaf garnish. Image by Tempting Cake.
Rose petals scattered on the table and the coloured glass bottles provided a great contrast against the white linen and base plates:
Colourful details on a Tempting Table. Image by Tempting Cake.
Almond macaroons with a vanilla bean buttercream filling. Image by Tempting Cake.
The bride opted for the wedding cake to be displayed on a separate table to give it its own place to shine rather than as a centrepiece on this Tempting Table…we will be featuring it in a future blog post, but as a hint it features some of the bright and bold rose petal colours from the Tempting Table!
TC x
Tempting Cake Launches New Website
The eagle-eyed among you may already have noticed our new look website, which launched quietly last week amidst the madness of our preparations for The Cake & Bake Show at Earl’s Court last weekend.
Now that the show has been and gone (look out for some posts coming soon featuring the Tempting Table dessert tables we showcased there), we can focus on taking you on a tour of the new site. Trumpet fan fare at the ready!
The new website by Tempting Cake
While our branding remains the same, the website has been given a facelift to bring us bang up to date. The company has grown and changed a lot since our last website went live nearly 3 years ago and we hope the new one is a good reflection of who we are and what we offer.
We’ve also included social media buttons on all images, so you can easily add them to your pinterest boards or share them with your friends and followers.
We’ll be bringing you lots of new images soon of some of our most recent work, as well as regular blog posts in this very section so stay tuned for all the latest from Tempting Cake.
TC x
Tempting Cake at The Cake & Bake Show
If you’re a regular follower of our blog then chances are you’re an avid fan of baking and pretty cakes. Chances are you’re also tuned into the latest series of The Great British Bake Off on BBC 2 and have purchased your tickets for the first Cake & Bake Show at London’s Olympia later this month.
We are thrilled to announce that Tempting Cake will be there, bringing something very exciting and creative to an exclusive area at The Cake & Bake Show 2012. Featuring showcases, competitions and masterclasses from baking luminaries such as Mary Berry, Eric Lanlard, Mark Tilling, Annabel Karmel, Mich Turner and Peggy Porschen, the show promises to be the perfect way for passionate bakers to spend a weekend.
So what are we going to be doing there? You’ll just have to come along to find out…
TC x
Seaside Delights
Whatever the weather you’ve had this summer, be it extreme rain or baking heat, you can still evoke the summer holiday feeling with some seaside-themed items for your table top:
Seaside Tempting Table by Tempting Cake. Image by Liesl Cheney
Here are our top picks of table ware to inject some summer time into your Tempting Tables:
Seaside items for your table top
Left hand column, top to bottom:
- This mother of pearl effect shell from The Cooks Kitchen would nicely house some mini meringues, for a crunchy, shell-seeker effect.
- Using the ever-popular ‘Keep calm and carry on’ font, this frame from John Lewis would provide a fitting backdrop to a seaside Tempting Table.
- This trio of stylish Designers Guild Sarailles bowls in Aqua from John Lewis are just the thing for displaying some blondy bites, florentines and shortbread squares.
Central column:
- Appropriately enough called ‘Ocean’, this William Yeoward vase from John Lewis would make an eye-catching accompaniment to a seaside Tempting Table. It looks good au naturel or with the addition of some dried grasses for extra beachside effect.
Right hand column, top to bottom:
- A beautiful driftwood fruit bowl from Not On The High Street would look great overflowing with sandy coloured apricots, sea green grapes and exotic physalis.
- Serve some sweet popcorn from this aqua-lined cockle shell dish from Not On The High Street.
The more weather-worn the table the items are displayed on the better, as it all adds to the al fresco nature of this set up.
As for what bounty to put on your seaside table, how about some clam shell madeleines with pistachio and mint filling:
Clamshell madeleines by Tempting Cake. Image Liesl Cheney
Cool off in the heat with a refreshing carafe of tropical cocktail:
Mango cocktail with apple decoration. Image by Liesl Cheney
Serve in tall glasses with sea-salt frosted rims, garnished with apple star fish:
Sea-salt frosted glasses, with apple star fish garnish. Image by Liesl Cheney
Add some coral-coloured star fish biscuits:
Starfish cookies by Tempting Cake. Image by Liesl Cheney
Vibrant melon caviar balls perch on top of some sweet meringues:
Melon meringue caviar. Image by Liesl Cheney
Craft some edible seaside decorations for your cupcakes, such as starfish, coral and shells. Add sugar balls in for the oysters in the shells:
Seaside cupcakes by Tempting Cake. Image Liesl Cheney
For our final pick, we couldn’t resist these retro-inspired sandcastle pots from Not On The High Street, a perfect alternative fruit bowl or nibble server:
Jaunty sandcastle pots from Not On The High Street
We’d love to hear how you’re bringing the seaside to your table tops this summer?
TC x
Wedding Cake Myths Dispelled
If you’re in the depths of wedding planning right now then you’ll have no doubt encountered some wedding etiquette queries along the way. Will guests run screaming from the reception if they don’t have favours? Does it really matter which side of the Church each family sit on? How should wedding invitations be phrased if you’re footing the bill for it, not your parents? While weddings these days offer the opportunity to truly reflect your personalities down to a T, it can often be tricky to reconcile this with the views/demands of relatives who are sticklers for tradition.
One of the areas of contention can be the wedding cake, and we’re here to bust some myths for you:
Myth 1- wedding cake= fruit cake
While elderly relatives bristle at the thought of your wedding cake being anything other than a rich fruit cake, the truth is that anything goes. Summer weddings suit fresh fruit cakes such as lemon sponge with a fresh raspberry purée filling and vanilla buttercream, or a blueberry and almond sponge, while autumn or winter weddings work well with either a spicy aromatic ginger cake or a rich, moody, dark chocolate sponge.
Myth 2- wedding cakes have to be stacked
Not at all. It’s popular these days to display them separately, especially if they’re part of a Tempting Table. Supplement your cakes with gateaux, entremets and other divine dishes which fill a whole cake stand.
Climbing Rose Wedding Cake by Tempting Cake. Image by Liesl Cheney
Myth 3- wedding cakes have to be iced with fondant icing or royal icing
Royal icing (the hard as nails variety) is the traditional covering for wedding cakes, although it is rarely used these days. Fondant icing is a popular icing to use to cover wedding cakes with, by virtue of the fact it gives a smooth, clean finish.
Smooth fondant iced tiers. Image by EWP Photography
However, if you’re not keen on the texture, flavour or don’t feel it goes as well with sponge cakes as it does with fruit cake, then there are other options.
Consider softly sculpted whipped up buttercream. This will give a softer, more rustic finish, but a rather lovely one at that and looks perfectly pretty accessorised with fresh fruit or flowers.
Wedding cake with buttercream smoothed into horizontal lines. Image by Sarah Gawler
If you’re having chocolate cake then you have more options open to you. Chocolate cigarillos give a contemporary look, and either dark, milk or white chocolate can be used for a striking effect:
Chocolate Stripe Cake by Tempting Cake
Chocolate cocoform (pure chocolate mixed with glucose to make a malleable paste) is another alternative covering for your chocolate cake and a good option if you’re after chocolate roses. For a more rustic approach, tempered, shaped chocolate gives a sculptural helter skelter effect which is softened with the introduction of roses and trailing ivy:
White chocolate curl wedding cake. Image by Tempting Cake
Or be bold and do away with icing altogether!
Rustic Cake by Tempting Cake
Myth 4- wedding cakes have to be white or ivory
Again, traditionally cakes were in these typical bridal colours and there is something to be said for a classic cake in these colours. There’s also nothing stopping you injecting some colour into your cake though, without it being garish or over the top.
Powder Blue Sugar Flowers Cake by Tempting Cake. Image by Edward Webb Photography
Myth 5 – you have to have a wedding cake
Throw the rule book out and have whatever you like!
Have cupcakes! Plump for a French croquembouche! Go for a stack of cheese wheels! Whatever you have, just make sure you enjoy a slice…
Navy and white cupcake tower by Tempting Cake
We hope we’ve helped to dispel some common wedding cake myths, if you have any others you’d like us to address please let us know!
TC x
