Sunday 18 January 2015

Alice in Wonderland Cakes



Alice in Wonderland is my absolute favorite story. I enjoy every version of it.
Being a huge Tim Burton fan, I thought the latest movie was fantastic, the best!
Here are some of my Alice in Wonderland cakes...



Alice and friends on a cake hat. Made to be an original design, with hints of Burton and original Disney.
The board was double-masked and airbrushed.


I loved making this sweet little Alice.
The Cheshire cat, waving to the birthday girl!


A mouse in a cake teapot on a cake hat! The colour palette was very specific for this cake. Made to match the invites and partyware.


An Alice in Wonderland themed wedding cake.

And I will leave you with this brilliant artist's make up tutorial...







Thursday 15 January 2015

Rocky Horror Cake

It's ASTOUNDING...

This Rocky Horror cake was made for a big fan of the cult classic, Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show.
For the surprise celebration, madness took its toll when cocktails were enjoyed at the annex to the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town, after which the party continued when the guests moved a jump to the left to enjoy the on-stage production, The Rocky Horror Show at the Fugard Theatre.

Birthday girl, Mel was taken to the event without knowing what was going on. This made her shiver with Antici...


...Pation
 So without further ado, let me show you my favourite obsession.
I've been making a cake with red lace and a corset
And it's good for relieving your... hunger.



This sweet little thing beat the other girls to the bride's bouquet...

Dammit Janet, Isn't she lucky?

"You're lucky, He's lucky, I'm lucky, we're all lucky!"

And Brad, she's mad for you too...
He'll give you the eye and then panic. 


"Planet, schmanet, Janet!

You'd better wise up Janet Weiss.
Your apple pie don't taste too nice"

But her chocolate cake is good!

I see you've met my faithful handyman, but let me introduce you to Magenta...


Magenta, the maid - she has voyeuristic intention
"With a bit of a mind flip
You're there in the time slip
And nothing can ever be the same
You're spaced out on sensation, like you're under sedation
Let's do the Time Warp again!"


Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania



"I'm outta my head, O hurry or I may be dead.
They mustn't carry out their evil deeds..."



When Eddie said he didn't like his teddy you knew he was a no-good kid
But when he threatened your life with a switchblade knife
What a guy
Makes you cry
Und I did.


Why don't ya stay for the night, and maybe a bite...

It's a classic, so Don't Dream It – Be It.

Photos by Jess Commaille of Erindipity

Lyrics sourced from ST Lyrics

Rhino head Cake



This was a 40th birthday cake for a man. 
They held the celebration at a Game reserve.
I tried very hard not to make it look like it was a ‘trophy head’, and rather that it was peeping out of the bushes!


To get his eye to look more realistic, instead of painting the reflection with white paint, I brushed the whole eye with piping gel mixed with a few drops of alcohol. This way, there was a natural reflection.

I carved the basic shape of this cake and then I used 'cake pop mixture' (I like to call it 'reconstituted' cake!) to accentuate the lumps and bumps. I covered it with white fondant and layered on colours with an airbrush.
The horns and the ear are cereal treats covered in chocolate and fondant. They are held in with skewers and stuck on with chocolate.

 The fine wrinkles are made using a veining tool.
The shadows are sprayed on with an airbrush, but a similar effect can be accomplished using food colour dusting powders and a big (make up) blush brush.

The leaves are all hand cut, detailed with a veining tool and finished off with airbrush shadowing.


I will leave you with this Flight of the Concords song:

Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros

;) 


Wednesday 13 August 2014

Money Matters


Being a passion-driven business, cake decorating is sometimes a difficult career to follow because of the fact that generally, consumers don't really want to pay a big price for something that is eaten in a few fleeting moments.

It is definitely considered a luxury to purchase a piece of edible art.


Let's put cake prices into perspective:


I've done a bit of research* and found the following to be current South African statistics for some common luxuries:
  • The average South African woman spends R 1000 per month on beauty treatments, including hair, makeup, massage, nails and clothes. (That's R 12 000 per year)
  • The average South African woman spends R 152 per month on take-away coffee/ cappucino. (That's R 1824 per year)
  • The average middle-class South African family spends R 300 per week on take out/ eating out.
    Let's break this down a bit...it's R 15 600 per year.
    As you would need to eat anyway, roughly R 3870 is spent on restaurant profit per year. ( I've worked it out on a 33% profit rate for restaurants - which is below average).
These are just a few consumables that are very short-lived, but add to the quality of our lives. I'm sure there are many more luxuries we indulge in that are important to us individually, so we can live happy lives.

The average price for a one-of-a-kind cake with matching cupcakes, purpose designed just for your
child, for 1 day in a year is R 1000 -R 2000. (This is a rough estimate, as this depends on personal choice and size.)
We'll take a look, now at what that means for you,  the consumer:
  • A surprise/ happy reaction from your child on their special day.
  • A delicious home-baked cake, made with quality ingredients and no added preservatives.
  • A piece of art to build a theme around and boost colour schemes.
  • The opportunity to take awesome photos of your child's birthday, allowing for good memories which will be treasured forever.
  • Let's face it, it makes you 'look good' in front of friends/ family, showing that you can pull off a wonderfully themed party, right down to the food. 
Yes, that moment is fleeting, and that money could be saved for something more important, but if you look at all the other luxuries we indulge in, this is one small price to pay for more than a spoonful of happiness.

- Chef Sam

*Sources: Property24, Health24

Monday 12 August 2013

Sun and Moon Cakes in a Nutshell by Chef Sam


Two sweet little themes, ideal for first birthdays,
but they also make good baby shower themes.
In muted pastels, these are very effective for a calm and beautiful event. 
You are my sunshine... Using 2 tones of pink and yellow
gives this cake depth without overdoing the detail.
Twinkle twinkle little star...
Finishing this cake off with a spray of Amerimist's White Sheen Pearl airbrush color
gives this cake a magical feeling!


Cloud detail
Gum paste Sun PiƱata filled with pink Smarties for a partial Smash-cake!

 Watch this beautiful video and song by Eric Herman: The Tale of the Sun and the Moon




Tuesday 4 June 2013

Cat cakes in a Nutshell by Chef Sam

Every dog has it's day, every cat has it's way!
Garfield - one of my all time favorite characters!
(2013)
The Majestic Cheshire Cat
(2010)
Cute (attention seeking) white kitty
(2012)

Cute (sleepy) caramel kitty
(2012)

Funny brown kitty
(2012)

The Serious Cheetah
(2012)

Cuddly Baby Simba
(2011)

Black cat playing with butterflies
(2010)

Mittens the Cat (Bolt)
(2010)


The huggable: ALEX THE LION! (*crowd cheers*)
(2013)
Tigger - Always full of bounce.
(2012)

Baby Tigger
(2012)



















Hello?
Kitty!
Everyone has their favorite!


Princess cakes in a Nutshell by Chef Sam

Every little girl would love to be a princess! Flowing dresses, Beautiful jewels and Handsome princes!
Here are a few Chef Sam princessy creations from the years past!
Mr Willy Wonka and his Bride... not technically a princess,  but she deserves to be one in her  royal purple gown!
(2013)
Tinkerbell in a pink princess dress
(2013)

Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Portrayed here as a ballerina.
(2012)
Princess/ Pirate themed cake for a cute little girl

Princess Rapunzel, such a down-to-earth girl in all her barefooted glory!
(2013)
Cinderella and Snow White await their princes at the door to their castle.
(2012)

Rapunzel (2012)

Rapunzel in her tower. (2012)
I hope you enjoyed this rendition of 'Cakes in a Nutshell' by Chef Sam! ;)