The Cake Club Takeover

Cake Queen’s blog has been highjacked for the first post of 2017 by me, the bestie, but you can call me Lou…

Last Saturday saw the cake club meeting for the first time this year, we hadn’t all been together since our adventure to Choccywoccydoodah (yes I had to look up the spelling) in October but as always the hours flew by while we chatted and ate our way through the cakes on offer.

We were honoured to be hosted by the Cake Queen herself in her home and she did not disappoint with her baking skills, making a fab Chocolate Brownie (my personal favourite) and a psychedelic Vanilla Rainbow Cake. Also on offer were Fruit cake (rum/black cake), in cupcake form too with a rum frosting, an apple tart, chocolate, red velvet, salted caramel, and chocolate lava cakes. Not to mention the salt fish fritters, salt fish, and chicken patties that were on offer as savoury choices.

The landslide winning cake was the Fruit cake, made by Aunty Denise. This time her prize was a medal, a gift bag full of chocolate coins, and a 50% off card for any ‘Say It With Cake’ creation. Well done Aunty Denise and congrats on your prize.😊

A part of our 5 hour conversation included a discussion about the future of Cake Club and it was a unanimous decision to continue meeting. Cake club may have started out as a reason to get together once a month and eat as much cake as possible in an afternoon but I think it’s safe to say that it’s become an important part of everyone’s life. It gives the bakers in the group a reason to bake and a chance to experiment and gives everyone a chance to get together and share what’s going on in our lives, a luxury that would normally be reserved for special occasions. So we’re scaling back our meetings to every two months and we’ll see how that works for everyone.

In the meantime we’re taking suggestions on different places for the cake club to try, so if you have any, please feel free to leave them in the comments.

In the meantime I’m looking forward to our next meet up in March.

Thanks to the Cake Queen for having me as her first guest blogger, it’s been a blast.

Until next time (if she has me back),

Peace & Love,

Lou 😘

Cake Club: A Slice Of Summer & More!

The summer sun has arrived and before the Cake Club took it’s annual summer break, we indulged in an afternoon of cakes (yay!)

Following my latest cake decorating class, I wanted to practice my new icing skills and practice it certainly was! I also wanted to bake a new and different flavour cake and after some summery thoughts, I decided I wanted to incorporate strawberries. This lead me to think about what went well with strawberries…and basil sprung to mind! Strawberries and basil cake it would be (recipe to follow in a separate post I promise)!

Everyone made a terrific effort in their cake ideas, and as well as my strawberries and basil cake there was a choice of chocolate ganache cake, coconut cake, disaronno cheesecake, cupcakes and scones (with jam and clotted cream). We all enjoyed the offerings and I think everyone likes the idea of not knowing what will be on offer at each (home) Cake Club.

Once again we weren’t without topics of conversation and as the next Cake Club won’t be until the Autumn there will be a lot to discuss by October 😉

Cake Club: The Longest Yet…!

We achieved a new all-time record at this Cake Club…

This month’s Cake Club was lovingly suggested by a fellow Cake Clubber and I was very happy for the suggestion! We went to the Aspers Casino in Westfields for afternoon tea, and we were even more delighted on arrival that it was on an introductory offer at half the price – result!

There was a nice-looking spread of cakes, sandwiches and scones for us to share and although it wasn’t the most appealing afternoon tea in taste – the company and atmosphere more than compensated for it! We were enjoying ourselves so much that time escaped us and we ended up staying for cocktails too!

And what a treat they were! By the time Cake Club called it a day, the sun had gone to sleep and nightlife was beginning to get started! 😉 We had a great time and cannot wait for the next time when we get to put the world to rights again.

CAKE CLUB RATING: 3/5

Cake Club: Cheesecake Battles!

Okay so I’m a week late, but it doesn’t change what a delightful Cake Club it was…

Once again the spread was plentiful and appetising. Everyone made an effort to bring something different and decadent to the table. This time I decided to opt for a cheesecake! So I thought a Chocolate and Baileys cheesecake (far right) would be well received by the ladies – recipe to follow in another post! It was one of the easiest cheesecakes to make and was very tasty – a definite crowd pleaser. However I wasn’t the only person to bring a cheesecake along – novice baker Tracy (her words not mine!) also delivered an Oreo Cookie cheesecake – which got just a lot of Mmmm’s.

There was also Carrot Cake, Banana Cake, Cherry and Almond cake, Lemon and Strawberry cake, Pineapple Cake and Banoffee tarts – the choice was again overwhelming, even for me! However the supreme winner this time was Tracy and her Oreo Cheesecake. I also kept my promise and delivered the last winner’s (Julie) chosen Malteaser cake. This time the prize for Tracy is that we’ll be treating her to a cake at our next “Restaurant” Cake Club. Well done Tracy – can’t wait to taste your next creation! 😉

Cake Club: Sunny Skies & Cakes Galore!

It was that time again, when  we don’t need an excuse to enjoy cake…

The plan was to visit Forest Gate local – Coffee 7 this time. However on a stroll in the sunny climes before meeting the Cake Clubbers, I came across this secluded and very inviting cafe across the road –Familia Cafe! So the club made the decision to take advantage of this little place, where they promised we could lounge in the garden, while we sampled their sweet homemade treats!

The cafe did deliver as promised a tempting and well presented spread of cakes, brownies and muffins. The small garden provided the perfect escape from the generic hustle of the main road, and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. I chose the carrot cake and red velvet cake, and others opted for the cheesecake and meringues. Although there wasn’t resounding cheers for everything chosen, I was very happy with my choices and even got treats to go!

It was a lovely find for a sunny day, and everyone was pleased with the location – definitely somewhere I would go again!

CAKE CLUB RATING: 3/5

Cake News: Tenants Contracts Landlord To Give Them Birthday Cakes

This is a very amusing news story  and it relates to cake…

The Mail Online reported this week that some imaginative tenants were sent a rental agreement contract to sign by their landlord – but instead of a locked PDF, the property-owner sent an editable Word document. In turn the opportunistic pair added an extra clause to the contract – the provision of birthday cakes on both of their respective birthdays – which the landlord then unwittingly signed.

The tenants even stipulated that the birthday cakes must not be vanilla flavour – haha!

See a copy of the contract here that has spread like wild-fire online.

It’s a reminder to us all that we should read anything before we sign it. Let’s hope that the landlord knows a good baker!

Cake Club:The Christmas Festivities Begin…

The year is nearly at a climax, but the cake indulgence has just began for the season…

This was the last cake cub of the year, and it wasn’t too difficult finding the right venue. Leytonstone’s Horizon Patisserie catered for our every need and the staff were friendly and accommodating. We were spoilt for choice on the dessert and food offerings, and I had no choice but to take a “doggy-bag” with me!

Once again this was a place that many of the cake clubbers have pass before, but never realised what was inside…Everyone enjoyed their sweet treats – including my toddler! It was a nice venue to start the Christmas celebrations in and somewhere I would definitely visit again. Merry Yum!! 🙂 

CAKE CLUB RATING: 4.5/5

Club Cake: Amour De Gâteau (Cake Love) at Nice Croissant!

The Cake Club were treated to a delightful range of cakes and mouth-watering pastries at Nice Croissant (Wanstead) recently…

Once again we were given a taste of a continental life at this french patisserie! We enjoyed the home-baked goodies prepared on the premises by the very charming and accommodating chef and staff.

The chef was so keen on our club gathering that he gave us samples of his best cakes (see above), and they were indeed so moreish that the entire group bought treats to take home. The other show-stopper of the day was the “Ultimate Sausage Roll”, and  this was in such huge demand by all the visitors that it had sold out before we had even finished our delicacies.

My toddler was a honorary and “very welcomed” guest at Cake Club this time, and approved greatly of the chocolate brownie (see the evidence below).

This place was a gem of a find, and somewhere that definitely requires more than one visit…! 

CAKE CLUB RATING: 4.5/5

Cake Club: This Is Not Just Any Cake…This Is M&S Cake!

Although I have been tardy with my blog posting lately, we did have another “Cake Club Adventure” last month…

This time we took over the plush sofas at the M&S Cafè in Westfield, Stratford City. Once again we had a blast of a time eating all of the sugary and savoury treats that were on offer. As well as amusing ourselves with topical discussion and critiquing our choices of cakes. Although the M&S Cafè didn’t have the same elaborate choices that other venues have had, they were simple and tasty…

The “Cake Of The Month” – chocolate cake seemed popular amongst the group, and the carrot cake was a close second favourite. We all agreed that cost wise this has been the cheapest gathering yet, however this was the first one where I needed dinner afterwards. -_- With days until the next “Cake Club Outing” this one will be remembered for it’s coziness, and having the ‘M&S Factor!’

Cake Club Rating: 3/5

The Highs & Lows Of Dessert Life!

I always enjoy the point in a meal out where your dessert arrives…

Recently this has led to two different reactions from me…one of pure delight and glee (see above), and one of utter disappointed (see below). After a ‘cheeky lunch’ at the local Bill’s, this dessert took me and my friend to banana paradise  – a banoffee tart, with dulce de leche, caramelised bananas, chocolate sauce, malted banana ice cream and salted caramel pistachios. My mouth is watering as I reminise on the taste of this brilliance…my dining partner and myself were left with few words after eating this beauty on a plate!

However the experience wasn’t quite the same when I opted for the banoffee pie at the Breakfast Club…as you can see despite it’s name there was a lack of bananas, and it more resembled a banana flavoured turkish delight on biscuit! As a keen diner for both restaurants, the taste experiences at both restaurants were at either end of the satisfaction spectrum. And although the Breakfast Club were very gracious, and didn’t charge for the ‘cheesecake looking’ pud, I left feeling slightly cheated out of dessert!

In Other News…

An article by the Daily Mail this week has revealed that you can eat cake and still LOSE weight – through mindfulness and slow eating, your treats can still be enjoyed and savoured, whilst reducing the overall amount you consume. Never one to turn down a good slice of cake, once I start to eat and enjoy it…I think I would be reluctant to do the following:

“Put a piece on your tongue, but do not bite it. What do you now notice about the flavour? Move it around your mouth. Does it taste different in various parts of your mouth? Allow it to melt on your tongue. What do you notice as it melts? Just allow yourself to be fully present. What do you notice about your saliva? About your mouth itself? Does the flavour change over time as it melts? In what way?” – Daily Mail, April 2015

Instead I like to think I am mindful of the fact that I am enjoying the cake that I am eating, and it’s one of the few pleasures that doesn’t have to come with drastic consequences. As I have mentioned in previous posts, there is a constant observation that we should watch what we (and others) eat, which is totally fine if they are of an adolescent age, but if someone is having a “varied” and healthy diet and appetite, what’s wrong with the “occasional” treat. Another reader summed up this article brilliantly: “Delightfully Bonkers” 😉