Cake Talk

I love all things sweet, and so I think it's but natural that this blog would contain an article or two about cakes.  Next to ice cream, I always check out the pastry section of the dessert station whenever I'm in a buffet.  So you would think it's a piece of cake for us deciding on what brand of sweet confection would we be using for our wedding day next year.

Wrong.

Blame it on the Ilocana in me (at least 50%) or the GI (Genuine Ilocano) in my hubby to be.  With a growing list of things to buy and spend for this wedding, we're really cutting costs on things that would not be needed anymore once the wedding is over.  This includes the gown which I'm wearing only once, the flowers which will just wilt and die after the day, the invitations which our guests will just probably throw away after our wedding, and the cake.

Yes, you read it right.

The cake is not our priority because all we need is a slice for each other during the cake cutting ceremony, and that's it.  Unlike weddings in the past wherein the couple spends almost a month's salary for multiple tiers of cake which they will share with all of the guests, M and I just cringe at the idea of parting with more than 5k for a piece of sweet treats which only the two of us would enjoy.  Our package with Enderun already includes several kinds of pastries, puddings and fruits, so we saw no need to add more costs to the wedding budget.  There was even a point sometime during the pamanhikan where I blurted out to my family that if I had it my way, I'd rather we exchange a slice of pizza since pizza delivery is only about Php500. Hahahahaha.  Of course, my mom and sister gave me dagger looks, so I dropped the idea.  But really, do I have to spend that much for literally just one slice of that sweet, tasty goodness covered in icing?

As the hands-on bride to be, my first instinct was to check out two of the best known commercial cake suppliers in the Metro.  You always find their stores anywhere you go, so I thought that because of the volume of their production, they would charge a little lower than the other cake artists.  But no.  I even got quoted as high as Php 18,000 on a three-layered cake with only one layer edible.  The cake, in fairness, looks grand and can really be a centerpiece for the reception.  But I only want a simple design that can still look cute for the photos.  So there.  I searched, searched, searched and searched some more.  The ones that are less than 5k look so ugly and so plain.  The ones higher than 5k look too opulent and gaudy for my taste.  And parting with our hard-earned money is always a serious discussion with my hubs, so we really prayed for a cake supplier that is within our range of what is reasonable.  

So how do I reconcile tradition (cake cutting) with our wedding preps philosophy of spending only for what we really need?

I had our wedding cake customized.  I specified to the prospective suppliers that I only want a three-tiered cake, with only the bottom layer as edible.  Then I sent the pegs I want to all cake artists I considered.

And who's the chosen one?


It's Hearts and Bells.   I still can't believe we just booked a cake supplier today.  I'm really pleased that they already have a prototype of the design I want, so there was no need to customize.

Hooray for our last supplier booking for this year!

Still and all, I'd say it isn't a piece of cake deciding on who'll be making your wedding cake.  ;-P

All cakes baked by Hearts and Bells

All pictures taken from their facebook account 

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Hearts and Bells 
934 Alvarado Street, Binondo, Manila
Telefax # 244-0255
Mobile # 0917-5379388
Emaill:  heartsnbells@yahoo.com

Wedding Library
2/F Main Building, SM North Edsa
Telephone # 926-6993 (By appointment only)

Wedding Library
5/F SM Megamall Building B
Telephone # 638-5791 (By appointment only)

Cupcakes Invasion

I really must have such a sweet tooth to write about this and this.

And now here's what I give you, dear readers, for tonight:  fantastic polvoron cupcakes by Double Delights!
Yes, you read it right:  polvoron and cupcakes in one.  I was so curious how they tasted because they looked so cute and so nice.  I bought myself four pieces today.  I had such a hard time picking out the top 4 cutest cupcakes, so I just chose a blue angry bird, a zombie, a Santa Claus, and a rose.  

Here's how they looked when inside the plastic case

Here's how they looked without the plastic cover

Side shot....I love how cute the zombie is!

(Is that an oxymoron?  hehehe)

The rose looks cuter in person than here on my photos

Wanna order?  Here are the details.

The cupcakes were a bit pricy at php35 per piece.  But judging by the artistry and labor that went into the production, I think I'd give them 5 out of 5.  Maybe I can give these cute ones to my bearers, flower girls and kiddie relatives.

How about you, what's your latest wedding-related find?  ;-)

I Love Coco Cakes!

Remember my last post about cakes?  See, I told you, if only choosing your cake supplier is just a piece of cake!  It was even easier choosing my photographer, videographer and make-up artist than to choose the cake we're going to have for our big day.


This week, while browsing through my gmail account, I remembered that I once recommended Coco Cakes to my fellow w@wies.  I do not know Michelle Teves, the owner / cake artist, personally but I do know someone who vouches for the quality of cakes that she produces.


When I checked out her site, I was blown away.  Look!

This teacups-inspired cupcakes was Michelle's first creation.  Cute, di ba? 

 Who would've thought this tank was edible?  If it weren't from Michelle's site, I would've thought this was from a toy store!  That's how realistic her cakes are.

 Scrabbles, anyone?

 How about a black iPhone for a cake?

 Or perhaps, a white one?

 Or this basketball and elmo cake?

 This made me go WOW!  A pair of Caterpillar shoes for a cake!  Astig!!!!!

A pure labor of love --- asparagus cake 

 How about giving away Angry birds cupcakes?  I'm sure our flower girls and bearers will be more than happy to grab one!

Cute angry birds cake 

An all-edible treasure chest cake 

I'd love to have this....a Nikon DSLR cake! 

Ruffles cake with baby booties for a sweet angel 

A rosy cake 

Rosy cake again 

And to top it all off.....

 Sushi cake toppers!

Here's the final product of the sushi cupcakes...

All edible sushi toppers....yum yum yum!

I shot Michelle an email for the two-layer rosy cakes and she quoted Php 2,000.  I initially wanted the rosy cake since M has been giving me various colors of roses ever since we started going out, so I'm being senti about it.  But when I saw the yummy sushi cupcakes, wow, I was blown away.  It's perfect for my Cherry blossoms / Japanese-themed wedding!!!

Michelle prices the products based on orders and complexity of design, so it's best to coordinate with her and let her know your specifics.  You would have to agree with me that her cakes look too cute but they sure won't hurt your pockets  ;-)

Hay. This post has got me all giddy and excited about my cake.  And to think I've said previously that I might go for a cake buffet.  Let's see  ;-)  Michelle just might change my mind about this cake thing.  

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I Love Coco Cakes by Michelle Teves

Website:  http://ilovecococakes.wordpress.com/

Inquiry:  http://ilovecococakes.wordpress.com/order-from-coco-cakes/

Email:   ilovecococakes@gmail.com

Note:  All pictures taken from I Love Coco Cakes website and FB page.

Piece of Cake?

Simple, timeless and elegant cakes by Elizabeth Anne Designs

What will your wedding cake look like?  Do you have a design in mind, or are you giving the bakers free reign?  Is it going to be a three-tiered delight, or a five-layered treat?  Will it be a carrot cake, plain chiffon, caramel, or any other specific flavor?  Will it be the cake you'll be availing from your caterer (usually included in the package), or are you having it customized from a different supplier?

Way back when I still didn't have a boyfriend, I already knew what I want my cake to look like.  It'll look like the picture from Elizabeth Anne Designs which I posted on top.  Simple, fuss-free, minimalist.  But then since joining Weddings at Work, my tastes have evolved.  Choices for cakes have become so wide range that every now and then I shift from the minimalist design to the uber grand, and back.  And to think it's just a cake!  We're not even talking yet of how much should be spent on a supposedly simple concoction formed out of mixing butter, eggs, sugar and milk.  

If only I have enough moolah to spend, I have no doubt as to who will bake my cake the day I marry Mr. M.  It's Joy San Gabriel, bar none.  Just look how yummy and visually appealing her cakes are:

 I love how this cake captures what husbands ought to do hehehehe  :-)  Panalo, di ba?  ;-)

It's pink, and I like it.  Cake + cupcakes + cute cake toppers.  I just love how elegantly Joy combined all three without making them look like some kiddie's birthday cake

I want one!

Wow, look at all those yummy sweet treats from Shauna Younge Dessert Tables

 Talk about color coordination and presentation

Now here's the catch.  The cheapest wedding cake I found from the most reliable sources in the wedding industry costs Php 5,000.  Whaaaatt?????? It sounds so scandalous to me!

With that price tag, I don't know about you, but cakes are and will definitely NOT be on my list of priorities for my wedding.

When M and I started listing down the wedding items which we could scrimp on to save more money for our after-wedding life, one of the things that came to my mind was the cake after I found out that it costs almost the same as one whole lechon already.  After all, it's just the two of us who will slice and enjoy it for ceremonial purposes.  It's just a less than 3-minute feature in our wedding and before I could even swallow a spoonful of it, we're onto the next part of the festivities.  Budget brides like me just can't afford to spend so much on a piece of item that will probably end up being given away to guests or being brought home by my relatives right after M and I eat a mere spoonful of it.  I just can't accept the fact that I will be paying Php 5,000 for a cake with only a single layer edible  (the other two tiers are just made of styrofoam).

So what are my options?

I'd probably buy a couple of cakes in various flavors and serve them buffet style:

 For those with sweet tooth, check this out!  Cake Buffet from Marlene's Fans Club

 I'm having a pink-themed wedding with hints of green, and thanks to this picture of a cake buffet by Project Wedding, I'm getting some ideas on how to execute my big day.  Perfect.  :-)

 The more, the merrier.  That seems to be the dictum of whoever prepared this delectable spread.  Photo taken from the Flick account of ♥ he@rt ♥

 

 Cakes with a Japanese twist.  Photo by Bryan Lyt

 We're having a Japanese-themed wedding, so maybe I can take a cue from this picture, eh?

Now when all else fails, I can rely on one of my favorite local brands, Red Ribbon cakes, for my wedding.  Think of how many cakes I can buy with just Php 2,000 ---- and they're all edible, so our guests can enjoy these sweet treats, as opposed to shelling out Php 5,000 for a three-tiered cake with only one layer edible.  
 

Source:  article.wn.com

Ah, and let's not forget another favorite:  Estrel's caramel cakes.   Wow, composing this blog alone makes me want to pick up the phone to place an order....

M always gives me roses.  Maybe I can incorporate that detail in the cake for our wedding like what this picture shows....

A pot of roses for a cake.  Brilliant idea from Estrel's.

See how very affordable Estrel's cakes are based on their price list:

Writing this post got me all thinking.  What do I really want for a wedding cake?  Apparently, there's too many options to explore.

If only deciding about this matter is a piece of cake  ;-)