Sculpted Cake: Pokemon Pikachu Cake

This is a blast from the past.....Pokemon Pikachu. This yellow character- one of a fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri.

Birthday Cake: Knitting Needles and Yarn

Quite frequently, customers watch shows on the Food Network or TLC such as Ace of Cakes, Cake Challenges, and Ultimate Cake Off. The cakes on these programs are quite elaborate and tend to be expensive. Here are a few pictures that one of our clients sent to us but only had $35.00 budget...we created this cake to fit into his budget.

It is a 7" Round Buttercream Cake with Custom Sugarpaste Decor of knitting needles and bright and bold balls of yarn:




These are the cake pictures that he originally sent us from Pink Cake Box and other fine cake establishments:

Wedding Cupcakes @ Cape Cod: Waves & Whales

We created this fun wedding cupcake display for a wedding on Cape Cod. Blue waves and little whimsical whale cupcake toppers were on the menu for the bride and groom who work for an institution which studies and saves whale and other ocean wildlife.



We created this stand with the large cupcake display.

Checklist for Our Custom Cake Clients & Brides

We created this checklist & FAQ list for our valued customers and new clients, it has some great info-- and may answer a lot of questions that you may have after looking through our website and browsing our blog.......

Checklist of items to bring to your consultation:
O Occasion Date
O If delivery: Street Address of Venue. We will not schedule a delivery without a street address!
O Contact name and phone number of event planner or venue
O Estimated number of guests attending
O Pictures of cakes or displays from wedding periodicals or websites
O Color swatches
O Any items that will give us a feel of the event
O A copy of your invitation
O Any other inspiration!
O A cake topper that you have purchased or a picture of the one you plan to use, if any.
Can I just stop in to talk with someone about a tiered or custom specialty cake or wedding cake? Generally, we ask that you make an appointment via telephone or email for any specialty, tiered cake, or wedding cake. We may be able to assist you on a walk-in basis, but it is best to call ahead.

What should I bring with me to my consultation? Before coming in for a consultation it is a good idea to have some kind of direction or basic idea for a cake as well as a guests count plus or minus 50 people. It is very difficult for us to give you a specific price if you’re not sure whether you’d like a simple three-tiered cake with fresh flowers or an extravagant five tiered fondant cake covered in gumpaste appliqué flowers with a large bow. So take a look at our website, or wedding websites such as www.theknot.com or www.weddingchannel.com or simply search “wedding cakes” and see if you come up with a few cakes, cupcakes, or dessert buffets that strike you.

How far in advance should I place a birthday cake order? Any special occasion cakes with basic designs or a photo should be ordered 2-3 weeks before your occasion. Please call and check for availability for tiered cakes.

Can I make changes to cake once the order has been placed? Additions, changes, and cancellations can be made up until 72 hours before the cake is to be picked up. Cakes which include custom sugarpaste décor require at least 4 days notice for any changes which may result in an increased price.

Do I need to pay for the cake in full when I place the order?Cakes priced over $125.00 require a 50% deposit at time of ordering. The balance is due before the date of delivery. We accept personal checks or cash- NO debit or credit cards.

Do you offer delivery?Yes, we offer delivery. Delivery fees are priced per location/town and range from $15.00 to $100.00 depending on the distance from our bakery to your venue. We charge $50.00 per hour with a half-hour minimum for waiting time. This means that if we have to wait for you at the location, you will be charged a minimum of $25.00.

How far ahead should I make my wedding cake appointment? We suggest you call to book your appointment a 1-2 weeks before you would like to come in, and plan to come in about 5-10 months before your occasion.

Is there a fee for a consultation?Consultations, which include basic cake flavor samples, are $10. That deposit will be deducted from your cake order. Additional sample cupcake boxes are available: the cost is $15.00 and includes 5 total cupcakes in five flavors of your choice.

What is the price range for specialty and wedding cakes? Any tiered specialty cake is priced per person (these are cakes that are stack on top of each other). Basic tiered buttercream cakes with simple decoration such as polka dots or a ribbon start at $2.50 per serving, our minimum price for a two tiered special occasion cake is $85.00. Wedding Cakes start at $3.50 per serving and range to $12.00 per serving. Fondant Topsy Tuvry and Sculpted Shaped Cakes start at $4.00 per serving and range to $15.00 per serving. A good rule of thumb is to look at cakes that are featured in any magazines or publications; they are usually priced in the $12.00 to $18.00 range per person. The more elaborate, intricate, and time consuming the cake design, the greater price.

I’m a bride on a budget. Do you have any suggestions?First of all, be honest with us from the beginning if you are on a budget, this is something that will help us narrow down the choices you have. But, there are a few tricks of the trade to get a beautiful cake without spending a ton of money. Say for instance, you are having 175 guests. As opposed to getting a 4 tiered cake that would actually serve 175 guests. We can make a 3 tiered cake that would feed 75 people, your florist would provide the fresh flowers. We would add a ‘back up’ kitchen cake that will be cut in the behind the scenes- your guests won’t even know. Basically what this means is if this cake was priced at $4.00 per person, instead of paying $700.00 you would be paying $300.00 plus the cost of the sheet cake (an additional $120) therefore saving $280. As long as you don’t mind seeing a smaller cake, this is a great way to get a more detailed cake while staying within your budget.

Do you make “fake” or Styrofoam layers?Some customers have asked if we could use Styrofoam as opposed to cake to ‘bump up’ the height of their cake or they think they’ll save money by having all the tiers but the top tier in styrofoam. We typically do not do this, just because of the simple fact that the same amount of work, time, and detail is put into your cake whether it is cake or Styrofoam.

Can I get a small cake from you and buy the rest of the cake I need at a Supermarket?We, at The Artisan Kitchen, take pride in the flavor and scratch-made nature of our cakes and will not take on orders which mix our product with other bakeries products in order to defer costs.
It is nearly impossible to identify to your guests where each cake originated from, we will not take on orders where a small cake is being purchased as a display and sheet cakes are purchased from a supermarket or other vendor to defer costs.

Can you send me some pictures of cakes you’ve done in the past?We suggest either looking at our website www.theartisankitchen.com or our blog www.theartisankitchen.blogspot.com, which are updated on a weekly and sometimes daily basis.

What’s the best way to contact you? The fastest and easiest way to contact us is via telephone. Email is always an option as well, sometimes it can take 2-4 days for us to respond, if you do not hear from us--please call. Emails sometimes get stuck in our spam box!

Wedding Cupcakes @ Private Residence Padnaram, South Dartmouth, Massachusetts

We created this fun seaside cupcake stand for a wedding at a private residence in Padnaram, Massachusetts in the heart of South Dartmouth.

The casual tented wedding (which happened to be a tad windy and foggy!) celebrated the sea and local blooms and the cupcake display reflected those qualities.

Tiny wedgewood blue starfish and white chocolate sea shells topped each cupake and a Nantucket basket filled with fresh seasonal local flowers provided by Caterer, Lyn Keith of New England Clam Jams.



The custom white cupcake stand shown is our medium stand and holds 40-65 cupcakes.

Sugar Paste Flowers: Yellow Calla Lillies & Roses

This round buttercream cake was created for a 30th Anniversary Party a few weeks ago. Yellow sugarpaste calla lillies and ivory roses along with a bit of ivy top this 12" single tier cake. A white inscription rounds out the design.

Sugarpaste flowers can be created in any number of colors and different flower varieties and capture the essence of a real flower. They can be grouped on top of a single cake or arranged atop a tiered cake or a single flower can be place on the side, base or top of a cake for a more modern look.

The Artisan Kitchen Featured on BeantownBride.com

Last summer we had the pleasure of sprucing up a candy buffet bar at a wedding at the Kittansett Club for Sarah and Ryan. Recently, the wedding was featured on www.BeanTownBride.com! You can read a bit about the couple and there wedding HERE or by clicking on the photos below:

Baking Class: Breads and Rolls MARCH 28, 2010 10:00am-2:00pm

Sunday March 28, 2010
10am-4pm

Winter Series BAKING CLASS
Breads & Rolls

This six-hour class will feature four recipes taught by our pastry chef and our baking assistants.

A hands-on class, lunch included.
All recipes included with detailed course guide with instructions, conversions, and resource guide.

All students will bring home 3 loaves of bread and 1 dozen rolls

We provide everything you need, just come hungry for knowledge and a good loaf of bread.
Ingredients will be available for purchase at the conclusion of the class.

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL TO REGISTER!
Cost: $90.00
Last day to register 3/22/10

Buttercream Flat Art Cakes: Toyota FJ Cruiser

Here is a buttercream flat art cake that we created for a child's birthday party. Our buttercream flat art cakes are a simply frosted buttercream cake with a two-dimensional design on the top, in this case a Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Flat art cakes can be done in any number of designs, just remember that the design on the top is two-dimensional and sits flat on the cake itself. The great part about these cakes is that they are custom-- in any design and in any color scheme and the cake is iced in buttercream!

Valentine's Day: Stop Into The Shop!

The girls and I have been busily dipping strawberries and truffles in decadent dark and oh so smooth white chocolate for the Sweetest Day of the Year-- Valentine's Day.

The shop will be open on Saturday February 13th from 10am-4pm & Sunday February 14th from 10am-2pm.

We have a great selection of
+ Premium Select Chocolate Dipped Strawberries: sold by the pound.
+ Chocolate Strawberry CupCakes, Yummy CupCakes with Fanciful Valentine Decor
+ Cake Truffles: Peanut Butter, Vanilla Snowball, Chocolate Truffle, & even a Choice Mix including Red Velvet-- YUM!
+ Our Artisan Breads and Sandwich Loaves
+ Breakfast Pastries including warm cinnamon buns, plum & raspberry strudel pockets, and scones
+ & whatever else we baked up that day!

Valentine's Day: Chocolate Dipped Strawberries & Truffles & Cakes

1/2# Box Dark Chocolate Dipped Premium Strawberries $9.00




7" Single Layer Red Velvet Cake with Vanilla Buttercream. Serves 4 - decorated for Valentine's Day




Baker's Choice Cake Truffles- 1 dozen + white chocolate scallop shell- $24.00
- - may vary from picture below- -

CupCake Display: Confirmation Cake with CupCakes

This top cake display was created for a confirmation party at Turk's Restaurant in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. This small top cake fits perfectly on the top tier of our cupcake stand.

Sculpted Cake: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake

We created this Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake for a little boy Reese for his Reese's Birthday Party.

The giant Reese's Peanut Butter Cup sits on the bottom tier while a giant wrapped Peanut Butter Cup package sits on top. The cake also includes ribbon curls and curly-q's in the Reese's colors.







The cake flavored included nothing less than chocolate cake with peanut butter filling.

Buttercream Flat Art Cakes: Two Shih Tzus' Dog Cake

Our talented art staff created these two shih tzus' for the top of this cake: one tan & white puppy and one black & white dog. The tan shih tzus was created with a tiny bow!

This cake is one of our custom buttercream flat art designs- many customers ask us for cakes sans the fondant covering and this is a great altnernative to fondant while still having the look of a custom cake.





Here is what the birthday girl had to say about her cake....

Hello,

My sister Caty purchased my birthday from you and I just wanted
to tell you it was the most moist delicious cake I have ever eaten.

The two shih tzus' that you put on it look like the real thing.

I just wanted to express my thanks.

Regards,

J.D.

Wedding Cake @ Lebaron Hills Country Club

This simple four tiered hexagonal wedding cake was piped simply and classically for an elegant reception at the Lebaron Hills Country Club in Lakeville Massachusetts.

This design and piping technique is reminiscent of cakes from the late 1980's and early 1990's, many years before fondant and sugarpaste were popular options for wedding and celebration cakes.

Baking Class: Cookies 101

Last weekend we held a baking class entitled: "Cookies 101" where we explored different mixing methods, troubleshooting the cookie baking experience, and made 6 varieties of cookies. For a list of upcoming classes click HERE or visit http://www.theartisankitchen.com/classes.htm .

During the four hour class each student learned different measuring methods and the science behind the art of baking. Here is a sample recipe.

Thin & Lacey Tuile Oatmeal Cookies
42 – 1 oz cookies (1 generous Tablespoon)
Just like the thin chocolate chip cookies, these cookies will spread quite a bit on the sheet pan so be sure to only place 9 cookies on a tray at a time. I love to serve these as ice cream sandwiches with rum raisin ice cream.
Butter which is softened to a melting stage will yield a cookie that spreads and is thin & crispy.
Ingredients

By Cups
By Weight
Butter, unsalted, very, very soft. 1 ¼ c. 10 oz
Brown Sugar 1 ¾ c. 12 oz
Sugar ½ c 3 ¼ oz
Salt ¼ tsp ¼ tsp
Baking soda ¾ tsp ¾ tsp
Cinnamon ¼ tsp ¼ tsp
Nutmeg, freshly ground ¼ tsp ¼ tsp
Honey 2 T. 2 T.
Vanilla 1 tsp. 1 tsp
Eggs 2 2
All-Purpose Flour 1 ¾ c. 7.5 oz
Old-fashioned rolled oats 3 c. 10 oz
Method:
Place the butter, brown sugar, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, & honey in the bottom of a large mixing bowl or on your stand mixer. Cream with the paddle or beaters for 7 minutes on low or medium-low speed.
Turn off the mixer, scrape the bowl and add the vanilla and 2 eggs. Mix on medium speed for 1 ½ minutes or until the eggs are incorporated, and the mixture looks slightly curdled. DO NOT mix until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Add the flour and oats and mix until combined on low speed.
To make 1 oz cookies, scoop with the yellow handle scoop then divide each scoop in half or just use two tablespoons to scoop balls and scrape them onto the tray.
Using a plain aluminum cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, bake 375 °F for 10-13 minutes. They will be brown across almost the entire top, with a small ¼”- ½ ” coin of blonde in the center.
Cool completely on the tray.

The Artisan Kitchen @ Garden of Cakes, Boston Flower Show 2010

We are so excited to be showing our design at the Flower Show this year in Boston. I'm not quite sure what the design will bring, but I promise that it will be something not to be missed.

The Boston Flower & Garden Show
Wednesday, March 24 to Sunday March 28, 2010
Seaport World Trade Center
Boston, MA 02210



Here is a little bit about the cake display at the Boston Flower Show from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society:
A new feature - The Garden of Cakes - will offer yet another way to appreciate flowers, as adornment on dramatic and romantic creations by some of the region's top professional cake artists. See the latest designs from well-established Boston bakeries as well as the work of smaller, more boutique-oriented shops on the leading edge of cake design.

http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=119890207765

Funny things happen when you use Google....

Just like every other cake designer, I find myself pouring over current issues of cake and wedding magazines for those new trends or ideas and just to get a head start on what pictures are going to be in my brides' hands this year. I also find myself "Googling" cake phrases & such. Ironically, as I googled "Blue Starfish Cake" today I found a familiar cake in a block of photos on www.squidoo.com which allows you to make single web pages.

This teal and red starfish cake has always been one of my favorites and thanks to New England Clam Jams, Lyn Keith, for the photos!

You can find the article here:
http://www.squidoo.com/beach-wedding-cakes

Our nautical starfish wedding cake is the one in the top left hand corner from a wedding at the New Bedford Yacht Club in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts!

Slot Machine Cake: Take 2

Anniversary Cake: Tiered Buttercream Cake with Sugar Flowers

The two tiered buttercream cake was created for a 40th Anniversary party in Marion, Massachusetts.

The color scheme: a classic kelly green and cranberry was mimicked in the hand dusted edible sugar calla lillies, roses, ivy, and and berry flowers.

A small sugar plaque was created with a "Happy 40th" inscription. You'll see a closeup of the flowers below, and yes they are all edible and made by hand. We can create a number of cake toppers from sugar flowers in tens of different flowers and any color scheme. Think gerbera daisies and orchids, roses and hydrangea, dogwood flowers, or even tulips with hyacinths.

Bar Mitzvah Cake: New England Patriots Cake

We created this round buttercream flat art cake for a Bar Mitzvah at Hawthorne Country Club in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

Our talented artist created the logo, candle holders, and assorted theme colored footballs and silver pearls for the border. The silver plaques inscribed with "Mazel Tov Corey" are also edible, made of sugarpaste painted in edible silver.

Buttercream Flat Art Cakes: Daisies & Sailboats

We created this square buttercream cake for an 80th birthday this summer. Sailboats and daisies were the theme for the birthday girl. Classic white daisies with pale yellow centers are a favorite around here for that classic and feminine birthday cake. Topped off with a light sprinkle of tiny white non-pareils -- it is a simple and elegant combination.

Buttercream Kayak Cake

I am so lucky to have such a great artist right on staff, Jody Church doesn some amazing sculpting and if I give her a picture she has a realist eye that is utterly amazing! Here you'll see a simple two tiered buttercream cake with a kayak theme. Jody created not only the kayak out of sugarpaste but oars, life vests, and an "Happy Birthday" plaque for the top of the cake reminiscent of woodgrained signs at National parks.

Specialty CupCakes: Chocolate & Peanut Butter

When winter arrives we get a little bit of time to do some recipe testing and of course....tasting!

Here we created a Peanut-Butter-Cup CupCake: a devilish chocolate cake with an intense peanut butter buttercream topped with chocolate shards and chopped toasted peanuts....YUM!

Lily Pulizter Inspired Birthday Cake

This third birthday cake was inspired by Lily Pulitzer a clothing line known for its brights fushia pink and chartreuse lime green color palettes.



This simple round buttercream cake is decorated with hot pink and lime green sugarpaste polka dots. The hot pink whimsical "3" is a great substitute for a traditional birthday inscription.

Wedding Pies @ Eastover Farm, Rochester, Massachusetts

The Artisan Kitchen makes Boston Magazine Featured Weddings.....

We received a call from a prospective bride who started with...."I saw that you make tiny pies for weddings in Boston Magazine". The bakery was abuzz...."When were we in Boston Magazine?!"

We created individual pies, tiny cider donuts, and other tiny creations for the country chic dessert buffet along with tiny caramel and pecan apples from a local farm.

Below, are a few gorgeous photos from the wedding photographer Connie of Studio Atticus she can be reached via web or phone @......

http://www.studioatticus.com
making a soft poetry of the documentary tradition
Connie Allyson Miller
617.784.2780


Photo Courtesy of: Studio Atticus


Photo Courtesy of: Studio Atticus

Here is a little bit about Jaime & Mike's Wedding @ Eastover Farm in Rochester, Massachusetts


Photo Courtesy of: Studio Atticus

Real New England Weddings: Eastover Farm
Taking advantage of our region's diverse landscape, this couple ties the knot in style.
By Hillary Geronemus
Jaime Langione & Mike Endreny
October 11, 2008
Eastover Farm, Rochester, Massachusetts
Photographs by Studio Atticus


Photo Courtesy of: Studio Atticus

They may have found each other in Mexico, but Jaime and Mike's wedding was closer to home. Planning a ceremony at a working farm had its fair share of challenges, Jaime admits, but it was important to both of them that every detail be as local and sustainable as possible. Their caterer used organic, regional ingredients, the flowers were sourced from local farms, the centerpieces featured seasonal fruits and nuts, and the individual pies (in lieu of cake) came from a bakery down the road. The setting itself, a green field overlooking a pond, perfectly embodied the couple's green leanings. And with grasshoppers and butterflies following her down the "aisle" and two swans appearing out of nowhere during the vows, Jaime says, "nature came through for us."

VIEW THE SLIDE SHOW! Click HERE

Catering: Season to Taste, 617-921-9130, seasontotastecatering.com
Flowers: Stacey Daley, Bay End Farm, Buzzards Bay, 508-759-8050, bayendfarm.com
Desserts: The Artisan Kitchen, 265 Walnut Plain Rd., Rochester, 508-763-4905, theartisankitchen.com
Music: Ceremony and cocktails, the Pegheads, 401-247-0159; dinner and dancing, Soul Kitchen, 617-469-4381, soulkitchenband.com
Tents: Sperry Tents, 11 Marconi Ln., Marion, 508-748-1792, sperrytents.com

Summer Wedding: Plymouth Massachusetts Waterfront

With all of the recent snow on the South Coast of Massachusetts we decided to take a look back on summer and some of the wedding cakes that we created!

This four tier casual strawberry shortcake buttercream cake was the feature at a clambake reception on the waterfront in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The bride asked for us to create a swirl pattern in the buttercream for the look of a "homemade" cake iced in whipped cream.



The cake flavor included vanilla cake with strawberry filling, the top tier featured gluten-free cake!

Wedding Cake & CupCakes @ Whaling Museum

We created this unique cupcake display tier for a wedding at the Whaling Museum.
160 cupcakes covered the tiers of our large cupcake display tier topped with blue hydrangea blossoms, dark chocolate daisies and tiny forest green leaves.



The top cake, saved for the couples anniversary was a chocolate torte filled with buttercream and topped with a hand sculpted owl perched on a dark chocolate branch. Jody, our resident artist, created the owl and branch by by hand, her work is absolutely immaculate!



The cupcakes flavors included devilish chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing and was delivered to the Whaling Museum in Historic Downtown New Bedford.

Graduation Cake

A few weeks ago we sent one of our most valued employees off to Culinary School and my alma mater, The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Dana was here at The Artisan Kitchen from the age of 16 and although we'll really miss him, I couldn't be happier to see him follow his dream at the country's premier culinary college.

Below, is Dana's high school graduation cake, a chef's toque. These are the tall hats worn by students and chef instructors at the CIA- quite fitting don't you think!



Best Wishes Dana!

The Artisan Kitchen: Looking Back At 2009

We have lots of pictures of the bakery, our staff, and yummy things that we make but I never seem to be able to share them so here is a favorite....our artisan loaves and sandwich breads on a cooling rack!



All of our breads are scaled, formed, slashed and packaged by hand. Our list of varieties ranges from cheddar onion dill to classic semolina sesame loaves.