Chat with Ron Ben-Israel

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of participating in the 3rd chat sponsored by PastryScoop.com and The French Culinary Institute - this week the cake guru was Ron of Ron Ben-Israel Cakes

Ron is an extremely talented cake designer with a great sense of humor. If you are able to catch a rebroadcast on the Style network of Martha Stewart's new show on wedding cakes, you will see Ron and his amazing flower creations that are so life-like.

Some interesting items from the chat:
- In season, Ron and his staff of 9 employees and supplemental interns will make 15 cakes a week
- Ron's entire staff is trained by him
- Ron's secret is to ice all cakes in Swiss Meringue Buttercream and then he adds the thinnest possible outside layer of fondant.
- Ron says fondant is delicious is small doses (thin and over rich buttercream) Of course, this is speaking of cakes that have been refrigerated, where the fondant doesn't harden and melts in your mouth.

In a couple of weeks, PastryScoop.com with be posting the transcripts of all 3 wedding cake chats to their web site - when they are available for viewing - I'll provide the direct link.

Bonnie's cakes to be featured in new movie

Just the other day I was corresponding via email with Bonnie of
Bonnie Gordon Cakes in Toronto and I found out that her cakes will be having the Hollywood spotlight shine on them in the new romantic comedy "The Perfect Man" which stars Heather Locklear, Hilary Duff and Chris Noth. Heather Locklear plays a cake artist and all the cakes that appear in the film are Bonnie's creations. Bonnie worked onset with Heather for 2 months to make all the cakes that Heather's character creates. The film is scheduled to be released on June 17th. Watch the movie trailer

Here are some links to articles that have been written about Bonnie Gordon recently:
--- Conspicuous consumption
--- Cake in the kisser, mmm
--- Designer has sweet business

Don't forget to enter this month's contests!

This month we're giving away:
- 150 Embossed Wedding Favor Boxes from Beaucoup
- a Wedding Web Site from WedQuarters
- 4 Great Romantic Novels
- 5 copies of Lifehouse's CD single 'You and Me'
- a copy of Intimate Weddings
- and a Ring Bearer and Flower Girl book set.

They're all FREE and you can enter one or all the contests!

Would you like to see anything in particular in a future contest?
Please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Chat with Colette Peter's of Colette's Cakes

Sponsored by PastryScoop.com and The French Culinary Institute - I was part of a live chat with Colette Peters of Colette's Cakes today. And a couple of weeks ago, I was able to participate in a chat with Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes. It was exciting to be able to chat with cake designers whose names are all over the bridal magazines.

I found it interesting when the question was asked about the latest trends in wedding cake design - Elisa replied "towards more traditional....white and round with sugar flowers". And Colette replied "wacky cakes".

When Colette was asked about what hot trend she sees for the coming years, she replied "I don't really know what will be hot - colorful for sure".

Some interesting details I found out about Colette:
- produces 4-5 wedding cakes per weekend
- was originally a painter and then a designer for Tiffany's for 8 years
- has been making cakes for 30 years
- started making cakes as a hobby, which then grew into a business
- says 'fondant will be forever'

For those of you who watched Colette on the Food Network Wedding Cake Challenge, she will be back again this year in the Mystery Cake Competition - the competitors won't find out the cake theme until the day before. (Taping takes place on July 8th)

Elisa of Confetti Cakes (a competitor in the Birthday Cake Challenge on Food TV) will be featured in the new show 'What's Hot, What's Cool' airing on July 1, 2005 at 9:30 am EST. In re-runs, be sure to catch Elisa in the show 'Fashionistas Turned Foodies'. Elisa will also be publishing a book due out in October...be sure to check out our web site as the launch date gets closer for more information.

I'll try to find out when the Mystery Cake Competition will air and as soon as I know, I'll post the details.

"Who's Wedding Is It Anyway?" has me hooked

I can honestly say that I am completely hooked on the Style Network show "Who's Wedding Is It Anyway?". Each show is 1 hour and follows 3 wedding planners along as they plan a wedding for a couple (includes preparations, ceremony and reception). I watched an episode tonight and on Saturday I must have watched 3 episodes. Tomorrow night at 10pm EST is the start of the all the new season (they are saying it will be a season of bossy brides, giddy grooms and pooped planners).

Has anybody else watched the show? Let me know what you think.
Here's the link to check out more details

Martha Stewart will air all-new wedding television specials

I received an email yesterday that announced the airing of all new Martha Stewart wedding tv shows. They started on May 29th and will continue to June 18 on the Style Network. There will be 3 all-new television specials in the series.

The 3 new wedding programs will air:
Saturday, June 4, 9pm - Destination Wedding
Saturday, June 11, 8 pm - The Art of Weddings: Cakes
Saturday, June 18, 8 pm - Things We’ve Learned

The Best of Weddings will air:
Sunday, May 29, 11 am and 7 pm
Tuesday, May 31, 9 pm
Wednesday, June 1, 9 pm
Friday, June 3, 9 pm

Visit the Style Network for additional information Tune in and then come back to our blog to post your comments on the show.