Cakes for My Daughter's Winx Party: Red Ribbon and Iko's Compared

Left: Doll cake with wings from Iko's; Right: Spring Flowers Cake from Red Ribbon 

                  

For my daughter's 5th birthday, I got her involved in deciding on her party cake. For weeks we'd look at pictures of Winx cake ideas online. I originally wanted a single-layer fondant cake with edible toppers, but little Narra had other ideas: she wanted non-edible toppers she could keep as toys after the party; she wanted the kind of icing she could swipe off the cake with her finger; she wanted edible sugar flowers that can be plucked from the cake; she wanted it taller than a single-layer cake - she surely knew what she wanted! I had only one condition: It had to be within my budget of 2,000 pesos.  We ended up with 2 cakes that easily met all our criteria! We got one cake from Red Ribbon  (1400php) and another from Iko's (499php) and I just have to compare the two! 

Narra's first cake was chosen from Red Ribbon Bakeshop's online cake catalogue. She already had tiny Winx-themed figures at home and she asked me if she could decorate her cake by herself (and by that she means that deciding where to position the dolls on the cake will be entirely up to her).  So I had to look for the type of cake that can accommodate her toys as toppers. I was worried they wouldn't stand upright on their own when planted on boiled icing, so I looked for designs with 2-3 layers so we could lean the toys on the sides of the cake (and a tall cake was one of Narra's requests).

3-layer "Spring Flower" cake from Red Ribbon's "Debut" collection
(doll toppers are from Narra's own collection)

                                

I didn't find the cake in the usual "Female Birthday Cakes" section. I looked for options in the "Wedding/Debut" section because only cakes in that category can have customizable colors to suit party themes. We picked the design called "Spring Flowers", Narra asked for a pink and purple cake with green border icing (the border in the catalogue was white originally). The flowers are edible gum paste flowers with customizable colors too. The number on top is made of sugar (and can be delicate - ours broke when we removed the cake from the box, and we resorted to scotch tape for an emergency fix - it held up til the end of the party). The total height of the cake with accessories is around 18 inches. We cut the cake in take-home portions and sent them off as souvenirs - and the recipients were reportedly quite happy. At 1,400 pesos I found this cake reasonably priced for the quantity of cake and quality  of execution. I also love how Red Ribbon staff were so accommodating with requests - they even allowed me to pick up the cake late at night, past closing hours! So I wouldn't have to swing by in the morning. :-)   

With the remaining cake funds available, I was able to buy another cake for Narra - a doll cake from Iko's! Months ago, when we visited their shop in Pasig, Narra saw their doll cakes and asked me if she could have one for her birthday. I found the cake appropriate only for an intimate party because of the modest quantity of the cake. In terms of height, it stands tall at a little over a foot, and offers a visual impact statement (kids and adults alike gave positive feedback). It's nice to look at and captures the imagination of children of all ages. At 499 pesos, it's quite a steal!

The edible layer between foil on top and styrofoam at the bottom.

                               

It's not the kind of cake you should serve to guests though, don't get me wrong, it is delicious! But gaining access to the edible parts is challenging and cumbersome - and should best be done in private. The top layer from the doll's waist down to its knees is covered in icing-concealed foil! The bottom layer (from the doll's ankle downwards) is made of styrofoam. The only edible parts are from the doll's knees down to it's calves - so there isn't much - it's just enough for a small group of people - but it's yummy! The chocolate cake itself is denser than Red Ribbon's, and the icing too - is much more "swipe worthy" than Red Ribbon's too sticky boiled icing. When we took of the wings and washed off the icing, we were left with a forlorn naked doll - the party was truly over. As the saying goes: you can't have your cake and eat it too.  Thank goodness for photos!

Narra's candle-blowing (after we replaced her number topper with a candle)

For the candle-blowing moment at Narra's party, we had a few issues.  The doll-cake did not have any suitable space for a candle, and the placement of the candle on the 3-layer Spring Flower cake was at the front, which meant we'd have difficulty taking a good photo of her.  Our solution? We removed the "Number 5" at the top of her cake, stuck a candle right on top, and got Narra to stand on a stool so she could reach her candle and blow it out while facing her guests. I realize that Iko's offers the option of creating a faux mini-cake which can be "carried" by the doll on her arms, and a candle can be positioned on it.  The Red Ribbon "Spring Flowers" design has a huge flower with leaves positioned on top, I suggest - for other moms who plan on getting this cake for their kids - to forego the leaves, and request instead, that a candle be inserted next to the top flower.  Lesson learned: I need to be more prepared next time - I should anticipate all requirements for the candle-blowing moment and figure out a child-friendly and photo-friendly placement for the candle! 

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In the end I'm happy we had both cakes.  Dealing with both suppliers was straightforward and fuss-free, and both bakeshops were comfortingly accommodating and professional.  McDonald's SM Aura does not allow cake to be served within their premises so the cakes were only for display and photo-op purposes, but we were happy to have a cake to partition off as take away for guests (the Red Ribbon cake) and another cake to bring home to enjoy (our Iko's doll cake). 

The cakes really weren't just for Narra. They were really also for my own mother - who belonged to a brood of 12 children! - she didn't have fancy birthday cakes growing up - that's just the way it was in the 1950's - for the post-war generation - theirs was an age of frugality and resource-stretching home economics.  My mother always has a wistful look on her face, a sense of nostalgia (for something she's always wanted but didn't get).  She made sure that growing up, I would always get cakes for my birthdays :-D  I have fond memories of icing and sugar flowers, and blowing out candles - and on my 18th birthday she ordered a towering cake, 5 feet tall, with lights and fountains - all the bells and whistles! - we had cake for days... I want to laugh and cry at the same time, just thinking about what getting that cake for me truly meant for my mother.   It's my turn now, to pass on to my daughter, what my mother provided me: love, joy, child-like wonder, and a lifetime's worth of memories that comes with birthday cakes.

Related Post:

Celebrating Narra's 5th Birthday: Winx Party at McDonald's SM Aura
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2014/05/winx-birthday-party-at-mcdonald-sm-aura.html

On Aiden's Birthday: The Gruffalo-Themed Cake

The celebrant, taking a break from his pool party, to blow the candles on
his finely-crafted Gruffalo cake tower.

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood

A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good

"Where are you going to little brown mouse?

Come and have lunch with me in my underground house."

"It's terribly kind of you, Fox, but no --

I'm going to have lunch with a gruffalo."

"A gruffalo? What's a gruffalo?"

"A gruffalo! Why didn't you know?"

...So starts the best-selling book by writer and playwright Julia Donaldson - a well-loved story for parents and kids in the post-2000 era.  I first saw "The Gruffalo" with my kids, animated, on DVD.  Sadly, we missed the theater production that was staged in Manila a few months back.  Last weekend, I was thrilled to "see" the Gruffalo, exquisitely rendered in cake and cupcakes!!!  Our friends Aiel and Sabina threw a party for their son, Aiden, and the little boy had his "favorites" on his special day.  He obviously loved to swim! And he loved the Gruffalo!  It was a high point in the party when our little celebrant, swaddled in a towel and still dripping from the pool, blew out the candles atop his wonderful cake tower!   And when he was told he could already have some cake, he went for it!  With his arms still snugly wrapped around his body, he leaned towards his cake, and took a playful nibble - amidst the cheers from an appreciative audience.   I loved the unguarded moment, when a little boy was allowed to be a kid, and everyone else basked in his youth.   Ah, what a few candles on a lovely cake could do. It could stir the imagination.

The Gruffalo cake with the celebrant's "stamp of approval" - his teeth marks!!!

"A gruffalo, what's a gruffalo?" (asked some of the other adults in the group - those single without kids)
"A gruffalo! Why didn't you know?"(answered some of us, parents raising babies of the digital age)

"He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws,
and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws,
He has knobbly knees, and turned out toes,
And a poisonous wart at the end of his nose"

I tried to explain to our non-parent friends who or what the Gruffalo was, with a brief and flat synopsis of the plot, delivered in a very cold fashion. "The story is right, but you're saying it wrong" said our host, Aiel, who explained how well written the children's book is.  I was rightfully put to shame!  To rob the story of its rhythm and rhyme, to speak of it without its cadence and charm - is to reduce its value so, so much!  For there is so much more to it than its plot - with much of its beauty derived from its being a song.  So I promised myself to rectify the situation! (Hence, this blog post with excerpts from the book!).  "You can watch it on Youtube" said Aiel to me, and the rest of the group.  But I wanted something more old school.  Sure, we have the DVD at home, and we can watch it repeatedly - but I preferred to have the book, and read it out loud to my kids, in my own voice - so I could savor the words, and have my kids lean on me, and hear me speak, and feel me read, as I put them to bed.

The Gruffalo cupcakes, with yummy gummy tusks, complete with a green wart on his nose!

As luck would have it, Aiden's birthday is right before my daughter's and his mom, Sabina graciously asked me "What would Narra like for her birthday?"  And I figured, I could link Aiden's party to Narra's gift, to weave memories and strengthen ties.  I asked for a copy of the Gruffalo book.  And it arrived a few days later (bundled with another book, thanks Sabina and Aiel!).   And when it came time to read Narra the story, I started by asking her if she remembers Aiden's cake, and the cupcake she chose for herself, of the little mouse.  And so the circle of inspiration is completed: a book inspires a cake, a cake inspires a mom to read a book.  And the magic of one afternoon party continues on... 

Narra with her "little mouse" cupcake.

Sabina thanked Cake Avenue Bakeshop and Annette Sison for the cake and towers.

I hope I got the correct website:

http://www.cakeavenuebakeshop.com/

The "Happy Cream Puff Croquembouche" for My Parents' Anniversary

The Croquembouche from Happy Cream Puff.

I was looking for something new, and ended up getting something traditional - but novel nonetheless.  It was my parents' anniversary last week, and I volunteered to take care of getting them a "cake".  I considered the usual trendy suspects: a custom-crafted fondant cake, or cupcakes with customized toppers, or cake pops.  In the end, I decided to go for a less common option (at least here in the Philippines, that is): I got a croquembouche.  And it wasn't just the usual croquembouche made of uniform profiteroles piled high and bound together with threads of caramel. Nope.  I got the colorful variety of cream puffs iced in various flavors, and festooned with fondant flowers for a bit more flair. It had two eclairs wedged at the center of the tower for the dedication: "Happy Anniversary Walter & Sonia".  What a joyful looking creation it was from Happy Cream Puffs.

My parents, and my excited daughter Narra, discussing whether we
could have our "cake" and eat it too!

In the past, the first pastry shop that came to mind when considering getting a croquembouche in Manila is the well-established Dulcinea.  They offer the classic version, which looks very much like the elegant desert centerpieces that figure prominently in French weddings, baptisms, and other family celebrations.  Happy Cream Puff, by comparison, has more adventurous arrangements and flavors to offer.  At their shop, they have a design catalogue of petit puff design combinations to choose from.  There are also trims available, for an added fee.  Available trims include fondant ribbons, from elaborate ones used as toppers, or a simple bow at the bottom, or in my case, gum paste roses in red and white, framed by green leaves, scattered throughout the tower.   The croquembouche looked too pretty, it felt a shame to dismantle it.  My dad kept saying: "you can't have your cake and eat it too" and so he wanted to just "keep the cake".  My daughter Narra, on the other hand, has been dying to get a piece.

Seated: Dad, Narra, and mom; Standing: Marion, me and Guijo.

Happy Cream Puffs' Croquembouche comes in three sizes: small (approx. 50 pcs); medium (approx. 75); and large (approx. 100).  I initially ordered a small one, then upgraded it to a medium-size last-minute, on the very morning I was scheduled to pick it up.  Good thing the guys at Happy Cream Puff make their pastries fresh, assembling the cream puffs just minutes before pick-up/delivery.   The staff were very accommodating with my requests, for additional decor, and change in size, and even for my requests for boxes and paper bags to put the cream puffs in so I can send them home to guests as souvenirs.

My daughter Narra, leading the effort to dismantle the croquembouche.

My parents' anniversary celebration was a lunch buffet with family at Beurre Blanc in Resorts' World.  Everyone was full by the end of the meal, and desert was included in the spread, so the cream puffs really had to be packed for taking home. We put a couple of dozens in boxes for the celebrants to keep, and the rest went to paper bags for taking home...and a few petit puffs ended up being eaten on the spot despite protestations of being too full to eat another bite.  Guests reported that the puffs were fresh, with a creamy light filling, and a crunchy exterior... true to its name: croque en bouche in French means "crunch in the mouth".  True to its name indeed, "Happy Cream Puffs" made us happy.

Family pic outside Beurre Blanc.

To order your own croquembouche from Happy Cream Puffs visit:
http://www.happycreampuff.com/

A Towering Carnival Cake and Custom Crafted Candy for Gonzo's 1st Birthday

The carnival and circus themed cake and mini cupcakes.

It made me giddy-happy. Like a star-struck fan I stood there in front of this awesome carnival-themed cake at Gonzo Diaz's first birthday party.  Like going to an actual carnival itself, this cake got me really excited.   It was a mechanical wonder, with many spinning elements: a ferris wheel, a clown, a seal on its round pedestal with a ball balancing on its nose - a beautiful carousel, front and center, and a circus tent on top! All these rotated, round and round, adding yet another dimension to an already multi-dimensional cake. It had height, and depth, color and movement,  there were animal-shaped cookies on sticks, coated with sugar icing, planted on layers of cake at various heights.  

The circus and carnival inspired cupcake toppers and cake trimmings.

The cake is every bit the embodiment of the actual party.  The venue was transformed into a tent, and there were food carts serving pop corn, and cotton candy, a carousel was set up for the kids and a jester milled about. These fun elements were recreated in sugar, and chocolate, crowning dozens of colorfully iced mini cupcakes.  I loved the color combinations, the rich hues of primary and secondary colors. Countless stars and discs, and other festive figures serves as fun trimmings.  The cake was so huge I couldn't even count how many layers there were.  

The finely-crafted spinning carousel

It was truly a "feel-good" cake.  It reminded me of the London Circus that came to town in 1984. I was seven, and my dad took me to Cubao, outside Araneta Coliseum, where a huge tent was pitched.  It was a father-daughter date, just him and me, my first time to see a circus, a spectacular night I never forgot. The carousel also reminded me of Paris, when we did our family's treasured first trip to Europe.  I remember the carousel at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, which was rivaled in grandeur by the one on the way to Sacre Coeur at Montmartre. Carousels are simply magical. This cake made me marvel at its intricacy, and gush at its cuteness, and it made me very happy.

Narra, distracted by the attractive cupcakes.

Narra, too, was enthralled.  I caught her inspecting the cake table studiously, many times throughout the party.  She'd play a bit, run around, then come back, and stare some more.  I told her to wait until the celebrant had blown his birthday candle, before getting a cupcake. As she waited, there were many other party food stuff to keep her occupied.  There was a cotton candy machine, and pop-corn cart, an ice cream station, hotdog stand, and a Candy Corner shop which had a fun selection of gummy treats.  There were also mini burgers, chicken lollipops, spaghetti, and assorted pastries.

Food carts outdoors: cotton candy, popcorn, hotdogs, and ice cream carts.

For the adults, there were added meat treats from two carving stations offering savory fiesta dishes for adult palettes: there was an entire roasted calf, with a roast suckling pig right next to it.  The meat trimmed off them were served with yummy sauces. A plateful of meat coupled with a fine selection of local and foreign beers made the adults very, very, very happy.  And on the tables, lay jars of candy, as take-home gifts for all guests. 

Sweets at our table: roasted calf, good old Stella, and custom crafted candy giveaways.

And it wasn't just any candy in the jars.   It was custom-crafted stuff, with the name of the celebrant spelled out, that is, rolled into the hard candy as it was made by hand. Wow. Its my first time to see this. I still can't imagine how the candy-makers managed to fold the letters G-O-N-Z-O into the cylinders of sugar.  Working with sugar is no simple matter - it requires much skill to figure out the right temperature at which to pull, twist, and fold patterns into long ropes of syrup handled expertly as the sugar mixture cools and hardens.  Without seeing how it was made, I marveled at the art and science behind the making of these customized sweets.  Talk about having a conversation piece!  The people at our table deliberated on the possible methods employed to achieve this feat. One can learn something new at every party :-D  

The custom-crafted candy with the celebrant's name rolled in. 

Too bad I didn't get to find out who made the cake, so I can't give credit to whoever made it, though I would want to congratulate them on their fabulous creation. As for the custom-crafted candy, the jar we took home had a tag with the contact info: Twisted Candy (0932-87CANDY).

Related post:

Gonzo's Carnival-Themed Party and What Makes a Grand Party Great Fun!

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2012/07/gonzos-carnival-themed-party-and-what.html

Swiss Choco Cake from Becky's Kitchen For Guijo's 3rd Month

Guijo's 3rd Month Cake: Swiss Choco
from Becky's Kitchen

I use the 19th of every month as an excuse to hold a small gathering in celebration of Guijo's monthly milestones. I look forward to buying a cake for the occasion, a scheduled indulgence, really. For Guijo's 3rd month, I invited my college barkada over to our house.  These are my Freshman Block L-19 classmates from school year 1994-95 at DLSU half a lifetime ago. So I tried to figure out what kind of cake would suit the situation, and I thought of getting the Swiss Chocolate Cake from Becky's Kitchen!

Becky's Kitchen along Zobel Roxas.

Its proximity to DLSU makes Becky's Kitchen a part of the collective memory of many Lasallians...ok maybe not everyone, but at least the segment of the population who take the Pablo Ocampo/ Vito Cruz route to school. It's a familiar landmark, a beautifully maintained old house, made of wood, with ventanillas and grills done in the old style, a stately corner house that speaks of better times for the area, when the neighborhood was home to Manila's old rich.  I love going to this bake shop to pick up cakes. I love the wide double doors, the floor tiles, and high ceilings. The restored old house I live in now is similarly structured, and for a moment I let my mind imagine I am back in time. It is a pleasant errand, from my residence nearby, to Becky's, and back again, from one old house to another - with my prized purchase kept safe and perfect during the short ride.  The Swiss Choco Cake is a decadent creation, layers of chocolate sponge cake with a super sweet crumble filling reminiscent of Violet Crumble and Red Ribbon's Coffee Crunch. To make it even sweeter, the cake is generously coated with white icing. 

My guests (l-r): Ian and Elaine (pregnant),
Diane, Pierre and Joy (also pregnant), Tetet

The cake was so sweet we only had a thin sliver each, haha, at least for the first round! Our afternoon merienda stretched from 3 pm to 9 pm, which meant ample time to eat leisurely and keep coming back to the cake for a second, and even a third helping. By night's end there was still half a cake left even if we nibbled at it all evening. What great mileage from an awesome cake! For the price of 465 pesos, it's value for money! I'm looking forward to the next event where I can bring something from Becky's Kitchen.