A Square Cake!

That's right, we're having a square cake. I'm really excited about it. While round cakes are technically "easier" to make, I wanted our cake to be a little different from what our guests might be expecting.

Here was my inspiration:

photo from Gracefull333

I'm loving the look of a square cake. I also like how the middle tier is slightly twisted to add a little more style.

 
 

Photo by kelannfuller

 

I love this cake. It's in our colors and so bright and different. We're going to have a blue cake.

Photo from brookecorpus

I also like the idea of fresh flowers for the cake. Flowers are a great addition and add color!

I'm working with the wonderful Jen Kwapinski of Jen's Cakes in San Jose. They are a wife and husband team who have been rocking out wedding cakes for the last few years. My coworker referred me to Jen after booking her for her own wedding. She said that her cake was the hit of their reception. Sounds good to me!

If you are in the Bay Area, definitely consider checking out Jen's Cakes. She's super nice and her cakes are SUPER good! My mom and I went to the tasting, and it was the best vendor meeting ever!

Take the Cake Thursday: Margaret's French Bakery

Here we are, it's Thursday again, and that means cake time!

Margaret's French Bakery has been delighting customers since 1983 out of the South Bay. It's owned and operated by Margaret and Joe Novak and their current operation is out of Campbell and you can also find them at local farmer's markets and festivals around the Bay Area. Although they specialize in wedding cakes and custom designed desserts, Margaret's French Bakery does just about anything for your occasion of choice!

They also have an awesome Cake Blog to showcase their work!

I love these cakes:

I've never seen a cake with this kind of texture. It's cool in a very funky way!


I really like the hexagonal shape on this cake, and yet it's so simple. Lovely!


This simple cake looks gorgeous and delicious!


I'm totally into the simple cake + florals.


I think the little symbols on this one represent windmills. The color totally works.


This one has so much color, even if the base is white. Nice!


Simple and understated, but with oompf.

Visit Margaret's French Bakery!

Photos courtesy of Margaret's French Bakery.

Sweet Treats!

I found these sweet cupcake pops on the Bakerella blog. If you're a lover of all things cupcake, this is definitely worth a click. It makes you want to run out and make some for yourself. In addition, I thought that these would make for some wonderful favors or after reception treats. Either way, they'd make a delicious and super cute snack!

Thanks Bakerella for your awesomely cute and delicious creations!

Take the Cake Thursday: Romano's Bakery

Since I'm in Dallas visiting my awesome fiance, I thought I would spotlight a local Dallas bakery.

Romano's Bakery was named Best Wedding Cake in Texas by People Magazine and was also features on Whose Wedding is it Anyway? Romano's Bakery has been making delicious cakes and cheesecakes in the Dallas area since 1990. Their cakes are made the European way; using fresh ingredients and the personal touch that they are known for. All of Romano's cakes are custom designed for you, whether it is for your child's first birthday or your wedding, they want the cake to be a beautiful focal point to your event.

 

 

Take the Cake Thursday: Sugar Butter Flour

Sugar Butter Flour is a bakery based out of Sunnyvale, CA. Their mission is to provide the finest desserts, pastries, and chocolates at reasonable prices. Their products are baked fresh daily and only use the finest ingredients without preservatives or artificial flavoring. They are dedicated to delivering the highest level of customer service, and will do their best to make their customers happy.

 

Turquoise with Ribbon 

  

Fondant with Bees

  

Henna Cake

 

Purple Blossom on White

Take the Cake Thursday: Copenhagen Bakery & Cafe

Today's cake feature is a bakery based in Burlingame, just 25 minutes south of San Francisco. Since 1977, Copenhagen Bakery & Cafe has been a remarkable success story - a traditional family business that has survived and thrived despite fierce competition and sweeping changes in the Burlingame business community. Over the years they have become well-known for their wonderful, custom-made wedding cakes, birthday cakes, and other special occasion cakes.

 

Check out their awesome cake creations! 

 

Photos courtesy of copenhagenbakery.com

Take the Cake Thursday: City of D'Lights

Based in San Ramon, CA City of D'Lights has been cooking up fabulous creations since 2001. They have a gorgeous line of unique wedding cakes, signature cakes, and awesome pastries. No wonder it's called City of D'Lights!

From their website:
"City of D'Lights has been creating its unique line of specialty cakes and pastries since February 2001, when Pastry Chefs Attila Gogos and Lynne Kawakami took ownership of this bakery in San Ramon, California. Inspired by Attila's European heritage and Lynne's Asian culture, they have created a selection of cakes, pastries, and holiday cookies that not only look fabulous, but taste great, too."

Gorgeous chocolate:


Intricate scrolling:


Sheer Elegance:


Lovely:


Combination of shapes:


Be sure to check out City of D'Lights in San Ramon!

Address:	2217-D San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon, CA 94583
Phone:	(925) 837-2886
Email:	info [at] cityofdlights [dot] com

Take the Cake Thursday: Cakes by Ana

I heard about Cakes by Ana through one of the venues I visited. I was disappointed I couldn't book the venue as it was too small. However, the catering manager did show me the photos of Cakes by Ana and they all looked simply wonderful and delicious. Cakes by Ana is a mother-daughter business that started in 1996 in San Jose. They joined forces to provide impeccable service and amazing confections for any occasion.







Check out Cakes by Ana!

Phone: 408-978-4700, 408-365-6209

E-mail: cakesbyana [at] yahoo [dot] com

Take the Cake Thursday: Forget-Me-Not Cakes

This bakery lives up to its name: Forget-Me-Not Cakes. If you're living in San Francisco or the North Bay - Sonoma, Marin, or Napa, you should check this site out. Forget-Me-Not wedding cakes are custom designed for each bride. Sally Ann will consult with you on every detail, to create a delicious and exquisite piece of edible art that reflects you and your dreams, and delights your guests. Awesome!

Showcase of some of Sally's work:


Love the Swiss dots detail


Lovely intricate scrolling


Looks simply delicious!


Lovely, looking like it's wrapped in fabric


Check out Forget Me Not Cakes!

Contact: sally.forgetmenot [at] gmail [dot] com

Take the Cake Thursday: Eva's Exquisite Cakes

Have I mentioned that I love cake? It's probably my weakness in terms of baked desserts. I'm not even all about the fanciness either. Get me a chocolate sheet cake with nice fluffy icing and I'm good.

The next bakery I'm featuring is Eva's Exquisite Cakes in Santa Clara. She has lovely cake designs, all that look incredibly delicious! She blends the finest European tradition of baking with today's tastes and designs. She's a trained European pastry specialist, and brings the richest traditions from the old world of pastry making and blends them with the current trends. None of her creations are ever the same as she believe that the wedding cake is an aspect of the wedding that guests focus their attention to and serves as a lasting impression of the event. Therefore she will design a cake just for you!

Sounds great to me! Here are some of her designs:

The square shape and dots add great personality.


Simple yet elegant.


I like the incorporation of blue.


Scroll work is stunning.


Great combination of flowers and scroll work.


Be sure to visit Eva's Exquisite Cakes!

Take the Cake Thursday: Jen's Cakes

I'm starting a feature about something I love dearly: Cake! I'm always amazed at the creations that talented bakers and pastry chefs can come up with. I love watching the Food Network Challenges, especially when they pertain to cake. The Ace of Cakes is one of my favorite reality TV series.

One of my coworkers who was married last October told me about her fabulous cake creator Jen, of Jen's Cakes. They are a wife and husband team who run their business out of Los Gatos, CA. All cakes are made to order. Since their space lacks a storefront, all of their business has been generated through bridal shows, local events, and word of mouth. I'm glad I heard about them! Jen designs and executes the cakes and Anthony runs the business side. My coworker raved about them after they completed her cake and said they were a pleasure to work with!

For my own wedding cake, I envision something simple with flowers. I'm not much of a fondant girl, but I do love the buttercream frosting.

Here are some of their designs:



This is the cake my coworker modeled her wedding cake after, except it was all chocolate!


I really like the simple design of this cake.


Jen's Cakes also specializes in "not-so-traditional" cakes.


This bamboo cake looks delicious!


Look at this 6-tiered cake!


I have yet to start contacting bakeries, but I think that Jen's Cakes will definitely be on my list!

All images from Jen's Cakes.