Monday, January 26, 2009

It rings true


I was flattered this week to be referred to make a birthday cake by someone who I was lucky enough to work with during my most formative months as a very green pastry cook, during a time when my metamorphosis from medicine to pastry was still raw and disorienting. Undoubtedly, cake requests are always flattering but if the recommendation comes from someone equally or more qualified than me, the compliment is that much sweeter. Thanks Fionna.


This cake would satisfy any chocolate lover and is most elegant in its simplicity. I was asked to combine milk and dark chocolate in glorious mousse form and naturally, with rich chocolate cake. For some crunch, a sprinkle of cocoa nibs intermingled between the layers. My current design motif involves rings; I have recently been surrounding myself with annular patterns, in jewelry, a Pylones thermos, and now in chocolate. Perhaps, I'm tired of corners?


Some leftover mousse and cake allowed me to throw together a few individual portions to enjoy and photograph. Call it quality control or maybe show and tell, since with cake requests, I can never photograph a cake's interior and show it to you folks!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Charmaine, the cake looks fabulous. Love the ring motif! Very glad that you did it for her special birthday gift, thanks. :)

jkl said...

WOW, charmaine.... it looks amazing! it's so gorgeous.

Gfron1 said...

Very nice. I also love to add nibs for a bit of cocoa-boost and texture. I just recently found Claudio Corallo chocolates which now has the best beans I've tried, albeit a bit expensive. And no, I'm not affiliated with them at all :)

Anonymous said...

You can make my birthday cake!!!! It looks like it belongs in a 5 star restaurant. Very nice!

Pontch said...

OMG !!!
The cake look amazing !!

Leonor de Sousa Bastos said...

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!

Unknown said...

I love the presentation. Your chocolate working skills are impressive.

Anonymous said...

Hi Charmaine,
i'm a friend of your sister's, and I think i may have even met you at a dim sum outing sometime ago. i just wanted to tell you that i think you are extremely talented. it shows that you headed in the right direction vocationally, for sure! it is obvious that your passion for pastry meets your talent level.
i just started looking at your blog, and i had to show you this to make you laugh. a complete opposite of yours. enjoy!

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

angie

Deanna S. said...

I wish I was your friend so you could make me something! I love your blog, photography and creations...you are a true artist! Hope you are all healed.