Splendid Delights to Sink Your Teeth Into

We are led by our passions for all things born of the past and found in the present.
Showing posts with label baking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baking. Show all posts

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Whodidlily

Wendy Jones
Whodidily
1150 Coast Village Drive
Suite E
Montecito, CA 93108


Always in search of the best cupcakes...we've been disappointed of late. The last time we made up a list of cupcake places to visit in Southern California, we came up empty handed~too dry, too sweet, too lackluster, too flat on the flavor. There's a lot out  there, but  when a treat is needed we want the "whole enchilada" ~ visuals, taste, packaging and ambience ~ all must go hand in hand. Are we picky or what??? We've had to ask ourselves that question. We refuse to be snobbish about this, we're open to suggestions. One of our coworkers has been tooting Whodidily's horn lately, well for months, and we have just gotten around to checking out this delish, delightful cupcakery. 


Flavors such as: Dippity-Doo-Dah, Hunny Bunny, Koo Koo Bird, Lolligager (with cookie dough filling), Lazy Daisy, Peanut Butter Yumptious, Scrumdidily, Oreo Dollop, Sunday Stroll, and Waffelicious...have us hooked. There are even gluten-free and holiday specials. Not cloyingly sweet, these moist cupcakes...yes unlike so many out there...these are indeed moist...are great for showers, parties, weddings...and for for popping in our mouth~ just because. These cupcakes are probably not made with the rarest of ingredients, but they are creative and have that certain something that is satisfying.


Peering into Whodidily can be....well lets just say...bring your inner child with you. Remember the little sugerey dots on parchment paper? Wendy has made them into chains that drape this way and that over the her ceiling. Hot pink is predominant, but neon, greens, yellows, greens, raspberry, orange, etc. are all fairly represented here. The counters are composed of zillions of non-pariels in multi-colors topped with glass to create a countertop. You can see in the above photo, those same non-pariels act as anchors for all sorts of festive cupcake themed picks and toppers. 


So what makes Wendy tick? Why this Willie Wonka driven, candy extravaganza, cupcakery? Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory happens to be one of her favorite movies of all time. Wendy did not growing up baking, she just loves making things that are unique and creative. A favorite line in the Willie Wonka movie sums it up for her...when Mr. Wonka is asked how he makes the scrumdidilyumptious bar? A worker replies, "My dear boy...Do you ask a fish how it swims? Or a bird how it flies? No sir-eee you don't? They do it because they were born to do it! Just like Willy Wonka was born to be candy man and you look like you were born to be a Wonkaer." Wendy believes she was born to do just what she does so well....fill her store with scrumdidilyumptious delights! You really must visit!


This store does not lack for toppings!


When we stopped by, a woman was exiting with stacks of hot pink boxes brimming with cupcakes....a group of men...yes men...were sitting out front eating cupcakes engaged in deep conversation...a group of school girls were laboring over their decision...which cupcake to buy...this store attracts all ages. A place where we can all be children at heart.


Le Hot Pink Plume is what you use for signage...should you need to.


This is how the Whodidily cupcake is served at parties.


Walking in our eyes were darting here and there. I'm sure we'll have to go back to see more!


This is how we left Whodidily's...gifts for all our besties.


Cute packaging. Wendy even hot glues a rhinestone on our bows just before we leave...how devine!

Friday, April 8, 2011

This Takes the Cake... singing opera....

Cake Opera Co.

Warning: eye candy ahead!! Danger, Danger!

(Click on images to see them in a larger view)

White, Dark and Milk Chocolate Tablets
Nougatine Montelimer
Petite Gateau (sounds so much prettier than cupcakes)
Ingredients:
Pink peppercorn, pistachio, flaked coconut white chocolate tablets, lavender, toasted almonds and cocoa nibs milk chocolate tablets, pink sea salt, white sesame and crystallized ginger tablets.

Nougatine Montelimar
French, chewy, candied fruits and toasted nuts


Petite Gateau
Each a taste sensation enrobed in beauty

~Just a teeny tiny selection of their confections~

Cake Opera's Establishment
1136 Eglinton avenue west (north side)
Torontom Ontario Canada
M6C2E2
Tel. 647-347-2626


Here's what the owners, Alexandria Pellegrino and Jessica Smith have to say about their creative process. Imagine yourself for a moment standing in a dimly lit room. Walls of towering shelves surround...thick with the dust of time. Each shelf is crowded with bell jars containing history's more extraordinary and exotic specimens....this is the world of wonders in which Cake Opera Co. finds its muse. Reminds us of one of our favorite decor volumes...The New Eighteenth-Century Style by Lalande and Trillard. 


This is their Piratess Cake! Think 17th century tall ships. The delicate hand painting on each layer is incredible. They are like so many premier craftsmen of our day, it's all in the details and the execution.


The proprietors
Alexandria and Jessica-you rock!


Their header says it all...these ladies have a sense of self, history, creativity, amusement and folly.



The Moretto Mask cake

18th century French figurines finding their way into cake form. This particular cake reminds us of  masquerade balls during this era of history.



The Artist



The Baker

It's no wonder celebrities are searching out Opera Cake Co. to make their wedding cakes (do you remember pictures of the Nicole Richie/Joel Madden's cake)? We just thought you might be inspired by these two entrepreneurs.  Publications like Grace Ormonde, a well turned out bridal magazine feature them often. 


all images cake opera