rainbow cake

It rained early this morning in Toronto.   Thank goodness for rain as the humidity has been stiffling the past two weeks.   As the sun started to come out, I was hoping to see a rainbow cast across the sky.  Instead, I found a great rainbow cake on blog, raspberri cupcake.  Look how delicious it looks!  There is a recipe and description of the cake’s inspiration, cake how-to’s, a cake recipe and best practices on the raspberri cupcake blog if you are interested in giving it a shot.  Now I need to find a good reason to make a rainbow cake. 

via rasberri cupcakes

kitchen italia

Kitchen Italia looks delicious.  They have 100 types of fresh, homemade pasta and check out the design of the place!  The wood is very soothing.  Kitchen Italia is meant to be cheap, plentiful and innovative when it comes to pasta dishes.  Currently there are two outposts in London, one in Westfield and the other in Covent Garden. 

via fluid foundation

via a212

via kitchen italia

la patisserie des reves

Just like the name suggests, this “new” patisserie does look like a dream.  Located in the seventh arrondissement on Rue de Bac, La Patisserie des Reves in Paris, created by Philippe Conticini looks unbelievable.   The chef and author of book Sensations Nutella, has given every consumer touch point from the store interior, the display shelves, the website, the exterior, and last but not least the product a hearty helping of interior design.  His chosen colour palette of white, pink, orange and yellow reminds me of something right out of the Martha Stewart Weddings magazine.  I can’t tell what is more eye catching, the interiors and glass displays or the desserts themselves.   While this is not Philippe’s first Patisserie in the city, it is most eye-catching.  It seems that each bakery that opens (specifically in Paris) out does the next.  I guess you have to be pretty innovative as an entrepreneur and chef if you want to compete and stay in business in a city that is full of bakeries.   Here is a video of Philippe talking about his bakery and pastries.  I can’t wait to get to Paris to visit La Patisserie des Reves.  

via cubeme

via 123 nonstop

via 123 nonstop

via cityout

via the trendy girl

icing sugar cupcakes

I went to a party last night to celebrate my friend’s new job.  I tried a new recipe out of the Sono Bakeshop cookbook that I have on loan from the library.  I made their chocolate chip cookies and doctored them up with the addition of white chocolate to the already chocolaty chocolate chips.   Rave reviews.  It’s a chewy cookie recipe and would certainly make them again.

However, had I seen this shot of cupcakes dusted in icing sugar, I may have tested them out instead:

via lora jeans magazine

icing dreams cupcakes

I would like to think of myself as a bit of a cupcake connoisseur.  By no means am I a professional baker.  Far from it actually.  I just have an appreciation for baked goods, design and art.  When someone can successfully put these three things together,  I get excited.  While reading multicultural wedding website, Wedding Nouveau, I came across Maryam from Icing Dreams.  Her company name gives you an indication of what to expect from her confections but when you see the real deal, be prepared to be blown away.  She is not producing dreams, she is creating fantasy.  Her attention to detail is like none other and what’s best about this post is that on her website she mentions she is relocated to T.Dot!  That’s right.  Toronto.  When she moves, I will get to try these cupcakes out first hand and not just salivate in front of my screen.   You can view more of Maryam’s outstanding cupcake, cake and cookie designs on her flickr page here as well as more of the Indian themed desserts that were created for her friend, that I’ve featured below here.

via aaisha shaikh

via violet cottage

via mad girl's love song

via flickr

via flickr

premiere pression provence

Look at the neat packaging from French olive oil company, Premiere Pression Provence.  Olivier Baussan, the man behind L’Occitane has diverted his creative talents to the olive.  The result, a hip new Parisian outpost dedicated to celebrating the craft, culture and creation of all things olive.  The oils, dressings and spreads  in his sleek chain of (3) boutiques around Pairs highlight olive products originating from lesser known regions around the country.    The oils are organized in three categories based on the ripeness of the olive and the website offers a wealth of knowledge on the product, the region, the terroir and some great recipes.  More packaging pictures available on blog, the dieline, here.

via colunistas

via le figaro

via food intelligence

via urban grocer