The Reveal - Challenge Airdate and Topic

A little over a month ago, we participated in a life changing experience -- Food Network's Challenge. You know, the show where you and an assistant have to create a cake masterpiece in 8 hours, completely edible, in one of the most high-stress, high-adrenaline competitions on national TV, with 4 of the best cake designers in the country, and numerous television cameras filming your every move. Challenge, indeed! Challenge starts long before you even board the plane, before the clock starts ticking and well before you roll out your fondant. Your "Challenge" starts the minute you accept the invitation!

Even before this specific Challenge topic was offered to Rick to compete in, we already knew he was going to do a competition in the near future, we just didn't know when it would be or what the topic would be. We had been in communications with the producers for quite some time and had turned away numerous Challenges because of our event bookings, which we would watch months later as they aired, and wondered when our time would come. When we finally had a date that worked, we had no idea how great the Challenge topic would be, and when it was offered to Rick, I nearly fell out of my chair with excitement. They could not have matched Rick up with a better topic -- of COURSE we'll take it! We also heard it was a very popular topic that everyone wanted. When we told Annie, his competition assistant, she was also very excited. Okay, we're a bit biased, but we both thought it was one of the best Challenge topics ever, and so lucky to be offered it for Rick's first Challenge!

Airdate: Rick and Annie's Challenge will be airing on the Food Network, Sunday, April 4th at 8pm Eastern time, which will be 2pm for all the Hawaii folks. That is Easter Sunday which should make it easier to remember.

Another reason to tune in aside from seeing 4 awesome cake designers in action is to see the brand spanking new AMAZING set, new host, and lots of surprises!

Now for the topic which so many of you have asked us about. The topic will be revealed in the form of a hint:

"Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?"

Any guesses?

Aloha, 'til next time!

A Very Pretty 38

For the past 9 years, Rick has made me a birthday cake. It's something I get to look forward to each year, and I have to say, I feel pretty lucky to have my own private cake designer that I don't even have to book in advance. Over the weekend I turned the big 3-8! I know, probably a lot older than many of you. The same day I celebrated my birthday, Rick and I delivered a Jungle themed birthday cake to our client Kimberly, whose son as well as herself had birthdays the same week. When she and I compared our ages, we learned I was nearly a decade older than her. A word of advice, ask only people much older than you how old they are to avoid the surprising reactions. I usually get "What? You don't look that old."

I was completely enamored of my birthday cake when I first saw it at the restaurant where we dined with some friends. The "38" was unmistakable, I think even people at the far end of the restaurant could see it, and I had a good laugh about that. Was it Rick's sense of humor or a compositional decision, I'll never know for sure. Heck, if I can have a cake this pretty, I'll gladly turn 38! The photo above does not do the cake justice, but it was quite tall and had the most incredible intricate floral designs on it and layers of colors that made everyone happy. There was a group of people at a nearby table who came over and asked us who made it, and were probably a bit surprised to hear Rick say "I did." After finding out our company name, within minutes,they had pulled our website up on their phone. When the cake was cut and served we had enough leftover to give some to that same group for them to enjoy. We also gave a big slice to our server to enjoy. Between our couples day at the spa, the awesome birthday gifts, and dinner and cake with good friends, turning 38 was pretty darn great! Looking forward to the Big 3-9!

Join us next time as we reveal the answer to the burning question so many of you have been asking us. "When is the airdate?" for our Food Network Challenge and what is the topic.

Aloha, 'til next time!

My Little Pony Cake

Codee's "My Little Pony" cake was a colorful explosion of CUTE! Our client had a My Little Pony and Rainbow themed birthday party so we knew this cake would be all about color. Placing the design completely in Rick's hands, he surprised her with a colorful composition of handpainted ponies frolicking amidst rainbow colored hearts, handcrafted butterflies and pink daisies. He continued the rainbow theme inside the cake with our signature Rainbowlicious flavor, an orange-infused white cake with mango and passionfruit fillings. While we weren't present to hear the "Oohs" and "Ahhs" when the cake was served, Codee's parents called from the party to let us know how much they loved the cake and how Rick had exceeded their expectations. All was happy in their Rainbow world and hearing how pleased they were made us happy in ours!

Aloha, 'til next time!

Love in Operatic Blues

Our couple Marjorie and Quinn who were married earlier this month, live the kind of romantic, jet-setting life many of us dream about. They are professional opera singers, who make their living making other people happy. During our design process, Marjorie and Quinn were apart much of the time, she in the States and him in Italy -- I know, poor thing, right? When we met with Quinn shortly before the wedding when he and his sister came in to choose their flavors, I couldn't help but be completely enamored of their lifestyle. Flying all over the world as an opera singer, getting paid to travel, what could be better than that? Like any career, it's a lot of hard work and flying from country to country performing can take a toll, he said. He seemed ready for a break and excited to get married to his lovely bride Marjorie, and we were excited for them and had a BEAUTIFUL cake designed. The wedding took place at an exquisite home on Round Top Drive, with a view of what felt like the entire island. They had an Italian themed wedding and hired Chef Donato Loperfido of Sapori Enoteca/Birreria and for dessert they served their wedding cake in our Strawberries Chantilly, Bananarama and Totally Turtle flavors.

Rick designed Marjorie and Quinn a 5-tier light blue color wedding cake, with grey accents and handcrafted blue flowers. It was incredibly striking in person, so much that we asked photographer Stephen Ludwig if he could photograph this cake before the event since we were already working with him on a photo shoot that weekend. What an amazing photo, and it so beautifully captures the color and detail of the cake. We wish Marjorie and Quinn all the best and hope they will make beautiful music together for many years to come!

Aloha, 'til next time!