Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Wedding Cake Tastings and Design Consultations!

The holidays are generally a very popular time for couples to get engaged! With this in mind, we thought we'd use today's Weddings Wednesday post to share some helpful information with all of the newly engaged couples!

So first, CONGRATULATIONS! This is probably one of the most exciting times in your life! One of our most frequently asked questions is, "When should I come in for my tasting and design consultation?" This varies from couple to couple. Some couples come in a year or more in advance, and some come in a few months before their wedding. We think a good guideline to follow is to make your consultation appointment after you have selected your location, colors, theme and flowers.

So, what's next? When you have a good idea of what you want those important aspects of your wedding to be, start looking at cakes on our website, online and in magazines. Print or tear out a few pictures of cakes that you like and hold on to them. It will be helpful for you to bring those with you, along with your color swatches, to your consultation appointment. There are so many possibilities in terms of you wedding cake design, that it can often feel like an overwhelming task without some general idea of what you like and don't like.

Then what? Look at your calendar and come up with a few days and times that work for you and your fiance, and then give us a call. We'll look at our calendar and try to schedule your complimentary tasting and design consultation at the most convenient time for you.

Once we've scheduled your appointment, we're going to ask you what cake flavors you'd like to try at your tasting. You can view the menu on our website and have your choices picked ahead of time, or we'll email you the list and you can get back to us. Generally, we'll let you try 2-3 flavors ABSOLUTELY FREE! Please try to get your flavor choices back to us as soon as possible. The wedding department staff needs to let the kitchen staff know your choices so that they can make sure those flavors are available for your tasting.

What should I expect when I show up for my tasting? When you get to the retail store, let one of the staff know that you are here for a tasting. They will notify the wedding department and someone will come up to greet you and show you to our Bridal Suite!

Once you've make yourself comfortable, we'll ask you to fill out a little bit of information about your wedding while we get your tasting slices for you. We'll explain each of the flavors you selected (in case you forgot!), and give you a few minutes to taste and discuss which flavor you prefer. When we join you again, we'll look at the pictures you brought with you, give you some time to look through our portfolios, and eventually design your wedding cake!

We'll price the cake out for you, explain all the details, and answer any questions you may have. If you know you definitely want Dessert Works to create your wedding cake for you, you can put down a $100 deposit to secure your wedding date with us before you leave. If you want to think about it a little more, we'll give you all the information you need to take with you.

It's as simple as that!

A few other bits of information that may be helpful:
  • Most appointments are held on Saturday or Sunday, but if a week day works better for you, we can certainly do that as well. The only day of the week that we are closed is Monday.
  • Appointments generally last 30 minutes to an hour.
  • On the weekends, appointments are scheduled back to back, on the hour, so it is important for you to get here on time, so that your appointment does not spill over into someone else's.

  • If you need to reschedule, please try to give us at least 24 hours notice. We understand that things can pop up unexpectedly, but please just let us know!

  • You can certainly bring your fiance, mom or maid of honor with you, but try not to bring more than 2-3 extra people. The bridal suite isn't necessarily small, but it gets cozy around the table with many more people than that.
If you have any other questions or if you would like to schedule your complimentary tasting and design consultation, please call or email us!

781-769-1133 ext. 208
cake.dessertworks@hotmail.com

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Cookies!

We always have a selection of our shortbread icing cookies available in our retail store. The shapes and designs change with the seasons, but they are always delicious!

And as always, everything in the bakery is handmade, from scratch, right here on-site by our talented Dessert Works team!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Gift Boxes

Today, we'd like to wish you a very Merry Christmas from everyone here at Dessert Works! We hope Santa left lots of gifts under your tree, in pretty gift boxes like these:

Hopefully yours weren't made of cake and buttercream this morning though!

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas

Christmas is just 2 days away, so we thought this was the perfect wedding cake to share with you today!
Topped with a red rolled chocolate package bow and streaming ribbons ends, this festive wedding cake features alternating triple dot and snowflake designs with a dusting of edible glitter, perfect for a holiday wedding!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas Specials!

Today is the last day to place your Christmas orders and guarantee them for pick-up on the 24th! Make sure you call or stop by the store and get your order in today before 2pm! The snow hasn't stopped us, we are OPEN!

Christmas Specials

Tiramisu Log
16”x4” (serves 8-10) $24
Vanilla genoise cake brushed with espresso & rum and filled with sweetened mascarpone cream. Decorated with chocolate shavings & fresh whipped cream.

Mum’s English Trifle cake
(serves 4-6) $20
8” (serves 8-10) $29

Kids & adults alike will enjoy this festive and fruity dessert. A spin on my Mum’s traditional recipe. Light sponge cake layered with seedless raspberry preserves line the outside of a cakethat is layered with peaches, strawberries and pears barely set in berry jello, topped with vanilla custard,fresh whipped cream & chocolate shavings.

Apple Strudel
12” (serves 6-10) $21

Fresh golden delicious apples with plump golden raisins baked in flaky puff pastry.

Dark Chocolate Buche Noel
A traditional holiday favorite “Yule Log”. Classic chocolate mousse cake rolled & decorated with chocolate buttercream, meringue mushrooms, candy holly berries & leaves. Dusted in sugar snow.

2 sizes available:
Large (serves 16-20) $39.50
Small (serves 8-10) $22.00 which is finished in ganache decorated with a frosting pinecone.

Eggnog Torte
6” (serves 4-8) $22

8” (serves 8-12) $30
10” (serves 16- 20) $40
Spiced vanilla cake soaked with rum & layered with vanilla mousse. Decorated with a buttercream holly berry wreath “holiday” design.

Flourless Chocolate Cake
9” only (serves 12-16) $30
Dense chocolate cake covered in chocolate ganache & decorated with white chocolate adornments.

Holiday Cookie Platters
(+/- $10/lb)
Our delicious holiday cookies are the perfect festive gift for a holiday party. Buttery and full of flavor, these beauties disappear quickly! Prices vary by variety, we can make various sized trays, and assortments.
Gingerbread Houses
Small (measures 6"x6"x6") $18
Large (measures 9”x11”x7”) $36
Ready to decorate, includes all the candy you need plus icing!

Gingerbread Men
$8.50
Decorate your own gingerbread men! Set includes 6 large cookies plus icing.

Also Available: Pear & Cranberry Galette, Rustic Apple Tart, Double Crust Apple Pie, Gingerbread Roulade, Raspberry Almond Linzer Tart, Fresh Fruit Tart, Vanilla Cheesecake, Keylime Tart Opera Torte….. and much more!

See our website for complete menu.
www.dessertworks.net

And if you miss the cut-off...don't worry! We'll have plenty of Christmas goodies available in the store for your last minute purchases! We are open Monday the 21st - Wednesday the 23rd 9am - 6pm and Thursday the 24th 9am - 4pm!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Ski Slope

Here in New England, and across the country, the first snow storm of the year hit us last week. Some people love the snow, and some people dread it's arrival, but love it or leave it, it's here!

So why not celebrate it's arrival with buttercream snowdrifts, icicles and snowflakes?!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Fleur de Lis

Our Fleur de Lis design is just so pretty. I don't know what it is, but there's something about this elegant cake that seems perfect for this time of year.

This cake is covered in a rolled chocolate cover, has hand-piped Fleur de Lis design in buttercream, and rolled chocolate roses and accent flowers in shades of pink.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tarts

Our individual Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tarts are available for purchase in our retail pastry shop!
If you like pecan pie, you'll love this chocolaty twist on that classic holiday dessert. The sweet dough crust is filled with chewy caramel and pecans, and topped with chocolate mousse!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Sports

Often, we have customers come in with a specific theme in mind for their party and therefore their cake. This Mitzvah had a ESPN type theme, except the boy's first name started with "Z" so they made their own "ZSPN ZONE" logo.

We worked together to design this unique sports themed cake, featuring their logo and sports equipment from his favorite sports, all made from rolled chocolate. Add some buttercream grass and some whimsical rolled chocolate dots on the side, and we think this cake went perfectly with the customer's theme!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Bows

Bows are quite popular with our brides that don't want flowers on their wedding cake.

This dark brown, rolled chocolate bow adds a touch of elegance to this wedding cake covered in our interlocking scroll design.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Holiday Baking Tips

From our kitchen to yours.
Today, we're sharing a few of our tricks-of-the-trade with you, for all that holiday baking you have coming up!
  • Tip 1 - Making many different kinds of cookies can be time consuming. To break it up, make your different doughs one day and refrigerate them, then cook them another day. Most cookie doughs can be refrigerated up to 4 days, and can last 1-2 weeks in the freezer!
  • Tip 2 - Cookies that are all the same size will be more appealing visually and will also cook more consistently. To accomplish this, use a small ice cream scoop to portion out your cookies!
  • Tip 3 - We all know the best part of a pie is the flaky, buttery crust! To get a nice flaky crust, make sure you use COLD butter and don't over work the dough. You can also make your pie crusts in advance and keep them in the refrigerator, like you can your cookie doughs.
  • Tip 4 - For any fruit pies, let the fruit and spices that make up the filling sit and macerate in their juices for a few hours, or even over night before you put them into your crust. You'll develop more flavor that way!
  • Tip 5 - With the economy the way it is, we're all being a little bit more careful with our money. If you're making something like eggnog that uses a lot of egg yolks, find a meringue cookie recipe that uses a lot of egg whites to make too! Then you aren't throwing them all away.
And, of course, if you'd rather spend time with your family than all that time baking in the kitchen, stop by Dessert Works by December 20th to place an order and guarantee your selection for pick-up on December 24th!

Do you have any holiday baking tips?? Leave us a comment below!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Designer Purse

If you're new to our blog, around here, Fridays are Featured Friday, where we feature one of our custom cakes! The cake can be for any occasion, but today's cake was a birthday surprise.

If this woman asked for a designer purse for her birthday...

...she definitely had a little surprise coming for her when it showed up made out of cake!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Snowcouple

Every wedding cake we create is unique to each couple. They come in many shapes and sizes, and can represent a wedding theme or colors, or the couple's personalities. With December here and winter quickly approaching, what better example to share than this winter themed wedding cake topped with a snow couple, hand made out of rolled chocolate, "representing" the bride and groom.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Gingerbread House Kits!

Looking for a fun holiday activity for the kids? Decorating gingerbread houses is always a hit, and you can get a complete kit, with an already assembled house, right here at Dessert Works!

Our gingerbread houses are baked and assembled here on-site so they are ready for you to decorate. The kit includes all the candy you could need plus icing! The houses also come in 2 different sizes.

Small (6"x6"x6") - $18
Large (9"x11"x7") - $36

Stop by the store today to pick one up and then get decorating!
Related Posts with Thumbnails