This, that & cake | Coffey & Cake

Love Cupcakes

22nd March 2016

Do you love cupcakes? So does Melisha! Introducing you to one of Durban’s very talented cake makers. Melisha runs Love Cupcakes on the sidelines of her everyday fashion design job. I first saw one of Melisha’s cakes on Instagram and had to get in touch with her to hear more about her business. So here is a little interview I did with the owner of Love Cupcakes, and some more pictures of her delicious cakes at the end.

Love Cupcakes

Tell me a bit about yourself. Who is the woman behind Love Cupcakes?

I’m from Durban and I’m 33 years old. I am a fashion designer by profession, so I am creative by nature. For me baking is another creative outlet.

How did Love Cupcakes start?

Baking was always hobby that I loved to do and when I moved to Jhb in 2008, I found myself in between jobs, and so my hobby turned into a business. When I returned to Durban 3 years later, I continued my business part time, whilst juggling being a full time Designer. This of course has resulted in many sleepless nights!

What are your dreams and goals for Love Cupcakes?

Currently I offer customized cupcakes and cakes on a pre order basis. My client base has grown considerably over the years, and I’m looking forward to growing my business further by catering to more functions and events.

What is your favourite cake flavour?

Definitely chocolate and tiramisu.

Cream cheese or butter icing?

Neither. Chocolate ganache any day.

Share your funniest story in the kitchen.

Well, living in Durban, everyone’s knows that we have the best weather. But come summer rainy season, with humidity levels reaching peak levels, it is nightmare trying to work with fondant. Humidity and fondant do not go! I was doing a fondant cake last year feb for a party, which I was also attending. By the time I finished, the fondant was melting. I decided to stick the cake in the fridge…huge mistake as it started to condense when I took it out. One hour before delivery, I had to google what to do with this sticky, sweaty disaster of a cake and saw that the best solution was to put the cake in front of a fan. Luckily this helped dry out the fondant and the cake looked great! I on the other hand, looked like a stressed out, hot and bothered, sweaty chicken without a head trying to get ready and go to the party!

How can people get in touch with you? (blog/website/social media handles)

On Facebook @lovecupcakes , and Instagram @lovecupcakesdurban.

Email: lovecupcakesdurban@gmail.com

What events do you cater for?

Birthdays, baby showers, weddings and kiddies parties .

If you could bake a cake for anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

It would be Bono! But only if I get to sit and have cake and coffee with him:-D I think that would be an interesting conversation. He’s always been an inspiration to me.

Phew from reading that I am now craving some chocolate cake. How about you?

So now you know, and if you are having an event contact Melisha about her cakes. She also has a new website which will be up soon and you can find that at www.lovecupcakes.co.za.

Let’s end this post of with a little teaser of some of the work Melisha has done.

New Look Giveaway

14th March 2015

Welcome to the new look of Coffey & Cake!

We are absolutely THRILLED and want to take this moment to thank Nicola Tweed for her hard work on designing and developing this site. Coffey & Cake is a blog dedicated to sharing great places to have a good cup of coffee and we have loved the adventures we have been on so far.

So in light of Coffey & Cake’s new look I am doing a little GIVEAWAY.

What can you win? A R250 Cape Coffee Beans voucher. Here’s what you have to do to stand a chance of winning.

Step 1: Go to the homepage and scroll down to the sign up section.

Step 2: Sign up for updates on all things coffee, including giveaways and new coffee shops to visit.

Easy as that! So do yourself a favour and ENTER NOW… then go over to Cape Coffee Beans and start browsing some of the awesome coffee beans, bundles and accessories you could buy if you win the voucher.

Terms & Conditions

*Winners will be announced on Monday 23 March 2015
*The winner will be chosen by luck draw
*The winner will be notified via the email address entered
*Voucher is not redeemable for cash
*The winner has 24 hours to claim their prize before a redraw is done

Martina’s Tiramisu

4th November 2014

Martina is a pucker Italian lady who makes the most DELICIOUS tiramisu, hence Martina’s Tiramisu. Martina and I met up for a cup of coffee and to chat about her little business. What an inspirational story, moving from Italy and embracing the beauty of South Africa with all her heart. So before I give too much away, here is what we chatted about.

Q1 : When did the idea of Martina’s Tiramisu start?

Well, the idea of Martina’s Tiramisu as it stands now only started very recently, around mid August. My original idea was to open a Gelateria (which means “gelato shop” in Italian), but I spent many months looking for the right location, which never arrived. All the shops I found were either too big, too expensive, or not located in strategic high foot-traffic areas, so not suitable for an impulse purchase driven business. So after few months of back and forth I said to myself “You know what? If I can’t get the perfect retail shop, I’ll create my own one online!”. I made myself a logo, a website, a business card and I simply started. After few days, I was already receiving orders and I was very excited!

Q2 : How did you come up with the name?

Tiramisu is not just the most iconic Italian dessert, it’s also my own favourite dessert, so I love preparing it and, after testing it with friends, I decided it was the right dessert to start with! Tiramisu as a word is also simple and easy to memorize so I decided it had to be part of the brand name. I then realized that, if I wanted my brand to show my passion and commitment to provide real Italian home made products, I had to put my own name on it! So there it is: Martina’s Tiramisu.

Q3 : Besides making amazing Tiramisu what do you do?

I wanted to open a Gelateria, so obviously I love making proper Italian gelato (which is different from ice cream!) and also a lot of other sweet deliciousness. I enjoy cooking in general, even savoury stuff, but baking and desserts are my passion. I make cookies, brownies, crostata (which is the Italian for jam tart), a wonderful blueberry cheesecake, chocolate mousse and plumcakes in different flavours (vanilla, chocolate, lemon, caramel), caramelised almonds, meringues, chocolate and coconut truffles, and many other things.

Q4 : What flavours do you have?

I make the more traditional coffee tiramisu, following the authentic recipe, which I tweaked with a family secret touch (my mom makes the most delicious tiramisu ever!), and I also make a strawberry tiramisu, using my own recipe. I usually do not put alcohol, so it’s suitable for kids as well as those who do not drink alcohol, but this can be arranged differently with the customer who places the order.

Q5 : Any secret experimental flavours in the making?

Yes! But I can’t reveal them! ☺ What I can tell you though is that I’m working on a recipe that should meet the South African tastes, so stay tuned!

Q6 : What do you love most about what you do?

Oh, many things!!! I usually put some relaxing music on and go. I love being surrounded by all the baking smells (melting chocolate, vanilla scent, strawberry syrup aroma all over the kitchen) and I love experimenting new recipes. When they are successful, I immediately write them down into my recipe book, which I received as present from my mom when I moved to SA. You know what I also love? All the baking tools! From cake stands, to pans of any shape, to silicon spatulas…Anything! Get me a new cookie cutter for my birthday and you will make me the happiest woman!

Q7 : For aspiring business starters out there what is one piece of advice you can offer?

Gosh, I still struggle to include myself in the category of “actual business starters”, so I really feel honoured to answer to this question. I literally just started, so I don’t have deep wisdom to share, but I definitely have a good piece of advice: do not feel overwhelmed by the social pressure. This is something I read some weeks ago in an article, and I found it very true. When you decide to establish your own business, lots of pressure comes from the social circle of friends, family and previous colleagues. People ask you continuously “How are things going with your project?”, and sometimes you have no updates to share and this generates awkward silent or a sense of embarrassment as you feel you should have updates! Don’t get me wrong: people will do it mostly because they are excited for you, and they want to show you their support, which is amazing! But entrepreneurship, even at simple levels, is a journey, often long and complicated, and it takes time before you see some progress. So once you are confident about your business idea, make a plan and stick to it, do not give up when you see that things go slower than expected. And do not feel the social pressure!

For more information about Martina’s Tiramisu have a look at her Website, or follow her on Facebook & Instagram.

t.spn

21st October 2014

If you have ever glanced at a recipe you would have noticed the measurement reference t.spn, right? Caryn Andrews, Umhlanga based graphic designer, has cleverly used this reference for her new business name, t.spn. Debuting at the I Heart Market this month I decided to ask Caryn a few questions about t.spn so have a look at what she had to say.

When did the idea of t.spn start?

At the end of 2013, I realised that I liked graphic design but loved everything food – for a while! I needed to embrace this. I guess God wired me this way and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

How did you come up with the name?

Well I pondered over a name for about 2 weeks I think! I wanted something different, simple and quirky. I thought about the word tspn because it is used in all recipes. I just couldn’t settle on one, until my clever husband, narrowed it down for me and simply yelled out “t.spn!” with great excitement! That was the “Eureka!” moment.

Besides baking what do you do?

Aside from working full time, and searching the internet wide eyed for the latest and greatest foodie news, trends and places, I freelance as a qualified graphic designer and incorporate my work into t.spn with the décor, favours and gifts. I also love creating innovative/alternative ideas for décor, style event catering and food photography. I must admit, I am a bit of a collector of anything old, vintage and antique.

What’s your favourite goodie to bake?

Brownies, madelines, sugar cookies and self-saucing chocolate pudding!

How long have you been baking?

I have been baking since I was a kid. I can remember making kid-sized rotis with my gran on her kitchen counter and peering over the mixing bowl as my mom whipped up her most amazing chocolate cake!

Where can people buy your amazing baked goods?

t.spn is at the I heart market, first Saturday of every month and we take orders for events, styled event catering and customised favours/gifts over email.

What do you love most about what you do?

Creating new recipes and exciting flavours!

I love giving people an experience and offering them affordable, special, different alternatives. Especially, creating something customised to their desires.

Donating to a different charity every month from every market’s takings.

Also, building on this business to one day have a unique, cosy café/restaurant that gives back to the communities and those in need.

For aspiring business starters out there what is one piece of advice you can offer?

Gosh, there’s a lot of advice but one that I truly believe is – Take the leap but start small! You will grow and that takes time. Do everything with excitement and love. If you are not doing it with love, stop – take a deep breath and remember your passion!

And always try to do it differently!

What has been your biggest challenge overcome so far?

That would be the very first market. This was t.spn’s debut. Everything was created, designed and baked 2 days before the market! I learnt a lot about time management after that!

What are your Social Media/website/email addresses?

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Not only can you find t.spn at the I Heart Market, you can order directly from Caryn.

t.spn also offers event décor, theme/style and mood board services, so if you are planning an event or a wedding and need a little help contact Caryn on caryn@tspn.co.za or info@tspn.co.za.

My Mission Samsung Experience

12th September 2014

Last week I received my final Mission Samsung challenge, and the mission was named “So you think you can blog?”. Obviously I got excited cause I love to tell a good story and this will be no different. So here it is friends, my Mission Samsung experience.

On opening the box from Samsung I though, sho this is quite big, but look how happily this Microwave Smart Oven fits in my kitchen. I quickly got hold of the user manual and started flipping through the pages in absolute awe of what this glorious machine can do.

From basic baked potatoes, which we have eaten every week since receiving our friend here, to dough proofing and convection baking. I have LOVED every moment with this product. Driving in the car this week my husband said to me, “Love I’m not sure what we are going to do if the microwave goes back, it’s really changed our lives.” I can give you his number to validate that quote, I am not making it up just for the purpose of this mission.

We are proud Samsung owners, our microwave is a Samsung, our fridge, and hubby’s phone is Samsung, so we were pretty excited to see just how smart this microwave was. On the first night of having it we made Slim Fry chips in it… well done to the marketing team for the image of the chips on the front (ha ha). I have since baked another batch of cookies in it, as I am so incredible blown away by how quickly the convection setting heats up to 180 degrees, AND how clever the microwave is to know the perfect timing to bake cookies for. I didn’t even have to set the time, you just press the correct function and off it goes.

Working late most days I will admit that having a smart appliance makes the world of difference to our home. The challenge I leave myself with is to bake bread from scratch in the Microwave Smart Oven, I can only imagine how delicious our house will smell, and the bread will taste.

Thank you #MissionSamsung – Samsung, SA Bloggers & Webfluential for giving me the opportunity to take part in the blogger challenge. It has been great fun, I have eaten a lot, but all in all the Microwave Smart Oven is a superb product.

#MissionSamsung Complete 🙂