Bakes and Cakes Show

Baking, Food, Inspiration

On Saturday the 25th October I went to the BBC Good Food Bakes and Cakes show at the Design Centre Islington. The day involved interviews with bakers and chefs, book signings, demonstrations, master classes, competitions, food stalls and a theatre where celebrity chefs did a demonstration.

We arrived at around 10am and began our day with a book signing with Mary Berry, she was lovely and sometimes it’s easy to forget that we are all human and we are all ‘normal’. My mum being my mum commented on her dress at the Pride of Britain awards. We then continued to listen to some interviews/question and answers with Eric Lanlard, I also watched him do a demonstration later on in the day. We browsed the food stalls and bought some sweet and savoury treats to eat. A delicious sausage bap, macaroons, brownies and meringues from the Meringue Girls.

We then sat and watched a question/answer interview with John Whaite (Bake Off winner 2012) , who was extremely funny, and had a good relationship with his friend and interviewer Jo Wheatley (Bake Off winner 2011). We then watched a demonstration by the Meringue Girls, who I had the pleasure of meeting. Read more about this here.

The day ended with watching Mary Berry in the Bakes and Cakes Theatre, where she made a chocolate roulade, and some apple muffins. Chocolate roulade is a family favourite in our home, we have it every year on christmas eve. It is a tradition, and one I hope to carry on in the future.

My mum and I then went to dinner in the evening, to Gourmet Burger Kitchen. I had the Salvador, a pork and chorizo burger, with avocado, garlic mayo, fiery chipotle ketchup, crispy onions, in a brioche bun. Finished off with my favourite oreo cookie milkshake.

After a long, but thoroughly enjoyable day we headed home and crashed out on the sofa reading my new Mary Berry cookbook.

A girl with an appetite for all things creative,

Maria x

Meringue Girls

Baking, Food, Inspiration

My instagram feed is full of all things food related, or photography related mixed in with the occasional selfie. (Probably more selfies than I’d like to admit) I follow David Loftus, who photographs for Jamie Oliver, and through this stumbled across a company called the Meringue Girls, founded by trained chefs Alex Hoffler and Stacey O’Gorman after working together in a restaurant in Hackney. “We bonded over our love of sweet things, especially meringues”. They make brightly coloured meringue ‘kisses’ in an assortment of flavours. They are stocked in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, as well as working with a variety of other clients. They also do food styling. 

I was lucky enough to meet them at the BBC Good Food Cakes & Bakes show, which you can read about here. I watched them do a demonstration, and spoke to them afterwards and showed them a cake I made which was inspired by their work. I am now doing some baking with them in January at their bakery in Hackney. I’m super excited for this, and hopefully it may result in a career in the food industry somehow, as I feel right now this is all I want to be doing! Food and cooking relaxes me, and is one of the only activities where I forget the stress of reality and feel in a world of my own.

A girl with an appetite for all things creative,

Maria x

Borough Market

Food, Photography

On the 24th October I decided to take a trip to Borough Market after seeing some amazing doughnuts on Tom Kerridge’s ‘Best Ever Dishes’. As part of one of my university projects I wanted to do something food related, as this is what I’m passionate about and could be targeted towards a possible career area.

My senses were overwhelmed by smells and sights. I was so consumed by the amazing produce and different foods that I came away with an experience full of hope and excitement for my future, but very few photographs for my project. Which luckily for me meant I needed to go again. It gave me a chance to reflect on the photographs I took, and what I needed to do and think about on my next trip, to improve my images.

Here are two images that I particularly liked. I thought about developing this theme of photographing single produce.

A girl with an appetite for all things creative,

Maria x

Hello!

Baking, Food, Inspiration, Photography, Recipes

Welcome to my blog. I plan on talking about and sharing my food experiences with you all. This will include products or produce I have seen, my own recipes and things I have made, as well as places I have eaten and enjoyed and want to share with whoever wants to hear about it.

Currently studying a BA in photography and film, and having studied and been passionate about art from a young age, I have developed an appreciation for aesthetics and all things creative. This combined with living in a family where food is a central component, my thoughts are consumed with all things food, cooking and of course the eating too (I don’t even mind washing up at times)! These two things have naturally led me to set up a food blog and see where it may take me.

Thanks for reading,

A girl with an appetite for all things creative,
Maria x