Show Your Pie-triotism: Upcoming Events for National Pie Day in Seattle

Put on your fat pants: starting next Friday, you're in for one sweet weekend of eating! There are several events coming up in celebration of National Pie Day on January 23rd--here are just a few of the things going on around Seattle, one of the most enthusiastic pie-eating cities in the nation:

Friday, January 22

Pie Party 2010 in Ballard, Seattle: This annual pie eating event and fundraiser is in its 10th year in Seattle! Here's the blurb from their Facebook invitation:

Come enjoy the 7th Annual National Pie Day Pie Party! Bring a pie to add to the pie buffet for admission or donate $10 at the door to The Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research. Sweet or savory; it's dinner and dessert. Enjoy a set by pie song cover band The Fillings, shop for pie-pharnalia at the silent auction and snap up a limited edition t-shirt custom created for PP10 by the lovely Cakespy (tee design pictured at top)! Children are welcome. Full bar available at the Eagles. Let's roll out some dough!

The details: Friday, January 22, 2010, 7:00pm - 11:00pm. Location: Salmon Bay Eagles, 5216 20th Ave NW, Seattle, Wa, 98107

Saturday, January 23

High 5 Pie Debuts New Flavors: Per an email from Dani Cone, the baker and coffee genius behind High 5 Pie:

National Pie Day is coming right up on January 23rd and we've got some great specials, discounts, and new flavors coming, too! We'll be introducing our new Chocolate/Oatmeal/Craisin and Broccoli/Mushroom/Cheddar flavors plus a one-day-only Pie Day special flavor: Apple/Cheddar/Rosemary....it's pretty off the hook!

Experience all that awesome at Fuel Coffee locations (and keep updated on any further developments via Twitter!).

Mini Empire Makes its Grand Debut at Porchlight Coffee, Capitol Hill, Seattle: Aren't you dying to try Mini Empire's lilliputian baked goods (which were recently announced via Capitol Hill Seattle and Seattle Weekly)? Happily, this special order bakery is making its retail debut on January 23rd, when they start selling their sweets at Porchlight Coffee in Capitol Hill. The Mini Empire crew will be giving out free cup-pie samples from 12-5, and some lucky souls will win their pies in mason jars!

Of course, if this isn't enough pie related goodness for you (or if geography is going to keep you from attending any of these awesome events), check out upcoming pie events on the American Pie Council (yes, it exists) website, or check out some ideas for other ways to celebrate.

In the Club: Chinatown Cake Club, NYC

The first rule of cake club?

You do not talk about cake club.

But why not? Because your mouth is full of cake, that's why.

But while you're stuffing your cake-hole, I'll tell you more about the coolest new club for cake lovers, NYC's Chinatown Cake Club. Here's the sweet scoop:

What is it? A private club which meets about once a month in an apartment in Chinatown (NYC) featuring a deluxe rotation of homemade desserts, coffee, and teas.

What might you eat? Well, the last cake party featured such goodies as Vietnamese Tres Leches Cake, Green Tea Mont Blanc, Chocolate Peanut Butter Macarons, and Taro Meringue Tarts, to name a few key items. Each event also features an artist series cake.

Who puts it on? Victoria Howe, who in addition to throwing renegade cake events is also the pastry chef at the Macao Trading Company.

Why attend? Do I really have to give you more reasons?

How do you get invited? Because of limited space, you have to reserve a spot--but don't worry, these aren't velvet rope affairs, they're quite inclusive. Add yourself to the mailing list here to get the inside scoop on upcoming events. But don't delay--with early press from the likes of The Village Voice, this cake club isn't going to be secret for long.

Hungry for more? Get yourself to chinatowncakeclub.com.

Cake Byte: Whoopie Pies in Harrods Department Store

Now, I know I declared that no way were whoopie pies going to be the next big thing. But according to CakeSpy readers Ellie and Shamila, who both reported on the fact that the trendsetting Harrods department store in London, is now stocking the cream-filled sweet burgers in their food halls, could that be changing?

Here's the scoop from the Harrods site:

Originally a New England phenomenon, the craze for these cookie-textured treats has already swept America where they are flying off the shelves at speciality shops and boutique bakeries up and down the country. Harrods pastry chefs have expertly crafted four of these delectable delicacies, creating luxurious Whoopies based on the time-honoured recipe of the pies. Each comprises two delicious cake pillows filled with homemade buttercream and topped with cute edible couture.

Shoppers will be tempted by:

• The Classic, a heady mix of dark chocolate cakes, vanilla cream and sparkly couture
• A seasonal Gingerbread, slightly spicy and adorned with chocolate and mini polka dots
• A Pistachio extravaganza featuring green fondant icing and finished with edible glitter and silver balls
• The retro Red Velvet, made with chocolate cakes, peanut butter cream, burgundy fondant and topped with sugar hearts.

I still don't know about them being the next big thing, but I sure do know I'd like to take a big bite of any (or all) of the varieties on offer in Harrods!

Cake Byte: New Cuppie Love Rubber Stamps by Taylored Expressions!

Love is sweet, but cupcakes are sweeter. And while this brand new set of rubber stamps featuring CakeSpy art by Taylored Expressions are not exactly edible, they're incredibly sugary-sweet: they depict scenes of Cuppie love! This set would be perfect as a Valentine's Day surprise for your sweetie, or buy it to make a sweet card for all of the sweetest people in your life!

This set retails for $21.95 and comes nicely packaged with a beautiful color index sheet; you can purchase it here. You can also find great project ideas on the Taylored Expressions blog and stay in touch with Taylored Expressions via Twitter!

Cake Byte: Cake Central Magazine to Launch in March 2010

I don't know about you, but I get totally excited when I hear about something new in the cake community. And a sweet bit of news recently came my way via Leanne, whose delicious cakes I have sampled and who has purchased my artwork--she's part of a new cake publication, Cake Central, which will be publishing their first issue in March of 2010!

Here's the blurb from the Cake Central website:

Cake Makers, Foodies, and Cake Enthusiasts alike have been waiting for a first-class cake decorating magazine and that wait is over. Cake Central’s Glossy Printed Magazine is coming in March and currently taking subscription orders.

The cost of the (monthly) magazine is only $60/year with FREE shipping within the USA.

The pages of Cake Central the Magazine will feature:

• high quality cake pictures
• up-and-coming and celebrity cake decorators
• recipes
• tutorials
• product reviews
• and more for the novice
• and the professional cake decorator.
• This premium publication is ideal for anyone who bakes, makes cakes, aspires to make cakes, watches cake decorating shows, or has an interest in beautiful food!

I can't wait too see what they come up with! For more information or to subscribe, visit the Cake Central website.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Contributions to Serious Eats Featured in O Magazine!

Watch out, Gayle--you've got some competition. Oprah and CakeSpy are, like, practically BFF!

OK, this might be a slight stretch. However, I am delighted to report that the January issue of O Magazine has a feature on Serious Eats (a site to which I regularly contribute) in which they feature a photo and shout-out to some of my contributions! It may be tiny, but there my name is, right on page 32. Which means, you guessed it, that now I can officially tell everybody that I have been featured in O Magazine.

Next stop, world cake domination.

O Magazine's January issue is on newsstands now!

Sweet Charity: CakeSpy and Menu For Hope 6!

As totally sweet as it is to receive gifts around the holiday, sometimes it's even sweeter to give back. With that in mind, CakeSpy is happy to donate an original 11x14 framed watercolor painting featuring cupcakes and bacon (awesome!) as part of this year's Menu For Hope!

What is Menu For Hope, you ask? Here's the scoop, via Chez Pim:

Menu For Hope is an annual fundraising campaign hosted by Pim Techamuanvivit and a revolving group of food bloggers around the world. Five years ago, the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia inspired me to find a way to help, and the very first Menu for Hope was born. The campaign has since become a yearly affair.

Each December, food bloggers from all over the world join the campaign by offering a delectable array of food-related items for the Menu for Hope raffle. Anyone – and that means you too - can participate. For every $10 donated, you earn one virtual ticket to bid on an item of your choice. At the end of the two-week campaign, the tickets are drawn and the results announced on Chez Pim on Monday, January 18.

So how do you get in on this sweet action? To Donate and Enter the Menu for Hope Raffle, here's what you need to do:

1. Choose a bid item or bid items of your choice from our Menu for Hope main bid item list (the code for my donation is UW31).
   
2. Go to the donation site at Firstgiving and make a donation.
   
3. Please specify which bid item you'd like in the 'Personal Message' section in the donation form when confirming your donation. You must write-in how many tickets per bid item, and please use the bid item code (remember--mine is UW31).
   
4. Each $10 you donate will give you one raffle ticket toward a bid item of your choice. For example, a donation of $50 can be 2 tickets for EU01 and 3 tickets for EU02 - 2xEU01, 3xEU02.
   
5. If your company matches your charity donation, please check the box and fill in the information so we could claim the corporate match.
   
6. Please check the box to allow us to see your email address so that we can contact you in case you win. Your email address will not be shared with anyone.
   
7. Check back on Chez Pim on Monday, January 18 for the results of the raffle.
   

Thanks for your participation, and good luck in the raffle!

Cake Byte: CakeSpy at Crafty Wonderland in Portland December 13

Oh, hi Portland. Now, I know you already love sweet stuff: after all, you are the home of such amazing bakeries as Saint Cupcake, Ken's Artisan Bakery, Crema, Voodoo Donuts, Honore, and Pearl Bakery--just to name a few.

But this weekend, a veritable storm of sweetness is going to descend on your fair city from up north--yup, CakeSpy is coming to town!

Mr. Spy and myself will be showing at Crafty Wonderland's Super Colossal Holiday Sale this Sunday, December 13!

Here are the details:

Super Colossal Holiday Sale!
December 13th from 11am-7pm
at the Oregon Convention Center
777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, Exhibit Hall D
All Ages * Free Admission * Goodie Bags for the first 200 people!

For more information and directions, visit craftywonderland.com !

Hope to see you there! Oh, and any Portland bakery suggestions are welcome, too!

Sweet December: The Holiday Cupcake Roster at Trophy Cupcakes

Not that you need a reason to go to Trophy Cupcakes this month, but you know what? Here are four reasons. You know what that means? No excuses.

#1: CakeSpy Art Show. Buy original artwork all December long at the Wallingford location of Trophy Cupcakes! The paintings are selling like hotcakes so be sure to go soon for a sweet holiday gift for your sweetie!

#2: Bourbon Eggnog Cupcakes: One of the December flavors which seems to sell out every day. This bodes well.

#3: Chocolate Candy Cane Cupcakes: Another of the December flavors, comprised of rich chocolate cake and a gorgeously buttery-pepperminty buttercream, all topped with crushed candy canes for the perfect balance of decadent, sweet, and crunchy.

#4: Gingerbread Cupcakes: The final of the three December flavors, this spicy gingerbread cupcake is perfectly balanced by a slightly tangy, bright orange zest buttercream.

Bonus reason: The Candied Yam Cupcake! This Thanksgiving has proven so popular that Trophy is offering it Wednesdays and Fridays all December long.

You know what this all means: get yourself to Trophy Cupcakes! For locations and more information, visit trophycupcakes.com.

Cake Byte: Jane and Michael Stern in Seattle in January!

Jane and Michael Stern talk a lot about foods like hot dogs, mac and cheese, burgers, and savory things.

But from time to time, they also break out an exquisite gem of a sweet find--which are reported on their site, roadfood.com. And generally the sweets they love are of the intensely decadent, no holds barred variety (yesss!).

And now they're coming to Seattle!

They will be speaking on January 12, 7:30 pm at Benaroya Hall, Seattle; Tickets are $25-50, $10 for students/under 25; available at lectures.org or at 206.621.2230. There will also be a community dinner the evening before (it's pricey, but hey, if you're a super fan, why not?); for more info, click here.