The Hummingbird Bakery - Spitalfields (London, UK)

As some of you may or may not know, I have a very sweet tooth which is why now and again, I like to feature some tasty treats on this blog. Few people can argue that cupcakes aren't just delicious, but as pretty to look at as a pair of shoes. So when I got the chance to view the newly opened Hummingbird Bakery in Spitalfields, I knew I was in for something special. Those of you who live in the UK may already be familiar with the bakery, which opened its first branch seven years ago in Notting Hill. As London's answer to NYC's Magnolia Bakery, The Hummingbird Bakery was the first to offer Londoners real fresh cupcakes - moist and fluffy with a buttercream icing - in addition to decadent layer cakes and genuine American pies.

Mouthwatering goodies: seasonal cupcakes with handmade decorations (left) and some of the classic varieties, including Red Velvet and the Black Bottom Cupcake with a dark chocolate sponge, cheesecake center and cream cheese frosting.

The concept proved a success. Not only did The Hummingbird Bakery start expanding the business, making the new Spitalfields location its fourth (with other branches in South Kensington and Soho), but you can now also indulge in whoopie pies, brownies, a variety of special edition cupcakes and hot or cold beverages while you're there.

Overview of the Spitalfields branch.

The seating area (left) and some very cool cupcake art (right).

The non-cupcake selection includes brownies, pies, layer cakes, cheesecakes and whoopie pies. Drooling yet?

Of course the baked delights are only part of the charm. If you've never set foot in one of the stores, I can tell you (as will these images) that the decor is just as enticing. Kept in the signature pink and brown, the sleek space in Spitalfields immediately felt welcoming once I entered. I was greeted with a seating area near the entrance, where the walls were lined with bright Warhol inspired cupcake pop-art. An abundance of cakes, pies and of course cupcakes were on display. These included classic favorites such as the Red Velvet, Vanilla or Chocolate varieties, many of which are also available gluten free. In addition, I spied a large range of colorful seasonal cupcakes which almost looked too pretty to eat. What's more, if you have a special occasion coming up, Cakes by Consultation allows you to order something bespoke to mark that important day.

View of the space overlooking the seating area.

A peek at the large kitchen, where the scrumptious cakes are baked daily throughout the day.

The very chic Cakes by Consultation area.

A quick tour of the kitchen revealed that all goods are freshly baked on site each day throughout the day. Though I wonder how the bakers manage to restrain themselves from gorging on cakes all the time - I know I would have a hard time resisting. The good news is that you can also recreating some of the yummy delights at home thanks to the bestselling cookbooks The Hummingbird Bakery and Cake Days, which can be purchased either in-store or online (the latter is also available as an iPhone app).

Drool-worthy reading material: The Hummingbird Bakery cookbooks.

The new East London space is conveniently located close to Liverpool Street and Shoreditch so if you're in the area or near any other Hummingbird Bakery location, definitely drop by for a visit, as these are some of the best cakes and cupcakes I've tasted. If you're stuck at work, fear not... you can even order online (London only). Supposedly other branches - even outside the UK - will be opened in the future. So keep an eye out and your fingers crossed, that a store will be heading your way soon.

The cash desk adorned with cute pop-art business cards.

The very tempting window display.

Address: 11 Frying Pan Alley, London E1 7HS
Opening Hrs: Mon-Fri: 8:30-18:30, Sat-Sun: 11:00-18:00
The Hummingbird Bakery Homepage & Online-Shop

All non-watermarked images © Benjamin C. M. Backhouse.

Cox Cookies & Cake (London, UK)

This post may seem a little random, considering this isn't a food blog, though I have featured tasty treats in the past. But this is my (belated) way of celebrating my birthday, which was this past Sunday, and Cox Cookies & Cake is actually something I stumbled upon, while searching for some yummy delicacies I could serve that day. Not only that, but this small cake shop, nestled in the heart of Soho also has a fashion connection, as it was founded by shoe designer Patrick Cox. The designer's inspiration to venture into the food business, lies with his mother, who would bake with him every Saturday morning and who after his move to the UK (from his native Canada) still sent him care packages with baked goodies. Together with Eric Lanlard, one of London's finest cake makers, Cox Cookies & Cake was launched last September and has already gained a huge following.

Overview of the store interior (image via weheart.co.uk).

Much of that has to do with the unique decor and the extraordinary cupcakes on display. If you're one of those people who is 'over' cupcakes, because they're everywhere or always hated the vintage-girly look of some of the more typically famous cupcake emporiums, then this might just be the place for you. Situated among adult entertainment shops and some of the best foodie outlets, Cox Cookies & Cake manages to combine the two worlds. If it weren't for the cupcakes in the windows, you might just mistake this for yet another seedy store - an employee by the door was even wearing a very S&M-esque leather apron. While the bright neon sign and the all-black interiors may be misleading, the actual cupcakes are quite cute... and almost too pretty to eat.

A selection of limited edition cupcakes celebrating the Royal Wedding.

I want them all... some of the specialty cupcakes I sighted.

The range includes regular cupcakes, such as red velvet or lemon and white cheesecake (£2 each) and more elaborate examples like the Marilyn Monroe 'Pop' cake or the ones featuring black and red skulls (£4 each). But in keeping with their surroundings, you'll also find the naughtier treats from the 'Soho Specials' line that features various naked male and female body parts - some more disturbing than others.

A selection of regular cupcakes.

Previous limited edition cupcakes celebrating Christmas and Easter.

The cupcakes definitely steal the show, but you'll also find a selection of brownies and other treats, as well as a large choice of hot beverages. The leather aprons are for sale too and if you'd rather just stare at cakes all day long instead of eating them, you'll also find a few colorful glass figurines of your favorite treats. During special events or holidays, look out for limited edition cupcakes, which in the past have included Royal Wedding themed delicacies or cute Easter pastries.

Neon-lit displays showcased the cupcakes in the windows. Top: Marilyn and skull cupcakes. Lower right: Yes, that's a cupcake shaped like a boob. Other 'Soho Specials' include a man's ripped torso and a bulging bicep.

Very pretty: limited edition cakes for Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.

This place is definitely worth a browse if you're ever in the area. The cakes I tried were excellent and I find it refreshing not to be surrounded by pastels when I'm in a bakery. If you're not in London though, I just found out that Cox Cookies & Cake will be releasing a cookbook soon, which is available for pre-order here. Snap it up, and soon you'll be able to make your own Coco-Cola or Xmas Bauble cupcakes!

A cake for fashionistas: London Fashion Week treats (left). Kylie Minogue and Elton John limited edition cakes (right).

Glass cupcakes and glass cake stands.

Cute and creepy: Halloween cupcakes.

Address: 13 Brewer Street, London W1F 0RH
Opening Hrs: Sun-Thurs: 11:00-20:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00
Cox Cookies & Cake Homepage

Flowers, Macaroons & More @ Hermès (Paris, France)

I know I've heavily featured Lanvin windows on this blog before, along with other random displays here and there. But until now, I've refrained from posting some of the most opulent windows of all, courtesy of the incredibly talented Leïla Menchari - Window Design Director of Hermès' main flagship on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. While the large boutique comes with several store windows, it's the main display corner that generally has pedestrians stopping in their tracks.

The current windows are extravagant as usual and perhaps it's the delicacies in the form of colorful macaroons (supplied by Pierre Hermé) that finally prompted me to take some photos. Or maybe it's the cute zebras and polar bears I spotted. I also took a few snaps of some of the neighboring windows, which are a little more classic, but over-the-top nonetheless. To read my previous feature of the flagship and see more from the inside, click here.

The impressive main windows of the flagship.

Some of the neighboring windows. Can you spot the Birkins?

And to make up for my lack of Hermès and Leïla Menchari love (the Tunisian born artist has been doing this for the fashion house for over 30 years), please find below a few of her previous windows. Some came accompanied with music or sound effects (birds chirping, leaves rustling etc.) and though some displays in the past were a little 'too much' for me, there's no denying they're quite extraordinary.

All images below courtesy of Hermès. For more stunning windows, please visit Hermès' FB fan page.

Eat the Designers with AnOther Magazine & Selfridges (London, UK)

With so many events and exhibitions going on during LFW this past week (not to mention the shows themselves), there was one showcase that literally left me drooling. Since I do have a bit of a sweet tooth, I might have been better off staying away, but a girl can rarely resist the combo of fashion and dessert. Some may remember my coverage of the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, where dresses were created out of cocoa ingredients. This time around, big-name designers themselves were asked to envision their ultimate fantasy cake.

To celebrate AnOther magazine's 10th birthday, Editor in Chief Jefferson Hack (also of Dazed & Confused fame) asked a few luxury designers to come up with their dream birthday cake design just for fun. The idea snowballed when some of UK's most prestigious cake makers decided to actually execute a few of these ideas. The result was hosted by Selfridges, who presented these creations in their (appropriately titled) 'Wonder Room' concept store under the name 'Eat the Designers'. A birthday bash in-store with special guest Daphne Guinness also saw a real live model emerge from the 8-foot Lanvin cake. Now why can't I have birthdays like that?

Below you'll find a few photos I took while browsing the cake selection the day the presentation launched. As tempting as it was to plant my face in one of these beauties, I didn't feel like getting arrested (or worse yet... being banned from the store) and let's be honest... many of these are just too pretty to eat. I have included the descriptions and ingredients though. Just so you can imagine what it would be like if you were to take a nibble...

So tell me, which cake would you want for your own birthday?

Calvin Klein Collection by Francisco Costa

(Top right image: AnOther).

“Interactive floating mobile cake. Small, matchbook-sized cakes covered in edible silverleaf suspended in a dégradé presentation. Cake flavour: lavender. Approximate size of each cake: 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" square. Thickness of each cake: 1/2"” ~ Francisco Costa. Made by Brett Redman, featuring silverleaf marshmallows.

Gucci

Right: Overview of the space at the Selfridges concept store.

Made by Andrew Stellitano. According to the tag description, the ingredients are: bakery selection (doughnuts, cupcakes), gold candles, pink marshmallows with green/red/green web, liquorice strips, strawberry marshmallow, caramel fringes, pink meringue, silver icing, chocolate logo on biscuit, Christmas hard candy mint stick, cream, dark chocolate, Gucci diamante pattern icing, silver sugar praline, milk chocolate, lollipop, biscuit.

Philip Treacy

“I would imagine it could be made with fondant icing as it is sculptural, but as you can see it should be made by somebody who really knows what they are doing!”~Philip Treacy. Made by Julie Walsh of Le Cordon Bleu. The final cake was made of pulled sugar.

Dolce & Gabbana

“Inspiration: memories of embroideries from a Sicilian hope chest and the Sicilian baroque. Shape: heart; a tribute to passion for food. Description: a sponge cake imbued in a light and sweet-smelling citron juice, Sicilian orange blossom custard, wild strawberries, blueberries and small passion fruits. For the glazing: marzipan glaze, orange-flavoured dark chocolate coating, citrus and fruits of the forest- flavoured red and maroon small chocolate flowers (inspired by baroque velvets). The micro, white flowers are made of soft marzipan, whilst the darker ones are caramelised violets”~ Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

I don't believe these cakes were actually made (right images: AnOther). Top: Christian Louboutin, bottom: Dolce & Gabbana. Illustrations and magazines decorated part of the store walls (left).

Christian Louboutin

“Bûche de Noël Bottée: chestnut cream, chocolate, vanilla extract, Génoise cake (flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, sugar, vanilla), chocolate ganache (chocolate and heavy cream), covered in shaved chocolate (to make the bark), egg whites, sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder dusting (for the meringue mushrooms), marzipan (for the sole), almond sugar, red food colouring, cocoa powder dusting” ~ Christian Louboutin


Gareth Pugh

(Images on the right... top: Annie Nichols, bottom: AnOther).

“A simple cube shape with the pattern tiled onto the surface. The triangles forming the design should be in relief and the gaps should be sunken – very crisp and sharp. Something around 6" square would be a nice size”~ Gareth Pugh. Cake made by Paul Wayne Gregory: 6" x 6"' chocolate quilted cube dusted with powdered edible sugar.

Missoni

(Right image: Annie Nichols).

According to AnOther magazine: "The multicolored cake is made with smoothy creams, layers of flavours such as cherry, cream, pistachio, nut, chocolate, raspberry, blueberry, apricot and strawberry. The layer tops are covered with colored marzipan and little biscuit, candies and sugar or chocolate flakes. The cup-holes are in creams, crunchy nuts and candies." Cake made by Caroline Hobkinson.

Burberry

(Left image: AnOther).

Burberry Lights: light, soft lemon sponge cake with sugar icing top, illuminated with miniature studded lights. The cake is wrapped in a metallic iconic check casing.

Vivienne Westwood

"It is heart-shaped and can be made out of chocolate, strawberries or vanilla; it is absolutely up to the baker’s imagination"~ Vivienne Westwood. Cake made by Fabien Ecuvillon at Mark Hix (consisting of chocolate and an exoctic fruit of sea/buck thorn jelly).

Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel

"Ten candles, lace and sugar. Another Magazine as a temple of modernity. Happy Birthday"~ Karl Lagerfeld. Cake made by Peggy Porschen.

Lanvin

(Right image: Annie Nichols).

“I wanted to make a luxurious, tasty, happy and colorful yet chic birthday cake. I took inspiration from 1950s girls who jumped out of cakes – even though they were covered in cream they looked amazing! There are some pearls, and we use meringue at the centre, with cream, white chocolate, and truffles. The cake is big enough so that a real size girl can fit in it”~ Alber Elbaz. Cake made by Bompass & Parr.

Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci

This was the most elaborate and also most provocative cake hidden in a black box, only viewable from the top or via peepholes and mirrors. For adults only (a sign nearby said it was for 18+), this orgy of a sculpture was more like a work of art than an actual cake (and who knows where Tisci would have put the candles... I won't venture a guess). It was truly amazing.

(Left images: Annie Nichols).

“Dark decadence, sensuality, something that recalls pure pleasure”~ Riccardo Tisci. Made by Simon Smith out of pure margarine.

For more, head over to Annie Nichols' blog for additional images or visit the Selfridges page for videos of the 'making of' and the party.

All illustrations and cake descriptions courtesy of AnOther magazine.

Manish Arora for Nespresso (Paris, France)

Still looking for a perfect Xmas gift for that certain someone who's both stylish and completely addicted to caffeine? Well, look no further, because the world's most fashionable coffee maker is now available, courtesy of Manish Arora, who's applied his signature flamboyant style to the chic Nespresso 'CitiZ' machines. Normally I wouldn't bother posting about home appliances on this blog, but the most adorable animated window (above) from the Nespresso flagship on Champs-Élysées caught my eye two weeks ago, and before I knew what was happening, I was filming away (see the animated window in the video at the end of this post).

Cute window decor, though nothing beats the sparkly animated window.

I later found out, that the story behind those cute little Nespresso figures and magical surroundings is part of a theme about a fairytale kingdom called 'Swig' which is governed by Bacchitarius who weds Queen Nespresso. She gives birth to 16 princesses (poor thing) who go on a mission to spread love around the world. In addition to the mini Nespresso dolls, a collection of full-sized clothes was unveiled as well - again 16 looks in total, all inspired by the 16 different Nespresso flavors. If that's not enough, major flagships selling these limited edition machines featured cute in-store displays and other decor curated by Arora himself.

A closer look at some of the whimsical details of the main window.

The actual Nespresso machine presented on very colorful stands (right image: Ambroise via Russian Fashion Reporters).

A look at some of the small figures (or 'princesses') made out of Nespresso capsules.

The mini displays (left) and slightly larger ones (right) which showed the little dolls flitting around the world (note the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and Colosseum to name a few).

More displays...

Two looks from the Nespresso inspired collection along with two sketches of the mini dolls (left image: Luxpresso, right image: Bolero) .

Amateur video shot by yours truly. I hope you get the idea...