OMG I have some amazingly talented friends. This was my first but I can guarantee you that it will not be my last collaboration with the amazing Chau Ly. Isn't this cake just beautiful? 

I'd love to lie to myself and to you all and say that the reason why I asked her for her help was because I am time poor and was already juggling too many things for this wedding. Yes, there is some truth there but in all honestly, it is because I cannot create the beautiful, life-like flowers the way she can (and I didn't want the stress of making a dud cake for my cousins's wedding if that were the case!).

So I baked and ganached the three tiers: 2 of caramel and 1 of earl grey and pretty much dropped it off the Chau and said it's your problem now - I'll pick it up on Saturday! And yes, it was a stressful (and slow, bumpy drive - thanks Sydney councils, you sure know how to take care of your roads) to the reception place [anyone who wants to have their wedding at the Deckhouse in Woolwoch/ Hunter's Hill - Don't bother wasting your money. But that's another story).

Thankfully, there were a few young lads ready to help carry the cake to the cake table (and thanks again useless waiters who hovered and made everything 10 times more difficult, you were of absolutely no help to direct us). Only broke off one of the tiny flowers in the back on the way so no dramas!

And look how gorgeous it looked (and tasted!!!). Even if the cake was cut the way a butcher cuts up bones (yes, I really did have issues with the reception place that night, can you tell?!). 

Not nearly as extravagant as the french pastry chefs and the traditional french wedding cake but pretty good for a very very first attempt! Although did burn a couple of fingers in the process. Ouchy! No pain, no gain, no hard lessons learnt! Definitely won't be making the same mistakes twice...

Would love to try making a larger version of this! Too bad these towers don't last a long time (they are quite perishable as the pastry becomes soggy) so very exclusive for us to make... :)

We've had a pretty productive weekend here. Dished out a couple of yummy moreish cakes and experimented with a lot of new things. Even dabbled in some sugar art from toffee to delicate flower making.

Had our kitchen smelling awesome and then some!

Lots of prep work for our next big things over the weekend, huge three-tier wedding cake! so we spent a very relaxing morning doing some sugar art and making petals for peonies like the one below. productiveness = time well spent without the stress, and we spent our time well this weekend!