Lion Heart - Have your cake and eat it

I first came across Lion Heart through Nikki Albertyn. She is a local baker and creative with an Instagram that caught my eye. I knew from the get go that I had to share what she was up to. Her business partner Karmen, is her lifelong friend and the two have created a little magic with their baking skills and creativity. After much stalking, I decided to contact the Gurl's and shoot the exciting bakery and magnificent cakes! 

Situated in Woodstock this team of two work on making cakes that are minimal in design yet make a statement with their bold colours and unique textures. I was taken aback when I saw the limited space that they work out of. To create these little pieces of art with such limited space is commendable! Trust me, I know because I am in a tiny kitchen and although it's great that everything is at arm's length, it can get tiring! 

Spending the morning with the team I watched how they work together with ease and let each other create with trust. Feeding off the fun vibe and with tunes playing in the background. Of course, this all would mean nothing without the matching Gurl Power T's. 

They created a new beautiful cake and mentioned that they will put it on the site and name it "Everest." It's the blue cake above and it took all of me to not run my finger through the buttercream! 

I believe you can never have too many good bakeries listed in your little black book and I will definitely be adding this team to mine. Their cakes are for all occasions. So whether you are celebrating a birthday or going to get married they are definitely worth a call! The flavours of the sponge vary from poppy seed to mud cake and the fillings from smokey salted caramel, lemon curd to rosemary buttercream! If you would like to see more click here to visit their site! It's pretty rad and will leave you drooling - just a warning! All cakes are made to order and you need to give them a heads up! 

I know for sure if I ever need to make a cake and I don't have the time, the Sweet Lion Heart Gurl's will be the first bakers I call for back up! 

-Melissa 

Maison Gateau, Cape Town

In my head I am convinced I am a seasoned baker that can create masterpieces that stand sky high and compete with the best of the bakers out there. I often wonder why as I still have the odd cake that flops and I have no idea why it did so in the first place. The good thing is that I am ok with it. I am a home baker and proud of it. The wonderful thing is that every now and then on my food adventures I get to work with amazing talents that pass on pearls of wisdom as they glide through the kitchen.

One such person is Tara from the lovely Maison Gateau. I spent the morning moving around this beautiful bakery listening to Tara talk as she worked. From guidance on how to ice the perfect cup cake to making gum paste and Italian buttercream, my mind was a sponge. I will definitely keep the tricks in my little black book for future baking days! Let us just hope I remember them all!  

This bakery is actually my favourite because of the fantastic selection of sweet treats. Tara is constantly pushing the boundaries with her flavours. Honeycomb chocolate cupcakes to freshly baked éclairs and Macarons with flavours from your wildest dreams that line the display cabinets in the front of the shop.  I mean who would of thought of mojito cupcakes and red velvet chocolate?

Tara also does exquisite wedding cakes and is a master at decorating them. So regardless of the event, birthday or prenuptial, Maison Gateau is a must visit and lets all pray she starts doing deliveries! A cupcake to my front door is something I wouldn't resist!

You can place orders for cakes, cake pops and cupcakes because every person needs a wicked bakery in their phone book! Next time you find yourself in Woodstock I would stumble upon this little piece of heaven! 

Here are the details if you are on the hunt for delicious cakes:

Mason’s Press, 7 Ravenscraig Road, Woodstock, Cape Town.

-Melissa