CupcakeCamp Charleston 2011 already?!?

Yup!

Save the date!!  CupcakeCamp Charleston is coming to Spirit Moves Studio, 445 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC (www.spiritmoves.com).

CARPOOLING is heavily encouraged!

DIRECTIONS:
Spirit Moves Studio is located at the foot of the overpass where Savannah Highway crosses Folly Rd. Blvd. heading downtown. It can be a little tricky so here's what you do:

From West Ashley or James Island, it's pretty simple - take Savannah Highway (17) like you're going downtown. Once you cross Wesley Dr. (the road that connects 17 and 61, by Ye Olde Fashioned Ice Cream), look for the overpass, and turn Right into the driveway at its base.

From East Cooper, downtown, or I-26 - you will cross the Ashley River Bridge, get off on Highway 61 (St. Andrews Blvd., the first road on the Right off the bridge), and then take the first Left, which is Wesley Blvd. Then take the next Left, which puts you on Savannah Highway, pointed back downtown. From there, look for the overpass, and turn Right into the driveway at its base. You're basically doing a little hook around to get there.

Just be ready for the turn!

There are two parking lots - one before the building, and a bigger one in back.
 
You can exit the parking lot either onto 17 headed downtown (or use the switchback on 17 to go back to West Ashley), or onto Folly Rd. headed to South Windermere.

Thank you to all our 2010 Sponsors/Donors

Thank you again to all of our 2010 Sponsors/Donors!  We truly couldn't have done it without you!
Looking forward to next year!

Aloft Charleston Hotel
Amongst Lovely Things
Buttercup Bake Shop
Caketacular
Charleston Cupcakery
dodeline design
FashionFynlie
Franchesca's Custom Cakes
hazelbasil
Ink Meets Paper
Jeff MacKey Media Services
Lauren Amos Designs
Musicorp
Palmetto Pastries
Pastry Chef Allison Galentine from Caviar & Bananas
Peach Tree Bakery
Southland Soap
Spirit Moves
The Fresh Stitch
Theatre 99

And the Winners are...

Congratulations to all the winners of this year's CupcakeCamp Charleston!  35 cupcakes were entered in one or more categories this year. 

Amateur Division:

Most Unique Ingredients: Bill Stewart from Spirit Moves Studio with "West Popular Pamplona Passion" Cupcakes

Best Decorated (Best in Show): Corinne Citrolo from The Fresh Stitch with "Vegan Raspberry Tiramisu" Cupcakes

Best Charleston Theme: Nikki Riley with "A Charleston Bloom" Cupcakes


Professional Division:

Most Unique Ingredients: Brenda Hill from Peach Tree Bakery with "Chocolate Peanut Butter" Cupcakes

Best Decorated (Best in Show): Allison Galentine from Caviar & Bananas with "Pecan Pie Charleston" Cupcakes

Best Charleston Theme: Cindy F. Baker from Franchesca's Custom Cakes with "Sweet Welcomes" Cupcakes

Winners received donated prizes from Ink Meets Press, Southland Soap, AmongstLovelyThings, Theatre 99, hazelbasil, Buttercup Bake Shop and Aloft Charleston.  Thank you to everyone who competed and got into the spirit of CupcakeCamp Charleston with us!  Looking forward to next year with CupcakeCamp Charleston 2.0!!!

Think of next year's categories and email us, post them on our Facebook wall or tweet us!
xoxox,
Heather "high five" MacKey

2010 Judging Panel at CupcakeCamp Charleston

We are delighted to introduce to you this year's judging panel at CupcakeCamp Charleston!

Kristin Smith, Director of Sales, Aloft Charleston 

Kristin Smith has been a foodie long before we called it foodie.  It started with baking cakes, cupcakes, and cookies and has developed into gourmet savory dishes and wine.   These days, she adores all things food and wine related.

She considered culinary school, specifically in pastry and baking, and was accepted into Johnson and Wales University.  At that time, she wanted to be a wedding cake designer.  Getting engaged to be married made her rethink her career, and Kristin decided to venture into Hospitality Management instead.  She enrolled as a double major for Hospitality and Tourism and Business Management at the College of Charleston. 

Hospitality Sales proved to be the best decision for her.  She still gets to work with people and build relationships while being a foodie on the side.  She is constantly reading, watching and taking classes to further her food knowledge. Kristin can be reached at sales@aloftcharlestonairport.com.

Akai Antia-obong, Art Director, West Of Newspaper 

Akai Antia-obong is a self-trained Chef who grew up interested in cooking ever since he was a small child.   He remembers his father always having an intense look on his face as if he were trying to see into a crystal ball and make sense out of the blurry images.  As his father cooked, he would season a little bit, give things a taste, then steer the flavors where he wanted them to go.  Many times Akai would get in trouble for trying to imitate his father's alchemist intensity with his own culinary creations.

Akai worked for chain restaurants for a couple of years (Applebee's and Ruby's to name a few) but where he really learned to orchestrate a meal was at Six Tables in Mt. Pleasant where he started as part-time help for the chef.  The chef was amazed that Akai could make a Beurre Blanc without supervision.  Soon after he became Sous Chef and then moonlit as a Head Chef at The Fat Hen in Johns Island before the restaurant found a permanent replacement.

Akai has been teaching cooking classes at In Good Taste (Charleston) for the past three years.  He is also available for personal cooking demonstrations and dinners. Contact Akai at theakairepublic@gmail.com.

Chef Bernd Gronert, Instructor Pastry Arts, Trident Technical College

Affectionately known as Chef B. to those who know him from the bakeries and the Charleston area, Chef Bernd Gronert was born in Bad Ems, Germany.  Chef Bernd Gronert studied to be a Chef and Master Pastry Chef in Germany.  He opened a sugar design school in Germany which was in operation until he moved to the United States at 26 years old and joined the  Johnson & Wales University faculty in Providence, Rhode Island to teach chocolate, sugar artistry and advanced decoration.  He also taught for the Charleston and Miami J & W campuses.

After ten years in Rhode Island, he moved to Charleston to teach at Trident Technical College in 1998, and also opened Rococo Bakeries (Charleston, Florence and Summerville locations) together with his twin brother (Chef Armin teaches Pastry Arts for Johnson and Wales at Charlotte, NC and is known as Chef A.).  For two years from 2006-2008, Chef B. showcased his pastries every Friday morning on TV, about 100 live shows!   He also runs his own farm in Ridgeville where he grows a variety of fruits.

Chef B. is the Baking and Pastry Coordinator at Trident Technical College where he oversees nine Pastry instructors and 25 lab classes.  Chef B. can be reached at bernd.gronert@tridenttech.edu.

Feature Sponsor: Charleston Cupcakery

Charleston Cupcakery is an organic and vegan bakery owned by Tara Baker.  She creates little masterpieces of deliciousness and is presenting them at CupcakeCamp Charleston as a Sponsor.

Tara founded Charleston Cupcakery in the Summer of 2008 when her first order was delivered.  Charleston Cupcakery's mission is to sell top grade cupcakes with a friendly smile and by Jove, they've done it!  You will hardly believe they're vegan!  Trust us, we've eaten one or three each!!  Several flavors available are chocolate, vanilla, lemon, carrot, pumpkin, vanilla & chocolate swirl, peanut butter, choco & peanut butter, key lime, banana walnut and much more as their vegan cupcakes are fully customizable.  What also separates Charleston Cupcakery from other bakeries are their free consultations and satisfaction guarantees. 

Charleston Cupcakery delivers to the major suburbs of Charleston, and is also available for pick up!  Visit their website at www.charlestoncupcakery.com.  Call them today at 843.566.2121 or email them at charlestoncupcakery@gmail.com.  When you see Tara, give her props with a fist bump!

XOOX,

crumpets & candy floss

Feature Sponsor: Jeff MacKey Media Services

Put on your best frosting, Cupcakes, you're going to be famous!!  Jeff MacKey Media Services is going to record CupcakeCamp Charleston and is one of our Sponsors this year. 

Jeff MacKey Media Services formed in the Fall of 2009 when Jeff discovered his love of film editing and pursued it full-time.  His services embody film and video editing, videography, post-prodcution and web services.  Jeff's commercial work has included everything from capturing sporting events and wedding ceremonies, to creating music videos, testimonials, instructional videos, and promotional media for a beauty product line.

When Jeff is not doing commercial work, his film projects keep him busy.  New Mythic Take Productions was co-founded by Jeff MacKey and David Whitten for film/video production.  Thus far, two short films have been created, 'Deep and Secret Things' and 'artistic (dis)content.'  A third short film is currently in post-production while a fourth one is in pre-production.  More information on Jeff and his upcoming projects can be found on http://newmythictake.com and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/NewMythicTake.  Jeff can also be reached at jeff@newmythictake.com.  Don't forget to wave Hi to the camera!

Love,
Citizen Kane and Cinema Paradiso

Feature Sponsor: Caketacular

Caketacular has a pretty clever name.  What do you think they specialize in? :)  Their motto is "There's no better way to brighten the day than with a handcrafted treat" and they're not kidding with their beautifully decorated goodies! Caketacular is coming from Durham, NC to become one of this year's Coffee Package Sponsors at CupcakeCamp Charleston and we are wonderfully happy that they are driving that far to be with us!

Caketacular is owned by Clare Studwell.  Her love for baking has bloomed into an obsession and she is our kind of woman, obsessed with the sweets just like we are!  After taking a cake decorating class, Clare was hooked.

Contact Clare to start your caketacular design today!  She can be reached at 919.323.9150 or through her email, clare@caketacular-durham.com.  Visit her website, http://caketacular-durham.com, her blog (where she elaborates her cake journey in words and through her gorgeous and detailed photos), http://caketacular.blogspot.com, Facebook page 
www.facebook.com/pages/Durham-NC/Caketacular/316718436387#!/pages/Durham-NC/Caketacular/316718436387 and Twitter twitter.com/caketacular.  When you meet Caketacular at CupcakeCamp Charleston, tell them they're spectacular!  Yup, you knew that was coming! :)

Love to love and then some,

calm & comfort