Cakes! Happy Birthday Sara & Maryann!!

Here are a few fun cakes I made yesterday. One of them was donated for the Popfest 2011 silent auction. The lady who won the bid is celebrating her birthday today, so she called me and asked to redeem her prize. She ordered a Raspberry Red Velvet with Raspberry and Cream Cheese filling. This cake was made to serve 25-30 people.

The second cake's top layer is Raspberry Red Velvet with Raspberry and Cream Cheese filling, and the bottom layer is Margarita Lime with Margarita Buttercream filling. This cake looks large in the picture, but it's only a 9in with a 6in tier. It would serve about 15.

It was so fun to make the marbled fondant and the flowers by hand.

If you are interested in a cake or dessert for any occasion, contact me via twitter or email me: cakegrrl2007 at gmail!

If you "like" cakegrrl on Facebook and follow me on twitter, I will take 10% off your total order. New customers only. ;)

Popfest 2011 Update: You Can Still Donate!

If you don't know/haven't heard about Poppy (pictured above in the blue dress), she is a local wine rep who was bitten by a pit bull in November. She has undergone two reconstructive surgeries that were not covered by her medical insurance.

So last weekend, restaurants all over town came together at the Sterling Hotel for one lovely, outgoing, and very tall lady, Poppy Watson! Popfest 2011 was held on January 21, 2011, and it was a heartwarming success.

Nick Toma served as the emcee and Randall Selland came to the stage several times to co-host the event. He helped in the live auctioning of dinner for 4 at The Kitchen, Selland's, and Ella, and also brought Poppy herself to the stage. It was almost as if she were his own daughter. I was particularly moved by his generosity.

Also among the generous were restaurants like Tuli Bistro & the Pechal Pizza Truck, Lounge on 20, The Grange, Shady Lady Saloon, Pajo Bruich of The Private Table, Mulvaney's B & L, The Waterboy, One Speed, the Golden Bear, Michelangelo's, Red Lotus & Kru, and DeVere's Irish Pub.

Here's a full list of the auction items that were donated. Thank you to everyone who made this happen!

 Food from The Grange Restaurant, chef Michael Tuohy

 Wines by Berryessa Gap Vineyards

 

Food from Michelangelo Restaurant, Jacqueline Barton

The event was organized by two awesome women: Valerie of Berryessa Gap and Gina Funk Nelson of the Selland Restaurant Group (shown below).

Numbers are still being tallied, but so far enough money was raised to cover about 75% of Poppy's medical expenses. If you didn't make it out to Popfest, you can still send money. Poppy's account is located at: Safe Credit Union, 2901 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95816. All checks should be made payable to: Poppy Watson Fund, Account #475671.

Photos of people in this post were taken by and used with permission of Ryan Donahue of Donahue Photography. To see more photos of the event, go here.

Popfest 2011, January 21st at the Sterling Hotel

The day after last Thanksgiving, a local wine representative named Poppy Watson was mauled by a pit bull while visiting a friend. She was bitten in the face and has undergone at least 2 major reconstructive surgeries to help repair her injuries. Her doctors have concluded that she will need to endure many more procedures over the course of the next year.


As someone who suffers from a condition that affects my appearance, I feel particularly moved to ask all of you to please come out on January 21st to help raise money to cover the cost of these surgeries, as they are not covered by Poppy's insurance. But not only that... Poppy works in sales, and as you can imagine, she not only is still suffering from the attack, but also from lost wages.

The event is called Popfest 2011, and so many of Sacramento's finest chefs, bartenders, and personalities have committed their time and talent to share. Local celebrity chefs Randall Selland (The Kitchen, Ella, & Sellands Market), Adam Pechal (Tuli Bistro & Thirteen), Billy Ngo (Kru & Red Lotus), Rick Mahan (Waterboy & OneSpeed), Patrick Mulvaney (Mulvaney’s B&L) and many others will be offering a tantalizing array of amazing appetizers. 


Star-studded bartenders from DeVere’s Irish Pub and Shady Lady will be serving up thirst quenching concoctions from a full-bar and the team from Berryessa Gap Vineyards will be on-hand pouring local, award winning wines.  


Entertainment will be provided by Dusty Brown, The Storytellers, and Kikdoun Studios. 


Nick Toma from “Good Day Sacramento” will be the MC and auctioneer for the evening fetching bids for silent & live items ranging from wine cellar selections, large format bottles, private tours/wine tasting with overnight accommodations donated by top wineries, exclusive dining opportunities with celebrity chefs (including an artisan pizza party for 50 donated by Chef Adam Pechal).


I will be throwing in a gift certificate for a custom cakegrrl cake, redeemable anytime during 2011.


Tickets are $50 in advance and include 2 drink tickets, appetizers, a schmoozefest with the hottest local chefs, live entertainment, and a chance to bid on some really exclusive auction items.


The event is from 7pm to 12am at the Sterling Grand Ballroom, 1300 H Street, downtown Sacramento.


Buy your tickets here!!


For more information, go to the fundraiser website here. If you can't make it out, you can send money directly to Poppy's medical fund, The Poppy Watson Fund, Safe Credit Union, #475671.


You can "like" Popfest 2011 here on Facebook. Even if you can't give money, emotional support goes a long way.


Hope to see you there next Friday night!!