"Man"Cakes, Cupcakes, and Cookies

I know many of my posts are skewed perhaps a little more towards the female reader....probably a mom in particular but I came across a local baker who does lots of pretty cakes, cupcakes, and cookies but also has a huge selection of treats that any man would love.  ;)  I don't need to say much about it because the photos will do all the talking but if you are looking for something for that hard to buy man I would definitely give Happy Belly Baking a call.  I would also recommend you give her a Facebook page a look for the prettier treats too because she does it all!!

Happy Belly Baking
happybellybaking@gmail.com
Free pick-up or $8 Delivery within city limits
(204) 960-3872

Cake Studio's Beautiful Custom Cakes

Gold Medal Pastry Chef Nina Notaro creates custom designed wedding or celebration cakes at Cake Studio on Wellington Ave.  She uses only the finest and freshest ingredients available to ensure that she has a heck of a good cake for you.  Nina specializes in many different medias such as sugar, chocolate, and sugar paste which allows for amazing details.  Have a peak at her website and think of Cake Studio for your next celebration!!

Cake Studio
http://www.cakestudio.ca/
1483 Wellington Ave, Winnipeg (Btn St.James & Empress)
204-775-9378

A Great Day For The Museum Followed By A Little Cake-ology!

Today my kidlets and I had a fantastic morning visiting the Museum of Man & Nature with friends.  My little Lu is only 3 1/2 so I hadn't tried out the "big" museum with her yet.  All the kids had a blast running through all the displays especially the Bison (Buffalo), the panorama video of the ancient sea life, Nonsuch Ship, & the urban village at the end.  My girl was very disappointed to have to leave the movie theatre where Charlie Chaplin was making a mess of a movie set.  I think I may have to download some Chaplin for her.  The kids really had a great time.  I was afraid it would be above their heads but they ran around with their eyes bugged out smiling from ear to ear.  We will definitely make the trip again!

So....I had said Museum and Cake......

I finally visited Cake-ology on Arthur St.  I have been meaning to get there but have been so busy this summer.  Sandi, a friend in my baby group, recommended it a couple months ago.  She is due any day with baby #2 and had been a frequent visitor of Cake-ology.  Andrea of Cake-ology did add a warning to all pregnant moms out there;  "We cannot be responsible for causing cakette addictions in unborn babies!!!  :)"  She was very considerate to think of the poor unborn babies.  ;)  Well, I am very un-pregnant so I figured I could easily eat one of everything and did.  My kiddos and I shared a saskatoon imperial cookie, a chocolate caramel cupcake, a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing, a chocolate cakette, and a vanilla cakette.  They were all polished off before we even got out of the car.   For some reason neither of the kiddos wanted lunch when we got home....hmmmm.......I wonder why?  It was yummy!  My favorites were the chocolate cakette, which is a little chocolate cake ball like a rum ball dipped in chocolate.  The cupcakes were delicious too.  The caramel buttercream tasted like a roasted marshmallow but the cream cheese icing on the red velvet cupcake "took the cake".  Oh my.  I actually moaned in the car during the first taste.  I am an icing girl.....but only good icing.  Grocery Store cake icing does not do it for me.  I was scooping the icing off the cupcakes while I drove.  Their cream cheese icing is to die for.

The kiddos ate most of the cookie but I did enjoy the little taste I had.  I love good imperial cookies nearly as much as icing and the saskatoon jam centers added a little change to the standard raspberry jam used.    Most imperial cookies are dry, almost stale tasting but there are a couple bakeries in town that make them really well.  Cake-ology is one of them.  The vanilla cakette was also polished off by the kids pretty fast but I sampled a small taste and it was ok.  It had no chocolate so I was not as excited about it obviously.  I did not share my chocolate cakette!!

The butter cream icing was a little sweet for me.  I think bakeries have to make it sweet so it can keep the shape they want.  I like butter cream icing to taste more buttery and not be hurt your teeth sweet.  The kids did not share this opinion with me.  They ate all the icing before they even tasted the cupcake hiding underneath. 

Overall I think it is obvious that we had an awesome visit at Cake-ology.  The prices were decent too.  For all we munched, or should I say inhaled, it only set me back $9.25.  Not a bad lunch for 3.  ;)










Cake-ology
85 Arthur St
204-612-YUMM
http://www.cake-ology.ca
http://cake-ology.blogspot.com

Vanilla Bean Cakes

 Marie of Vanilla Bean Cakes contacted me this week and I am sorry I missed her with my Baby Shower series.  She creates beautifully detailed custom wedding cakes, party cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more!  Marie is originally from Victoria, BC and now lives here with her husband and 3 little girls.  She loves what she does, especially meeting new people and collaborating to design an unique cake for their special event.  You have to have a look at her designs on her website:

www.vanillabeancakes.com

She also have a facebook page that is updated often:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122453131625

Vanilla Bean Cakes

vanillabeancakes@hotmail.com

204-415-6755

#4 Local Baby Shower Gift: Shower Sweets & Caterers

I know that this is not really a shower gift feature but anyone who has been to a baby shower knows that it isn't only all about the gifts. A bunch of women close to the mom are of all ages and are there to show their support and guidance. Lately, the newest trend are Jack and Jill showers. Jack and Jill showers are even more about the party or get together. Lots of shmoozing and eating. Regardless of what kind of shower is chosen for the mom the food will be the center of most of it, especially the sweets. Cupcakes, cookies and cakes are normally the center of the meal. Little sandwiches, dips, and other savory snacks may start the meal but the attention stays on the desserts. If home made is not an option, I know most people go to one of the large grocery stores for their desserts. They are typically made with horrible ingredients and are rarely fresh. One thing Manitoba, especially Winnipeg, has for it are dozens and dozens and dozens of bakeries. These bakeries can be chosen to cater the savory dishes and some specialize in the sweet treats. Here is only a small selection of what Manitoba has to offer. If I have missed a bakery worth mentioning, please email handmadeinmanitoba@gmail.com.

Anna's Cakes
Anna Wall
Winkler
aewall17@hotmail.com








































Sugar Cookie Shoppe
Kristina Currie
Winnipeg
www.thesugarcookieshoppe.com























Lilac Bakery
920 Grosvenor Avenue
Winnipeg
www.lilacbakery.com





























High Tea Bakery
2103 Portage Ave
Winnipeg
204-775-0264
www.highteabakery.com











































C-Cups Bakery
2B-1565 Regent Ave.
Winnipeg
204-654-2877
www.ccups.net






















Eat Bistro
274 Garry Street
Winnipeg
204-949-1231
www.eatbistro.ca
















Constance Popp Chocolatier
1853 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg
204-897-0689
www.artisanchocolates.ca












Chocolate Zen
553 Osborne Street
Winnipeg
204-287-2253
www.chocolatezen.ca















Cupcake Corner
439 Stradbrook Ave.
Winnipeg
204-453-CAKE (2253)
www.thecupcakecorner.ca























Belle Cake and Candy
Unit 10 - 1604 St. Mary's Road
Winnipeg
204-255-8727
www.bellecakeandcandy.com
















Cakes By Shelley
Winnipeg
204-803-2145
www.cakesbyshelley.ca





























Sweet Impressions
Suite A-268 Tache Ave
Winnipeg
204-237-0743
www.sweetimpressions.ca






















Dessert Sinsations
505 Saint Mary Avenue
Winnipeg
204-284-4661
www.dessertsinsations.com











Others to look to for catering of the savory or sweets:

Tall Grass Prairie
Winnipeg
www.tallgrassbakery.ca

Bread & Circuses
238 Lilac Street
Winnipeg
204-477-4555

Peppercorn & Co Personal Chef Service
www.peppercornchef.com

Harvest Bakery & Deli
Winnipeg
www.harvestbakeryanddeli.com

DeLuca's Specialty Foods
www.deluca.ca

Mondragon Cafe & Bookstore
www.mondragon.ca

La Grotta Mediterranean Market
www.lagrotta.ca

***All photos belong to the businesses and artisans featured here.