Cake War's!

Which cake is the creme de la creme

Its the big cake off but which comes out on top ?

Cupcakes, Macaroons, Eclairs

For the Love of Cake!

This post is inspired by an article I read in The London Evening Standard in 2010.

I completely agree with Lydia Slater, not since Marie Antoinette's day has patisserie stirred such passion! Increasingly (as Katie and I can testify from this blog page!) hotels, restaurants and cafes are competing against one another to serve the 'creme de la creme' to its guests! I for one am keen to indulge in this; so with the knives, forks and spoons at the ready lets go!

Without doubt this revolution began with the cupcake. The cupcake came from the USA; being big, bold, over iced and smothered in delicious buttercream.. this truly had detrimental affects for the English fairy cake and dare I say nearly banished the cake forever. The media also helped to play a role in the cupcakes popularity, Magnolia Cupcakes for example were praised in Sex and The City and helped to secure a tag line of 'must have'.

We have done a post before about Magnolia cupcakes and they are simply the best. Although there are many cupcakes that are worthy opponents, in London for me at least it would have to be Lola's cupcakes. Personally I have always thought the holy grail of cupcakes would be the combination of Lola's sponge and magnolias icing.. but one can dream!

The next challenger in the search for the 'creme de la creme' is the highly popular and ever so delicious Macaroon! Up until very recently the macaroon was regarded as a sickly coconut cake, however macaroons now boast a whole host of flavours (pending on your preference of course!) and are regarded as very fashionable. You're either for Ladurée or Hermé and if you read this blog you will know its Hermé till I die ....

So why exactly has the macaroon become so popular? Without doubt there is just so much to love about them! Essentially macaroons are two cookies sandwiched between either ganache, jam or buttercream- Yum! The macaroon's real impact though comes for the visual delight it offers to its customers. As previously mentioned macaroons are fashion icons, especially at the moment and exclusive brands and companies work tirelessly to combine the packaging to match its intense flavoursome taste. A word of warning on the macaroon though. Macaroons are notoriously difficult to make, requiring both planning and precision, even patience does not determine a complete success rate.

The final contender is the éclair. Like the macaroon, the éclair has undergone a transformation and is no longer just a simple custard- filled choux. I will be honest here. After years of being put off from after game's tea at school, It took me awhile to pluck up the courage to try these again. Quite simply- thank god I did! Ok so it might have involved a trip to Selfidges (London), hand held by my sister for me to FINALLY try one, and it is extremely hard to admit when your sister is right.. but on this occasion I must let her take full credit. It was love at first bite! If you are in London you must pick up a chocolate eclair- Bliss!

So what gets my vote well.......

ITS HAS TO BE

MACARONS ! Assuming the quality is good, anything that looks so cool and tastes so divine is a very worthy winner in my eyes .

Chelsie x