Vintage Cakes HTX

I signed up for a cake decorating class when I saw the promo by Sugar Bubs. 

Apparently, it's a Green Themed class.  The teacher took the time to bake individual cakes.

Everyone's chair came with tools, buttercream, decorations.

After a few practice, it was time to start.  Obviously, I am no cake decorator and also have tremendous respect for cake decorators and fully understand and willing to pay for that cost.  It was no easy task to make it smooth in all directions.  

Then now have to learn how to pipe the butter cream.  Having the decorative tips helps, but to be consistent is no easy task.  And it's not easy to scrap it if it's not matching.

And of course, the final touch!  Ha! yes, it's a Hello Kitty cake.  It actually tasted nice and fresh and not too sweet.  For an experience, it's a fun way to spend an afternoon.  But truly, having learned the process, I am definitely more appreciative to the art form and understand why they charge what they do - and rightly so. 

For sure, I do know they will do full fledge cakes for weddings or special occasions.  But they also do these classes for different themes and for different seasons too.  

Vintage Cakes HTX

https://www.instagram.com/vintagecakeshtx/

https://vintagecakeshtx.square.site/

 

Papabubble

This is an Instagram find:

I saw that they were hosting candy making class and that sounded interesting. 

You purchase your ticket online ahead of time.  I've seen them turn away people who just shows up.  So get that done before you walk out the door.  And you get to see their colorful 'lab'.

They already cook the sugar and mixing color as they're explaining what we'll be doing. 

Since it's a lollipop class, they were making rainbow, and had everyone put some elbow grease in to mix the candy and the colors together. 

Once aligned, they started to roll them out.

They rolled it out to think strip.

Then everyone gets creative on what shape lollipop they can make.  Circle is the the most basic, heart is easy to do, and we did a star, which looks more like a flower.  

It's a cute and fun class.  The class takes about 30 mins, because you do have to work fast with the candy before they cool.  But each of you make about 3-4 lollipops to take home.  It's a great way to learn about something new and classes are cheap, also a great fun date idea. 

Papabubble

927 Studewood St

Houston, TX 77008

832-432-0440

https://papabubblehtx.com/

 

Dough by Mo - cookie decorating class

Since earlier we were all cooped up with these whiplash weather changes, it's nice to sit in the warm sun and do a decorating class.  Going to warn you, this is picture heavy.

The class is done by cookie maker - Dough by Mo, whom I met during Covid first got everyone into lockdown.

I'm aware that she's doing these cookie decorating classes, but I'm often too slow to snatch a spot, and finally catch them this round.  

We get 6 cookies, piping tool, icing for piping, and of course, photo guide.

First up: gum ball machine.

Didn't know flooding is a thing, and it' can come out nicely.

Of course, it's all nice and I had to add stuff to it to ruin it.  Sigh.  I swear that pink heart is not a leper.  

Then we did the rose.

We had pink on pink, came up kinda cute, I just didn't know what to do to make the edges looks smoother.

Now that you can see the 'flower', it makes more sense.  It was funny, she was telling us that we don't have to draw a perfect swirl but that's the exact thing my hand tries to do, very poorly but tried.

Then we have an envelope.  This one was harder to see the separations.

Had to have a lot of guides on this one.

Well, it sorta looks like an envelope with hearts.  Not exactly but sorta.

Then a cute stamp.  This one's difficulties as you have have guessed is the edges.  It is very hard to start and stop.  Unlike a straight line, you can definitely not do a single line.

Doing the flooding for different parts are fun though, I won't lie.

As they say, send it with live, here you go. 

Then comes the lips - except I was supposed to have some kind of dip to make it more nature... doesn't quite look like it.

Top half.  I like the extra touch of having that white tear drop to show shiny.

Bottom half, similarly has the sideway i to make it looks shiny.

This is one of my favorite.  You first flood the cookie, then quickly put lines on top of it...

Then, using the tool to drag it upwards or downwards.  Much like paper making when you try to do marbling.  

It came up with this up and down pattern, pretty.  Even though I didn't do a good job, I appreciate the cookies decorating bit that much more.

Alright here's all of them together.  Took fully 2 hours.

I will say, the instructions was action packed.  Mainly because the icing dries quickly, but also because from an expert's point of view, you need to work some of these quickly to achieve the best results.  A lot of the ladies were confused that she had us start on one, finish part way and start on another.  There were a lot of changing gears and folks were a bit flustered either because they're not working at her speed or that they are so focused that they fell behind as the teacher was changing gears.

My suggestion when taking these classes, go with the flow.  Leave any Type A personalities behind.  It'll all come out tasty.

Dough by Mo

https://www.doughbymo.com

Common Ground - Latte Art Class

Houston Hot Spots organized a Latte Art class with Common Ground Coffee

If you're not a downtown rat, you'd probably never heard of Common Ground or their affiliates Amille's.  They're all around the tunnels.  Common Ground, however, is in the lobby of 5Houston Building across from Phoenician.  But that also means that they're not open on weekends.

To start, our teacher was explaining about the parts of an espresso.

 It's been 20+ yrs since I pulled a shot, and it doesn't look too bad.  They roast their own coffee, and that is pretty smooth on the crema, but still bitter for me to drink straight.

 Then the demonstration of pouring the milk and making basic design.

 Voila!  Here's the finish product.

 As we all take turn, the baristas are busy pulling more shots and 'cooking' more milk for us to practice.

 With help of the teachers, this one looks pretty presentable...

 When I tried it on my own, however....

 Definitely no where close to what the pros are doing here... geesh.

One more try before really giving up... Looked somewhat decent.

 The owner is generous enough to let us try whatever we want.  We have tried the Golden Milk which is tameric with local honey and milk, very soothing and I can see it help if you are suffering a sore throat.  They also have Matcha Latte, which has the true Matcha powder with also a bit of honey to cut the bitter.  

Another nifty thing they'd let us try was their Nitro Coffee.

 Reminds me of beer, lots of head and it does settle.  It is an acquired taste, like an frozen coffee but not slushy.  It is definitely cool, but if I were to drink it, I would do it with something else to cut the taste, even though I drink black coffee.  

What is unique about Common Ground is that they roast their own beans right here in Houston.  As a matter of fact, in Eado.  They created their own mix for espresso drinks to match the new trend of milk based drinks instead of the true Italian way of espresso straight.  So, they mix different blends to acclimate to the drinks they make and it's convenient for them to deliver all around down town.

Basically, Common Ground is the full fledge coffee shop with artistry of coffee and more varietion on drinks.  Versus Amille's are good for grabbing your typical lattes, cappuccinos to go back to your office.  Their barista is just as well verse since they are all trained at Common Ground before dispatching to other locations.  While I look forward to more Latte Art classes, I highly encourage you stop by Common Ground to try their coffee mix with Lavender Honey, that was not too floral, not over empowering flavors that gets you home.

Common Ground

1401 McKinney St

Ste 375

Houston, TX 77010

https://www.instagram.com/commongroundshtx/

https://www.facebook.com/Common-Grounds-Uncommon-Coffee

Mixology Class with Elle Talk

So, another class at the Toast & Twirl Workshop was Mixology.

 Frankly, I only drink a handful of drinks, so it'll be cool to learn about some alternatives.

 She was so thoughtful to put together a list for a basic bar, explain the spirits and the type of glass.  A lot of great tips.

 This is Michelle, Elle for short, lifestyle blogger, Mixology teacher.

 First drink: Berry Smashed, you do smash the berries (which are strawberries, blueberries, blackberries) with lemon, whiskey.  And even the garnish is pretty and say PARTY!  I'm not a big whiskey fan, but this tasted good.

 Next up: a Tiki Drink... cool, never had Curacao before.

 ooooh, aaaaahhh...

 This is a cross between Tiki and a Moscow Mule, so it's a Tiki Mule.  Actually, without the Ginger Beer, switch the Vodka with rum, you do have a really good drink already.  But to make it 'mule' the ginger beer kick it up a notch.  Pretty cool and delish!

 

The last drink: Secret Garden, because it has some floral in it.  Not only that, this is the first time I've ever used baking dust (edible glitter) into a drink.  It does pour with sparkle for sure.

 We made 3 drinks in an hour or so.  Not bad, since between drinks a bunch of us went and take pictures as they prep for the next drink.  It was super fun, well thought out and have education.  Like variation of whiskey, vodka, and gin.  Luckily, we had lunch before class, so got some padding before the drinks.  It's so nice to learn some different and classy drinks, so I don't have to be boring when I go out anymore.

Elle Talk

https://www.elletalk.com