The Art of Patisse, Masterchef Live 2012

When I got an email inviting me to a decorating workshop from Queen Fine Foods, I somehow didn't make that mental connection in my head with the omni-present down-every-baking-isle "Queen". So imagine my surprise and delight when I got there and found all these decorating products at my disposal!!

Decorating basics was really the agenda for the day, and we were taught the basic techniques that can help you get to the point of expressing your inner artist.



The people teaching the class were from Temptation Bites, and gave really good pointers on how to control the point and flow of the gel pens and icing. We were given Marie biscuits and gingerbread men to decorate.



The one big takeaway for me was having a steady grip on your gel/piping bag, and making sure that there are no air bubbles in it. Also, if you want your buttercream icing to have a good consistency, you have to make sure that you don't over-soften the butter before you start whipping.




But the most important thing of all is to have fun with it! Practice really makes perfect, so just take your time with it and let your imagination run wild.

That's how I end up with a gingerbread woman with overly botoxed lips. Or maybe its' a drag queen. I don't know yet.

Anyway.

Besides the awesome cake decorating workshop, there was much free yummy food to be consumed!!

There were steaks sizzling over Himalayan salt bricks..




Cured meats aplenty...



And the most amazing Kingfish ceviche from Three Blue Ducks.



In all, it was a very fulfilling, productive day. I did have some camera issues at the beginning, but what can't be fixed by good food and CUPCAKES!!!!

Just sayin'.

You can find more information about Queen Fine Foods - they just make decorating so accessible - here, or find them on Facebook here!