So Ready for SoFlo!

I don’t know about you guys… but I am ready for some consistently warm weather! Normally, here in Atlanta, it is pretty hot my mid-April. I think in the last 7 days I have been turning my heat on, my heat off, my air conditioning on, my air conditioning off. I wear shorts one day, and a winter coat the next day. The weather here has been making me crazy, and I have been dreaming about summer weather and the beach vacation I have coming up this summer. I thought, what better way to shake off the last of the winter weather blues by chatting about MIAMI! Well, specifically everyone’s favorite cake and candy expo in Miami: SoFlo!

Guys, I have a confession. I have only been to a few cake shows. I always get so excited when I talk to the show planners (when helping coordinate Chef Nicholas judging, demos, and classes), and I get even MORE EXCITED when the show planners share all the exciting details, competition themes, and guest instructors, but… when I sit here at my humble computer and share all these fun events with you, I get jealous. Jealous that Scott and Chef Nicholas are going, jealous that many of you attend cake shows all around the world, and I get jealous that I am missing out on all the fun. Let me tell you something else. I love Miami. I love the beautiful, sunshiny weather. I love that Miami is a culturally melting pot, I love the Art Deco designs of Miami Beach. I LOVE THAT SOFLO IS IN MIAMI! I think you guys should tell Scott and Chef Nicholas to bring me along so I can meet all of you! Oh! Oh! Better yet, have you ever seen Chef Nicholas’ luggage when he travels? He has like 30 cases. I’ll just pack myself and get loaded into the van! Ha!

In all seriousness, this year’s SoFlo Cake and Candy Expo is going to be fabulous. There are 45+ guest instructors offering classes (um, wow. That is a huge number). There will be a Renshaw Academy on site; the mini sessions being offered at this are designed to allow participants to touch and work with Renshaw Rolled Fondant (and you KNOW Chef Nicholas loves Renshaw Rolled Fondant!). I cannot even tell you how many classes are being offered; I tried to count them all up, but kept losing track (it’s over 90!!). But! I do know that there are classes for all skill levels, from beginners to pros! There is also a Buttercream Ball, hosted by Icing Smiles and Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, with a Dr. Seuss theme! The Buttercream Ball is a night of dancing, cocktails, confections, and even a competition! Many of you know that Icing Smiles is a great charity that provides high end celebration cakes (and other treats) to children battling illnesses and their families. The competition at the Buttercream Ball, Domino Sugar’s “Showpiece Showdown,” will offer head to head competition between three of the industry’s best bakers, partnered with an Icing Smiles Super Hero Kid. How exciting! LIVE entertainment! And, if you love retail therapy as much as Chef Nicholas, the Buttercream Ball will also have a silent auction! Speaking of retail therapy- don’t forget to visit the amazing vendor area, and our very own ISAC Booth!

Now. Let’s talk about the SoFlo Cake and Candy Expo competition. This is the fourth year of the expo, and I have loved the fun themes every year. This is no different. The themes for the different categories this year are awesome!

Wedding Cake: Iconic Florida Buildings. Create a wedding cake inspired by an iconic or historical mansion, museum, home, or hotel in Florida. This could be the color, a design element, texture, shape, etc. This cake does not necessarily need to look like the building, just be inspired by it.

Ok… This is my favorite! First of all, where to begin?! Art Deco from Miami? Spanish influences from St. Augustine? Magical designs from a certain Mouse’s house in Orlando? Laid back beach shacks? Swanky coastal living?! I need to go to SoFlo just to see the cakes people design for this category!

Sculpted Cakes: Florida wildlife of land and seas. Create a dolphin, manatee, flamingo, alligator, etc. Let your creativity run wild with dozens of animals- mammals, birds, and reptiles to choose from!

Non-Cake Category: The Sunshine State. Create a plaque, showpiece, floral arrangement, figure, model, or anything that’s not a cake to depict Florida!

Cookie: Fun on the beach. Create six cookies, each depicting anything found on or around the beach or Florida shoreline. Things like sunbathing, swimming, sailing, shells, food, drinks, crabs. Let your cookie decorating imagination and creativity run wild!

The best news in all of this? There are still classes available to register for, and there are still tickets available for the show! The SoFlo Cake and Candy Expo will be held later this month, April 27-29 at the Miami Airport Convention Center. You can find information on classes, registration, tickets, accommodations, and the Buttercream Ball on their website at www.soflocakeandcandyexpo.com. Chef Nicholas will be judging the competition, and hope to see all of you there! I wish I could be there too!

Sweetly yours,

Stephanie