Three weeks ago, I announced that Chef Joseph Cumm would be returning to our very own Studio B to teach two days of his Tea Party Pastry class! Just two days ago, Chef Joseph sent me an email including all new, detailed, close up images of the desserts featured in his class! You guys... I opened his email and my mouth instantly began to water! I honestly started at the photos for a good five minutes before decided I needed to find some sort of dessert at that moment. 

All joking aside, the desserts look delicious! As a reminder, if you forgot what was on the roster of tasty pastries being taught in the class, here is a refresher list: Mini Cakes, Scones, Rugelach, and a variety of cookies and tartlets. These desserts are not only perfect for tea parties, but also dessert parties or dessert buffet. They would even impress your book club members, teachers (or camp counselors I guess since it's summer!), boss and coworkers, etc. These desserts, wrapped up in a box would be a perfect thank you gift. 

I bet you guys want to feast your eyes on the photos that I mentioned earlier... don't you? Well, before I show you- don't forget that this is a one-day class, and it is being offer twice (on two consecutive days). You can sign up for either session: August 25 and August 26. Both classes will offer the exact same subject matter, instructions, and desserts. If you are ready to register for Chef Joseph Cumm's Tea Party Pastries class, please just click one of the dates above to be taken to the registration page. 

Now, on to those mouthwatering dessert photos!

Is your mouth watering? Mine sure is! I need that Opera Cake in my life right now! Which dessert are you looking forward to making with Chef Joseph?! We can't wait to see you in our next class. 

Upcoming Classes at ISAC:

There are still seats available in these great classes this summer at ISAC! Click the links below to register now. 

Hanging Handbag with Mayen Orido

The Boombox Cake with Mayen Orido

Renshaw Academy Sugar Flower Module

5-Day Ultimate Gumpaste Flower Class

Tea Party Pastries with Joseph Cumm, 8/25

Tea Party Pastries with Joseph Cumm, 8/26

Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie 

Our goal is for you to be completely satisfied with your Amazon order! If for any reason this is not the case, we would appreciate it if you would give us a chance to address your concerns, before leaving feedback or a review, by emailing us at customersvc@nicholaslodge.com. We would be grateful if you would leave us a positive feedback and review of your Renshaw Fondant. Leaving feedback seems like such a little thing, but it has great impact on our business and we would greatly appreciate your time in leaving it.

2017 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award

WINNER of the 2017 Golden Tier Educator of the Year Award

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award

Many of our readers know that Sidney Galpern, of Simi Cakes, is a frequent guest instructor at ISAC. Sidney is a superb all around pastry chef, but she is best known for her isomalt designs. Many of our students have taken classes with Sidney in Studio B, and we are so excited to be offering two classes with Sidney this June. In the past, I had written a few blogs dedicated to different products that shape the cake decorating (and pastry) world. As I was brainstorming ideas for this week's blog, I reread some of these previous blogs for a bit of inspiration. I thought it might be fun to tell you all about this history and science behind isomalt. And, Sidney, if you are reading this- I hope I get it all right!

CALLING ALL COOKIE DECORATORS! We have some really SWEET news! Sandra Beltran of You Can Call Me Sweetie is coming to ISAC this year to teach not one, not two, but THREE amazing cookie classes! We are also pleased to announce that Sandra will be featured as our guest instructor at this year's Grand Holiday Open House! I am pretty excited for these three classes, but maybe not as excited as Molly who is a pretty great cookie-er too!! Want to know what stunning cookies Sandra will be making? Well read on my friends!

Big news everyone! The incredibly talented Ceri Griffiths is coming to ISAC this November, all the way from the UK! Chef Nicholas and Ceri have known each other for years, but this will be the very first time that Ceri will be teaching at ISAC in Studio B! Ceri Griffiths, author of the award winning book "Border Inspirations 1&2" and internationally recognized English over-piping expert, will be teaching his English Over-Piped Elegant Wedding Cake class. This is an intensive 2-day royal icing class.  Ceri will share with you several of his piped borders, his method of creating toothpick roses and many hints and tips to achieve beautiful work in royal icing.

This class is aimed at students who have previous piping skills due to the volume of piping involved and the pace of the class.

THIS IS NOT A BEGINNERS CLASS!!!

Last week I mentioned that Chef Joe Cumm would be returning to ISAC and Studio B this December for a class on French Macarons and petit fours. The class was completely sold out in four days!! Wow. I understand, I love me some French Macarons. I love the variety of flavors and how light and airy they are with a slight crunch when you take a bite. Yum, yum, yum. 

Big, BIG news to share! If you missed the big announcement yesterday, Chef Nicholas has collaborated with Katy Sue Designs to create four autumn and winter themed molds! Here is a quote from yesterday's press release:

Chef Joseph Cumm is coming back to ISAC! Last February, Chef Joe taught an amazing mini-chocolate showpiece class. This fall he's back to teach Introduction to Chocolate and Bon Bons! YUM!

Earlier this year, Chef Nicholas had the honor of attending and teaching at CookieCon! He had the pleasure of meeting Tunde Dugantsi, also known as the Gingerbread Artist! She was born and raised in Hungary, and she moved to the USA in 2004. Tunde's cookie designs are a blend of traditional Hungarian designs with new and modern techniques! Tunde has never formally studied any type of arts and crafts, and has only been creating cookies since 2013. In that time Tunde has authored seven books, created many tutorial videos, and writes a blog! Chef Nicholas was so impressed with her cookies and their designs that he invited her to be one of our guest instructors at our Grand Holiday Open House, and to teach two classes after our open house!

Now that we have our 2017 Spring Open House behind us, we at ISAC are looking forward to upcoming classes we are hosting! This summer we are so excited to be hosting Stephen Benison for three classes this coming July! That's right THREE classes! What makes this even more exciting is the fact that Stephen has never taught at ISAC before, despite knowing Chef Nicholas for about 30 years. That makes this a rare educational experience. Each of Stephen's classes are one-day classes. One-day classes are perfect for those of you who don't have very flexible schedules, or may not be able to take much time off from work. Or, you could go all out and sign up for all three classes! Not a bad idea, it may be a once in a lifetime chance to learn from Stephen!

A couple of months ago, I wrote an in depth blog about each of Stephen's classes, but I just wanted to share them again quickly now that spring is here and summer is around the corner!

Beginning on Sunday July 16, Stephen is teaching his Fabulous Shoes, Hats, and Handbags class. Focusing on vintage style shoes, hats, and handbags (surprise!), Stephen's class will bring all the glitz and glamour that comes to mind when thinking of Audrey Hepburn or Downton Abbey. Also included in the price of the class is a shoe kit with cutters, formers, and step by step color instructions; a fabulous hat kit with cutters for the different brim styles, and an eight page booklet showing the construction and different styles; and a fabulous handbag cutter classic style kit, and a mini flower texture stencil.

Tools included in the Fabulous Shoes, Hats, and Handbags class

Monday, July 17 brings us Stephen's Vintage Fabric Flowers and Naked Leaves Wedding Cake class. This two-tier wedding cake that evokes antique silk. I love the ivory and gold color scheme of this cake, and just like in his Shoes, Hats, and Handbags class, students in this class will be taking home the fabric flowers stencil kit with 12 formers, one each of the swirls and sequins mini stencil textures, decorative leaves stencils, a set of “S” scroll cutters, a high grade scalpel with five blades, double leaf scroll cutter, a six inch mini turntable, and the naked leaves cutters!

Tools included in the Vintage Fabric Flowers and Naked Leaves Wedding Cake class

The final class that Stephen is teaching at ISAC is Wedding Cake Styles and Techniques, on Tuesday July 18. For this class, Stephen will be sharing design concepts and a variety of techniques and tools that his students can use to create and design their own individual wedding cakes. Just as in his first two classes, Stephen is including many tools for students to take home with them: Macintosh rose art-deco stencil, silhouette cutters, feature design cutters, triple leaf scroll, trailing leaves cutter, and stripes stencil.

Stephen recently taught this class in Canada, and shared a photo of the students with their finished cakes. There are so many different, fun, and exciting design elements. This class will be a great asset- you will come away with a lot of new ideas and techniques to add to your decorating toolbox!

Tools included in the Wedding Cake Styles and Techniques class.

Speaking of toolboxes, I want to take a quick minute and point out how great it is that students will be taking home so many tools! If a student takes all three of Stephen's classes, they will go home with nearly $300 in cake decorating tools!!! That is an absolutely incredible bonus to these fantastic classes!

Don't miss out on these three great classes offered by Stephen Benison this July. Between Stephen teaching at ISAC for the very first time and all the great tools you will come home with, these three classes are totally worth it! We all hope to see you in class this summer! 

Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie

Don't just follow our blog! Follow Chef Lodge on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award. 

We are just two and a half weeks away from our 2017 ISAC Spring Open House event! Hooray! On Saturday, March 18th, we are excited to be hosting two fabulous guest instructors: Marilyn Bawol and Michele Sweeney! Both of these ladies are super talented and will be giving exceptional demonstrations. You can read more about what each will do by clicking here. We are also so pleased that Michele will be teaching two fabulous classes in our Studio B: Sew Easy Mixed Medium on Sunday, March 19, and Shabby Chic Wedding Cake on Monday March 20. Yay! We can't wait for your classes Michele!

Michele Sweeney's Sew Easy Cake!

Michele's Shabby Chic Wedding Cake

There are still seats available for Open House and for both of Michele's classes, be sure to sign up soon to secure your seat! 

I'll be honest, Chef Nicholas is the wild card at our Open House events. He keeps his demonstration plans a secret, even from us at ISAC, until pretty close to our Open House! I still have no idea what Chef Nicholas has in store for all of you, but Molly did tell me that he has a LOT of new and fun tools to debut at our 2017 Spring Open House. I love when Chef Nicholas is sharing new tools with everyone- he has a knack for finding the best products to use! Like the year he came back from Japan with a tiny Gingerbread House Cutter set (some of you may remember Scott used it in a Grand Holiday Open House demo a few years ago). Or when he created his EZ product line (I love that EZ release!).

Chef Nicholas demonstration rose cupcakes at last year's Open House

Yes, I think we are all in store for a treat at this year's Spring Open House as well as in Michele's two classes. We can't wait to see you all there! You can register online for our Open House and Michele's classes through our website by clicking the links above, or here.

ISAC 25th Anniversary Fact: In December 1996 ISAC enlarges its space with the addition of suite E.

Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie

Don't just follow our blog! Follow Chef Lodge on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award. 

Last week I shared that 2017 is the International Sugar Art Collection's 25th Anniversary. Beginning on Friday, July 17, 1992 Chef Nicholas taught a series of 15 one-day classes at Confectionary Yours, a cake and candy retail store in Marietta, Georgia. This was the birth of ISAC. But the catalyst for Chef Nicholas and Scott beginning their business happened much earlier in 1992.

All the way from the Wiltshire, England- Stephen Benison is coming to ISAC in July 2017! The best part is that he is teaching not one, not two, but THREE classes in Studio B. It is always very exciting when we host instructors visiting from abroad because our students get the rare opportunity to learn from incredible international cake artists that they may not learn from otherwise. In this case, Stephen has never taught as ISAC before, and he and Chef Nicholas have known each other for 30 years! We are even luckier because Stephen is teaching so many classes with us, and that means more students will get the chance to benefit.

So, what is Stephen going to be teaching?

A few weeks ago I shared the news that Chef Joe Cumm was returning to ISAC to teach his stunning Valentine Chocolate Mini-Showpiece on February 12, 2017. Things are about to get even sweeter because Chef Kathryn Gordon will also be returning to ISAC to teach two French pastry classes on February 11, 2017! Studio B will be host to the ULTIMATE PASTRY WEEKEND this February 11-12, 2017!

Calissons by Chef Kathryn Gordon

I have some VERY exciting news to share with all of you! Chef Joe Cumm, a longtime friend of Chef Nicholas and Scott, won Cake Wars Christmas (on the Food Network) this week! Yay! Congratulations Chef Joe and team North Star! While I am very happy for Chef Joe, I am even more happy to share that he will be teaching his Valentine Chocolate Mini-Showpiece in ISAC's very own Studio B this coming February!

 Chef Joe had originally planned to teach a chocolate showpiece class early this year (2016), but unfortunately the class had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. The class had filled up very quickly and everyone, students, Chef Joe, and the ISAC family, were all so very disappointed. When I was working with Chef Joe and Chef Nicholas to get this chocolate showpiece class arranged for February, I knew that the students who missed out last year would be thrilled to hear that the class was being offered again.

Let's talk details. The Valentine Chocolate Mini-Showpiece class with Chef Joe Cumm is a one-day class, offered on February 12, 2017. Students and Chef Joe will be discussing and playing with chocolate! Learning the different properties of chocolate, different tempering methods, and of course, ways to incorporate chocolate into cake designs! Because this is only a one-day class it will include both demonstration and hands-on chocolate work. Each student will create a mini-chocolate showpiece approximately 12-15 inches tall; some of the pieces will be premade (a necessity for a one-day class), but students will be getting their hands dirty with chocolate too! Students will also be able to express their own style in their showpiece!

This class is going to be a really fantastic opportunity for anyone who has wanted to learn more about and work with chocolate, or gain experience in showpiece construction. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Chef Joe is now the super hero winner of Cake Wars Christmas!! I just know that the tips and advice he will share with his students will be invaluable. Winning Cake Wars Christmas is a huge deal, and he won because of his incredible talent and years of experience.

Chef Joseph Cumm has been has been teaching pastry arts for the past 10 years. Chef Joe is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Johnson and Wales University where he was trained as a classical pastry chef. In 2010, he was nominated for Teacher of the Year for Two-Year colleges in the state of Virginia. He takes great pride in teaching all aspects of pastry and enjoys watching his students push themselves to levels they never knew existed. His cakes and desserts have appeared in magazines with the most recent being his victory at Pastry Lives Art of the Cake 2013 and 2015. Chef Joe was one of 10 Pastry Chefs across America that competed for US Pastry Chef of the Year 2014 and 2015. In January, he will compete for ACF – National Pastry Chef of the Year. He was 2012 winner of Food Network King of Cones Ice Cream competition. Chef Joe competes and judges regularly in national competitions where he also teaches what he has learned from schooling, fellow colleagues, and life. www.pastrychefjoe.com

So, what do you say? Ready to sign up for Chef Joe's Valentine Chocolate Mini-Showpiece class? I know you will be glad you did! 

Sweetly yours,

Stephanie

Don't just follow our blog! Follow Chef Lodge on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award. 

Have you heard about pop-up stores? Pop-up events are so hot right now. The first one popped up in Los Angeles in 1997, and now these short terms shops can be found all over the US, Canada, UK, and even as far as Australia! These shops and events are short term, sometimes just a single day, sometimes a few weeks. In 2002 Target opened a pop-up store on a boat at Chelsea Pier in New York City; cell phones providers, airlines, clothing designers, bands, and even restaurants have popped up in different places to the delight of shoppers. 

These short term shops and sales, and events can even be seasonal. That's where ISAC comes in: we are hosting our very own pop-up event starting December 3, 2016! If you are in the Atlanta, Georgia area this December, we would love to have you visit our very own pop-up event: Gingerbread Depot!

Studio B will be transformed into a gingerbread construction zone! All of the supplies will be ready and waiting; when you and your family arrive, your house will be assembled and ready to be designed and decorated! All the candy and icing necessary will be included with the house; of course if you wanted to go for a bolder design, we will have additional candy and icing available. 

ISAC is offering two hour sessions in the morning and afternoons on the following days in December:

Saturday, Dec. 3rd
Wednesday, Dec. 7th
Friday, Dec. 9th
Saturday, Dec. 10th
Wednesday, Dec. 14th
Friday, Dec. 16th
Saturday, Dec. 17th

Gingerbread Depot is the perfect place to make holiday memories. Families, grandparents and grandchildren, couples, and even friends can come together this December and have a little fun with us at our Gingerbread Depot! If you would like to secure your spot, give us a call at 770-453-9449! We can't wait to see you pop in to our pop-up event!

Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie

Don't just follow our blog! Follow Chef Lodge on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award. 

Do you know Karen Portaleo? Oh, right, of course you do. How could you not? She is so outrageously talented: she has been on Food Network Challenge (four times), Halloween Wars, and Cake Wars- winning all but one; and her client list includes Sir Elton John, Usher, Jane Lynch, T-Pain, Demi Moore, Andrew Young, Kasim Reed, AMC's The Walking Dead, The Cartoon Network, Coca Cola, Delta Airlines, Turner Broadcasting, CNN, The Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, The Atlanta Opera, Georgia Public Broadcasting, The W Hotel, and Westin Hotels.

WOW.

Karen has taught classes on cake sculpting and modeling chocolate throughout the world, but she calls Atlanta, Georgia home...  Just like Chef Nicholas. For years Chef Nicholas has wanted to host one of Karen's classes in our very own Studio B. Sadly, when you have two superstars of the cake world, scheduling can be a bit tricky. But, it seems that the wait is over!

FINALLY, and proudly, I am happy to announce that Karen Portaleo will be teaching at the International Sugar Art Collection on December 5-6, 2016! Hooray!

In Karen's class, students will not only finish a lovely Santa Cake (see photo above) that can be used as a center piece to Holiday Celebrations, they will learn a great many techniques! Such as:

-Sculpting faces

-Working with modeling chocolate

-Painting on modeling chocolate

-Cake structure and armatures

-Draping and working with fondant

-Painting on fondant

-Using molds and cutters

While Karen will be demonstrating a specific color pallet for her Santa, students are encouraged to take the techniques they are learning and get creative with their Santa! This class will be informative and FUN!

This is a two-day class and a light lunch will be provided.

I cannot wait for this class, and this Santa is coming just in time for the holidays! When Chef Nicholas and I were discussing this class last week, he said it best, "This class is the ultimate holiday gift for sugar artists." I don't disagree- why not give yourself the gift of this class, or surprise your favorite cake decorator with a seat in this class! And after the class, you will be sure to impress all of your holiday guests with the Santa that you have created. 

If you'd like to sign up for Karen Portaleo's Santa class just click here! We can't wait to see you in class..

Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie

Don't just follow our blog! Follow Chef Lodge on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award. 

Ok everyone- last week I told you all about the demo and classes being taught by Wayne from Swank Cake Designs at ISAC's Grand Holiday Open House and in Studio B, respectively. I also told you that we had to iron out a few last minute details, and the classes weren't yet live on our website. Well, I have got something to share: the classes are live, on our website, and ready and waiting for you to register! I just couldn't wait until Thursday to share the good news!

I have some FABULOUS news to share with all of you, and I am pretty excited! Wayne Steinkopf of Swank Cake Designs will be our guest instructor at this year's Grand Holiday Open House! Not only will Wayne have an incredible demo for the event, he will also be teaching two classes in Studio B!! You guys... all of Wayne's projects are amazing, and I really think seats are going to sell out faster than you can say, "ISAC!"

Big, big news to share! The wildly popular tour and class that teaches essential business skills to make real money in the cake industry: Business of Baking! Michelle Green and Sharon Wee say that, "It’s time you felt how amazing it is to invest in your business and yourself. Yes, we believe you can make a living doing what you love. We’re here to teach you how." You can join in on the business building fun on Monday, September 26, 2016.

Hold on to your isomalt hats everyone! The ISAC team was excited to host Sidney Galpern for our Grand Holiday Open House this past November, and her two holiday themed classes filled up very very quickly. We decided to heat up our Hotlanta summer even more by inviting Sidney back to teach three incredible isomalt classes: Beer on Ice, The Shoe is on the Other Foot, and Dancing Dolphin.

Before I tell you more about each class, let me share a bit about Sidney: she is a Certified Professional Chocolatier, cake designer, sugar artist, and an ICES Approved Teacher. She graduated with honors from the prestigious Ecole Chocolat School of the Chocolate Arts (the youngest student to ever complete the program!). She has trained with top sugar artists and chefs in New York City, London, Orlando, and West Palm Beach. For the last eight years, Sidney has taught, demonstrated and judged sugar and cake decorating at venues such as Keiser University, The Cake Cruise, ICES Convention and Days of Sharing, The Festival of Chocolate, at cake clubs, restaurants and cake supply stores as well as teaching private classes... She is the owner of Simi Cakes & Confections in Melbourne, Florida. Oh, and she plays the drums. I met Sidney for the first time at our Grand Holiday Open House, and let me tell you. She is just as awesome as she sounds. She is a fantastic instructor and her talent is, quite frankly, indescribable. Since I cannot put into words how talented she is, let's just talk about the three classes she will be teaching in Studio B!

On Saturday, June 11, Sidney is actually teaching two half-day classes! From 9am- 12pm, students will be able to take Sidney's Beer on Ice class; and, as the title suggests, students will learn how to make a life-sized, 3D beer bottle and ice cubes! Oh, and every student will get to keep their very own beer bottle mold! Hooray! In the afternoon, from 1pm-5pm, Sidney will be teaching her The Shoe is on the Other Foot class! Students will be learning how to create a stylish 6-inch, free-standing, isomalt high heel shoe! The mold used to create this shoe offers a couple different elements so that you can create a variety of custom designed shoes. Very fancy. Students in this class are also lucky enough to be taking home the three-piece shoe mold Sidney uses in class. These classes will likely fill up very quickly, our half day classes tend to be extremely popular! Experience is not needed for either of these classes, but if you do have isomalt experience, it will be helpful.

On Sunday, June 12, students are in for a real treat; Sidney is pulling out all the stops for her Dancing Dolphin isomalt cake topper class. In this hands-on class students will learn how to cast isomalt pieces and techniques on pulled and blown isomalt. Using these skills, Sidney will teach students how to create a gravity-defying dolphin leaping over waves and coral, accented with beautiful pearl bubbles. As with the two classes on Saturday, no experience is required, and all skill levels are welcome. 

If you would like to sign up for any, or ALL, of Sidney's classes in Studio B, just click the class names above to sign up online. Or you can call and sign up over the phone by calling 1-800-662-8925. If you missed out on Sidney's classes at ISAC in November, don't miss out on taking one of her classes with us this summer!

Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie

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Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog