She’s my ‘cake idol’, one of my favorite inspirations, she’s Peggy Porschen and she’s got a new book out!
I am thrilled to announce that I had the opportunity to interview Peggy and will be sharing that interview with you here. I’m also happy to announce that I will be giving away one signed copy of Cake Chic, also named Simply Spectacular Cakes.
You may have already noticed that I’ve mentioned Ms. Porschen and her books on numerous occasions. It’s because my journey on this sweet adventure began due to the inspiration of Pretty Party Cakes… not only pretty to look at, but resourceful as well.
Many cake book authors seem not to want to share their secrets and Peggy’s books stand out as ones which share them all.
Her new book, Cake Chic, doesn’t disappoint. As usual, it’s a feast for the eyes and includes some new ways of helping the reader understand how to create her gorgeous treats.
As someone new to making cakes, I also appreciate the range in complexity of projects available – decorating for people at all levels.
You might just find Peggy on one of the pages of your favorite magazines – she has been featured in Glamour, Marie Claire, Delicious and Brides wedding magazine {and so many more!} and has designed cakes for celebrities such as Elton John, Stella McCartney, Madonna and Anthony Hopkins. Her first book, Pretty Party Cakes, won the 2005 Gourmand Award for the Best Entertaining Book in the Word.
Curious about her yet? Here’s the interview followed by the Cake Chic giveaway details:
Interview with Peggy Porschen:
Marian: Peggy, I’m so excited to be speaking with you! I love all your books and the sugar masterpieces you create.
People associate you with cake decorating and baking, of course; but actually I kind think of you also as a style person too. You’re not really just about baking cakes, cookies and cupcakes… you have a style all your own. You have this beautiful balance between traditional and modern; I think it’s one of the secrets of your success.
Where do you find your inspiration, may I ask?
Peggy: Yes, sure; to be honest, there isn’t anything specific. Personally I love sort of girly things. I like to look at fabrics, fashion accessories, wallpapers; you know those kinds of things. Generally, I always felt I had a really good eye for color, so when I find beautiful color combinations I keep samples or just memorize them really well.
Also, when I mix colors I don’t just use plain colors or just one color to mix my icing; I always tend to mix.
Part of that is also from working at Konditor & Cook which is a cake shop here in London. They have sort of crazy, wacky cakes and one thing the owner, Gerhardt Jenne, told me right from the start was, “Forget about tradition, just let your imagination go and go wild, and do what you want to do.” So it really made me less scared of working with colors.
M: I notice that every recipe I try from your books turns out really well. May I ask, are they from Cordon Bleu where you studied, or are they a derivative of the recipes you tried there?
P: I think mostly, the best experience in terms of recipes I made are probably from Konditor & Cook because they are sponge and are much more usable for decorated cakes. Basically my recipes are based on a simple Victoria sponge cake. I just worked with it myself and adapted flavours and added syrups to find out what works best.
The best or biggest advice I could give is really don’t be stingy on your ingredients. You know if you don’t use good stuff you can really taste it.
M: What new cake decorating tools or equipment are you excited about lately?
P: Something new that came out over here is the PME lustre spray. I don’t know if it’s in Canada or America but over here it’s a fairly new thing.
It just makes adding lustre to your petals quick and easy. It saves you literally hours of work. You could also alternatively use an airbrush, but setting up the airbrush, if you don’t have it all ready to constantly use, can be a bit annoying.
M: Do you see yourself as a cake artist first or a baker?
P: Cake artist.
M: What inspired you to write your first book?
P: Oh actually I was asked; never in my wildest dreams would I have thought to write a book. It was a lucky coincidence really because I was selling cakes at a Christmas fair and a publisher saw my cookies, and just said we want to make a cake book with somebody; would you be interested? I was absolutely amazed!
At the time I wouldn’t say I had a signature style, so I then was in the lucky position to be able to go part-time and slow down with my job, so that I could focus completely on the book. It just really helped me to come up with ideas and sort of create my own designs. Some of them were designs I already had in my head for a long time; like the rose tower in Romantic Cakes – it was a cake I was dreaming about making for so long and just never got around to it.
M: It is beautiful! And I love how you use charming accessories like the birdcage with the white butterflies. How do you get inspired for your photo shoots?
P: Some ideas are inspired by working with bridal magazines. I find things are always a team effort. Sometimes the magazines will come and say for example, “We’ve got a scene with birdcages – they’re big right now”, so I have to admit it’s not always completely my idea.
M: I think we all get ideas from everywhere.
P: Exactly; I think if you wouldn’t work with other people and exchange ideas you just wouldn’t evolve.
M: I also have to say, you’re one of my inspirations and you are my cake hero. Do you have any ‘cake heros’?
P: Thank you! I guess you can probably tell I find Wendy Kromer incredibly inspiring. But also Ron Ben Israel; actually there are quite a few. I mean I guess Ron Ben Israel for his flowers and Wendy Kromer in general. I find she’s really innovative. I don’t like all of her designs I have to admit, but sometimes she’s got such genius ideas. You know, just so beautiful and aesthetically new and different.
I also like Cheryl Kleinman from New York very much. Unfortunately she hasn’t got a website, which makes it harder for all the other cake makers to look at her cakes. She features a lot in American wedding magazines and if you google her you’ll find her cakes.
I think these are sort of the main ones that have inspired me to get where I am, and there are many more whose styles I love and admire.
M: Who are your favourite cookbook authors?
P: I think what I really like are all these sort of new, scrumptious-looking recipe books about the cupcake trends. The Magnolia Bakery started it all off, and now over here we’ve got the Primrose Bakery and Hummingbird Bakery. They have just recently released books and I’m quite keen to try out some of their recipes but I haven’t had a chance yet.
M: You alluded to trends a little with the cupcakes. What, if any, are your cake trend predictions for 2010?
P: I noticed about 4 years ago it was all sort of fairly colourful and minis and cupcakes were popular. For weddings I find it’s going back to traditional cakes but with a contemporary approach.
I think people generally like a traditional, classic, white, stacked tier cake, but then they like contemporary touches like swags and pearl piping which looks sort of like the crystal chandelier design or damask. Lace is still quite big but I think it’s slowing down a bit. And sugar flowers. Back to sugar flowers.
M: Would you be able to pick your favourite cake, cupcake or cookie from your new book?
P: Well, yes, if you put me on the spot, I’ve got a couple actually (laughing). Out of the cookies, I think that the Scotty dogs and the Silhoutte cookies are pretty – they’re my favourites. Out of minis and cupcakes, I’d say, the cherry blossom fancies…
M: Oh that’s on the cover?
P: Yes, exactly. And then out of the cakes, button flowers is my favourite; also the style of photography is so pretty, and the Summer Symphony.
M: Do you have any plans to write more books, may I ask?
P: I surely do. I do generally like to have a creative break because I sometimes feel otherwise you start repeating yourself. You want to come up with fresh ideas, so it would probably take another year before I start thinking about new ideas. I’ve got some concepts in my head, but I guess I’ll be careful to say anything because I don’t know where it’s going to go.
M: I noticed in your books that you make the instructions easy to follow and include a range of projects in terms of complexity. You have some which are easier for beginners and some for those who have been doing it for a while. Do you have a target audience in mind with your books?
P: I do, because generally, first of all, I think that it’s really nice that I’ve managed to motivate so many people who’ve never done cakes before to actually get started. So I feel it’s important that there’s something in there for beginners. That’s what it’s all about really. You know when I started my training, I also just learned about basic sugar craft and I taught myself most of the skills through books. I find books are really important for people who want learn about making cakes.
And the more tricky ones, the thing is that it’s also for my name and my reputation… I feel that I need to have some challenging projects in there in order to be ahead of things, if you know what I mean. Also for myself, I just like to come up with something that’s different.
M: I like the fact that you have some more challenging things because it gives people something to aspire to.
Peggy I would like to thank you for taking the time out to do this interview; I appreciate it!
For anyone interested in taking classes with Peggy, she is focussing now on holding more of them. The information is on her site under Masterclasses (Shop) here: http://www.peggyporschen.com/shop/
She also recently flew to Malaysia and is coming to Toronto, Canada this November, to the Bonnie Gordon School of Cake Design. I know I’m completely thrilled to be signed up for the 3-day course. I’ll keep you posted on that!
Her book, Cake Chic, has been released on Amazon in England, France, Germany and Japan, but not yet in Canada or the United States. It will be released here in April 2010. I’ve checked Ebay periodically and have seen it there and on other on-line book sites, however it’s often being shipped from England or Australia.
If you’d like to order or pre-order her new book, they’re available at bookstores everywhere and on line. Specifically through the following Amazon links in:
Cake Chic Giveaway! CLOSED
Now on to the giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of Peggy’s book, Cake Chic. How do you enter? It’s easy. Just leave a comment answering either of the following questions before 7pm on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009:
- What is one question you would ask your ‘hero’ (if you have one), in an interview?
OR
- What or who would you like to see featured on Sweetopia next?
The contest is international and the winner will be chosen randomly at www.random.org.
Another way of entering the draw is to retweet this post on twitter. Tweets will be added to the draw! (One per twitter user please).
Hope you enjoyed the interview and good luck with the giveaway! 😉
xo,
Marian
Lisa Morris says
I would LOVE to see more cookie tutorials! I think your use of color and design are amazing and I want more more more!
bridget {bake at 350} says
Oh, that book looks just amazing!!!
I’d like to have you interview Martha. 🙂
preeya swinburne says
Hi you are amazing. I would like to see bakerella interviewed next.
Christina G says
Love, love your site! Just recently found you!! Lots of stuff to browse! I’d like to see everyday folks featured that have created their own little business…that’s what I’m interested in hearing about…what inspired them…how they got started…etc! Thanks so much!
Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com} says
Thanks for the opportunity to win the book.
I’d love to see you interview Callye of The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle. She is amazing!
Anoella says
I love Peggy Porschen. I have her book pretty party cakes and can’t wait to get her new one!
At this time I would like to see more of decorating Christmas cookies.
Melanie says
I really enjoyed the interview. Peggy has been a great inspiration for me too.
I would like to ask my “cake heroes” how long it took them to become really good decorators. I know it’s subjective, but as a beginner I’m sometimes a little frustrated at my inability to turn my ideas into reality. I know it just takes practice, and I’ll get there one day 🙂
Betsy says
I just love all the cookies on sweetopia. I can’t wait to see more Christmas ones!
Julie says
I would ask my hero who inspired them to do what they do.
Foodie says
I would ask…was it all worth it?…on her death bed
Nutmeg says
What a wonderful interview with Peggy Porschen!! I know she doesn’t give many interviews so this was a real treat!! I have many cake heroes but if I could ask any of them anything it would be “what advice would you give to someone new in the sugar arts?” I’ve seen that question posed more than once and I always find the answers very interesting and inspiring. Thanks again for a lovely interview with Peggy!! 😀
Cassandra R. says
If I could choose something to have on Sweetopia, it’d definitely be more cookie tutorials. I can’t get enough of them!!
Heather says
I’d love to see more in-depth cookie decorating tutorials! Yours are simply gorgeous!
Oh, and Peggy’s books have been on my “must have” list for some time now
Jessica says
If I could ask my hero a question, I’d ask them, “who is your inspiration?”
Thank you for your amazing blog!!!
Candice says
I would love to see more video tutorials on Sweetopia. Keep up the good work!
Julie says
I would like to see more tutorials on cookie decorating or cake decorating. Especially on how to apply the Disco Dust. Your site is the best.
Lanie says
I would love to see more of your lovely cookies on the blog!
vicky says
As far as I can recall Peggy Porschen was my first inspiration. I keep her books on my nighttable and don’t ever get bored of looking through them. I would ask her if I can move in for a month and follow her around. I would also love to see you interview Mich Turner, I am quite fond of her as well. It’s nice to get a more personal look at our “heroes”. Thanks for the chance.
Ida says
I would love to see Mary Maher featured here!
Josie says
It would be nice to see a Christmas ornament cookie tutorial.
dymphna says
i would ask Elizabeth Kubler Ross where she found the strength to do what she did.
dymphna says
tweeted
deefna
https://www.sweetopia.net/20…
Vivianette says
Hello everyone!! I would like to ask my cake hereo if he ever gets fustrated, and what he does to relax when something goes wrong with a cake. I guess I could use it as inspiration 🙂
AmyLynn says
I’d love to see a feature on Bronwen Weber.
Sharonn says
Thank you for interviewing Ms. Porschen. She is my cake idol! I was wondering… when did Ms. Porschen start baking/decorating. Was this something she knew she wanted to do since she was little? It would be fun to see some pictures of her earlier cakes and cookies (i.e. when she was a child/ teen).
Amanda M. says
I would love to see some unique ideas for holiday cookies!
Monifa says
The question i would ask my hero is “When you first decided to start your business, what major fear did you have and how did you overcome it?”
Angela East says
Awesome Interview!!!!!
Happy Baking and Decorating,
Chef Angie
laura says
Great interview! I would ask my hero if when they wake up in the morning, are they content with where they are in their life, or do they strive for more even though they are considered a hero, a role model, and a huge success?
Kathleen Hendry says
I love Peggy Porschen! I would love for you to interview Sharon Zambito (SugarEd) sometime.
Laci says
I would ask when they realized their gift. Did they always love to cook? Did a parent love to cook? I am always interested in knowing how they found the talent and gift and how they made it into something so successful
farnaz says
Hi
Thank you so much for this, I love your cookies and I really want to see how you use kopykace for your cookies .
I never win enything in my life and I hope for this
Marilyn S says
I’d love to see ideas\tutorials on holiday cookies!
Jacinda says
I’d like to see tutorials for using gum paste accents on cookies!
connie mar says
Martha Stewart
teresa says
Hi Miriam!
Just popped over to your HAPPY blog for the first time!
Oh My Goodness!
So delighted! Feel like I have just taken a dive into The Wonderful World of all Things Sweeeet!
So happy to add your adorable button to my blog!
Thanks for sharing and I will be spending lots of time here in this happy place!
XXOOXXX
The Sugar Fairy says
I enjoyed your interview with Peggy Porschen, she’s one of my ‘idols’. I was certain i’d receive Pretty Party Cakes for my birthday but alas I didn’t receive it.
Well, i’d love to read an interview with any of the following (my ‘idols’): May Clee-Cadman of Maisie Fantasie, Paris Cutler of Planet Cake or Debbie Brown.
Jennifer Heckman says
I would love to see an interview with Mike McCarey!
hanni says
hi! i’m one of your silent fans :). I came across your site when i was searching for a good royal icing technique and have been following ur site ever since. all your tutorials and tips are so brilliant, and i cant wait to learn more.
there are a lot of things i would like to see in your blog. and cant possibbly list them all here :).
perhaps, some tips and step by step tutorials on baking and decorating cupcakes/ mini cakes for wedding favors? if that is not too much to ask for 🙂
Emily says
I love this interview! And what cute little cakes (on the cover!) Love them! I saw a few others, and I’d have to agree Mary Maher would be a great feature! Her cakes are so beautiful and fun! 🙂
Kerri*C says
Great interview with Peggy Porschen! I’d love to see more links to where you get your tools and supplies.
Shauna says
I’d like to see some holiday cookies featured next on Sweetopia. I can’t wait to see what you make!
Carolyn says
I’d love to see Debbie Brown or Lindy Smith!
Leigh says
i would love to see a tutorial on different frosting techniques.. and also one on fondant.. 🙂
SweetSugarBelle (Callye) says
I just thought of who I would want to see featured! Melody Brandon of Sweet and Saucy! I ♥ HER!!!
Nicole says
I’m very thankful that I stumbled upon this website. I love the Peggy Porchen interview, I recently got her first books and WOW! I’m so blown away its very much inspiring. I love Sweetopia too! Love all the tutorials, they are very informative. I would love to see more Christmas themed designs! I love love love Christmas and a big cookie monster and a Christmas themed cookie will definitely be soooooooo fun!
Linda says
I would ask you – do you really eat the disco dust. I want to use it so much.
Also I love the whimsical bakehouse crew.
Bianca says
Hi – Great comp ! I would love to see an interview with some staff from successful bakeries – how do they deal with their high profile bosses and hear some of their stories about what its like to work there.
Thanks !
Theresa says
I would love to see Collette Peters interviewed!
Roseann says
I am a new follower, and love your stuff, i cant wait until one of my grandsons next birthday parties, what fun! I dont know who because like i said i feel in love with your site, but i am off to check out some of the other post above and those sites. Thanks again for giving me some fantatic ideas, interview Bakerella or Melody Brandon