Wednesday 21 July 2010

Brisbane High Tea Party!

The First weekend in June saw me take a brief break from making  Wedding and Special event cakes- and opt to be apart of the Brisbane High Tea party.
The High Tea Party is a once a year event held at the Stamford Plaza- by the Peppermint Group- in association  with the McGrath Foundation.

It is more than a Delicious afternoon tea- it is what could potentially be a whole day spent utilising, sampling and viewing all of the pampering stations and featured products on offer.
Big Businesses use this weekend to showcase new products on the market targeted towards Savvy women- smaller business like myself - have the opportunity to be apart of the "Portobello Rd Market" area- where you can sell your wares to the attendees.
Selling at Markets is something I have never done before- simply because I just don't have the time. This was a learning curve- long long days, full of excited clients and cupcake connoisseurs, some simply ogling the range - whilst many giving into temptation and taking home a big box of cupcakes ( to share??)

My family were on hand- They are Just Brilliant! My sisters and Mum put their hands up to help me without question at any opportunity.

 

My Mum and Sister Alex made me a wicked giant cupcake chalk board to write up pricing etc... and my Sister Kate did up all the "Menu's" with all of the individual cupcake flavour descriptions for me.  

The Set up for the High Tea Party was everything I pictured- and more.  Just Gorgeous! Lashings of Hot Pink and Black- with each cupcake flavour set in its own clear topped cake stand- cute as can be!


Beautiful Apothecary Vases Filled with either White Macadamia or Dark Belgian Chocolate Fudge.
For the Princesses left at home I made "Sparkle Wands" - Vanilla Star biscuits- complete with an edible glitter center star.

Deciding on what flavours to make was hard- There was simply so many I could have done- but in reality needed to have only around 8 to make up the selection.
For those of you who missed out- here is what I ended up deciding on:

 Original Sin- Light Vanilla Butter cake with Vanilla Bean Butter cream

Cafe Catch up- Mocha Mud Cupcake with Coffee Butter cream icing
Chocolate Heaven- Belgian Chocolate Cupcake- topped with Dark Chocolate Ganache and Belgian chocolate Fudge- Calorie Free of course ;))

Cake That! Signature- The White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake- my most requested flavour!

Delicate Delight- Rosewater cupcakes Iced in a Rolled Fondant- with a sweet rolled rose detail.

Velvet Affair- Red Velvet cake with Vanilla Frosting Swirl. I chose to include this flavour for its "gimmick" factor. Being the opening weekend of Sex and the City 2 - I thought the ladies attending the High tea party may find this cupcakes a little bit "New York". While I do have clients request this flavour- its bold colour- and high food colouring content often doesn't appeal to the masses.

Tropical Delight- A dense Citrus cake- filled with Citrus Curd- topped with Lemon Butter cream and finished with a coconut Lime Macaroon! Had Sam Stosur won the French open on the Saturday night-  My sister wanted to rename it in honor of her for the Sunday.

and last but not least was the next cake:

Gluten Free Dariole Cakes- Moist chocolate and and Almond Flourless cakes topped with ganache- whipped Milk Ganache and then a Chocolate filigree disc.

I sold the cupcakes either singly- in a box of four or a box of Six! We ran a giveaway over the Weekend and were delighted to offer the winner a stand of 30 cupcakes and top  tier to use at their next event.

In all over 800 cupcakes were sent home with High Tea Party revellers.... perhaps to share with the ones left at home- or perhaps just eaten on the return trip ;-P

It was A Fabulous Weekend- and I woudl do it again in a heart beat.
I sent My mum to attend the High Tea on the Saturday- to have the full experience. My sisters and I reveled in the pampering across both Saturday and Sunday- getting out Hair done at the VS Sasson Hair Station- Make Up by Bare Minerals- stuffing ourselves silly on Green and Blacks Organic Chocolate- sipping Liptons Teas- and Galliano Cocktails- nibbling at Skinny Cow Ice creams - Pawing over the Ciao Bella Travel goods and simply Meeting all of the other High Tea Party Businesses and Generally just having a ball.
My Sister Kate had me looking the complete Pink Fashionista with a pair of electric pink Rollasoles from the McGrath Foundation stand!
Amazingly we managed to make time to Man the Stand and sell out of the Cupcakes!

Alex- Kate- SJ- Mum (Angela)

Nair were on hand - giving away Pictures of the groups of ladies- and wax- of course!

So a Huge massive thanks to my Family- it was a brilliant experience and a weekend of fun! Looking forward to next year for sure!

The High tea Party is run annually in Brisbane Melbourne Adelaide and Sydney.
Adelaide and Sydney siders still have their events coming up - so get in fast- I would highly recommend this day out to anyone in need of a bit of Fun, Fashion and Fabulous Food!

Thanks For reading
SJ

7 comments:

Linda Vandermeer McCubbin said...

Your display was just beautiful Sarah Jane and the flavours of the cupcakes looked really delicious. I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of the Red Velvet but people do seem to be obsessed don't they.

Sarah-Jane said...

Thanks Linda- yes people love the idea of the Red Velvet- A Gimmicky Vanilla buttermilk cake Dyed red!

Unknown said...

Wow.. I would be in cupcake heaven. Love to attend once myself.

Brooke
http://www.momentsofelegance.com

TLC said...

absolutely beautiful - I especially love the little bows on the white choc - raspberry cupcakes - and the baby lime macaroons!

Beck said...

Sarah - I've just come across your site with your beautiful cakes. They're gorgeous!
I'll be intouch as many of my customers would love to have some of your cakes too!!
We hire Fina China and High Tea items (like trios, teapots, cake stands, silver etc). We're located on Brisbane's northside.

Thanks
Beck
http://www.fancytea.com.au

hayleybooth said...

Hi Sarah!
Do you take orders?
I am very interested to know how much you would charge for those Red Velvet cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting Swirl?

Cheers,
Hayley

Sarah-Jane said...

Hi Hayley
Should you wish to organise a quote please feel free to email e
sarahjane@cakethat.com.au