Three Cakes, One Week, Zero Regrets

 
There is an old and faintly sexist saying, that "the way to man’s heart is through his stomach". Whilst I naturally rise above such clichéd and hackneyed sayings, as you know, I find it difficult to deny a love of cake. I have, over time, curated, some might say encouraged, a small but committed network of cake providers. It would be churlish to deny it. So, what’s behind all this talk of comestibles. Well, last week was my birthday, and birthdays, as we all know, come with expectations. 

Chief among them. Cake.

Just in case you read this email because you actually fancy buying something from us, then let me tell you I have a colourful feast to tempt you with in a moment, but I’m mid flow, so you’ll have put up with my stories a little longer, or skip to the bottom like a true pragmatist.

Coinciding with my birthday, last weekend I went up to see my little brother Jim, in Liverpool. On my way I called in on a friend in Stratford who had made me a birthday cake that required the purchase of not one, but two coconuts, to provide the frosting. This felt like commitment. And when I got to Liverpool Babs, my sister-in-law, made me a German Apple Cake (for which she has form). On the Monday I had an afternoon meeting with Jane O’Donnell from Kitchencraft, who managed to upstage her boss Matthew Canwell (who last year brought me cakes from the Lakes). Not content with mere cake, she arrived with a magnificent specimen bearing my name, topped with candles enthusiastic enough to set off the fire alarm.  A bold move. She is at the time of writing, in the lead.

In a rare display of restraint and generosity I managed to contain my greed and took it to our managers meeting on Wednesday, but still have enough to finish off supper nicely for a couple of nights afterwards.  I now find myself edging steadily towards 13 stone…. the rowing machine is beginning to look less ornament, and more necessity.

Whilst in Liverpool we’d arranged to pop over to the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester for a Saturday evening  concert, headline of which was Dvorak’s 9th Symphony “The New World”.* 

A few years ago my chums at Kitchencraft introduced a range of brightly coloured, extravagantly patterned and generously proportioned bowls, 16cm (6”) across. It seems many agreed with me that the contrasting patterns and colours mix and match beautifully, as they flew off the shelves.

Kitchencraft followed up with 21cm (8”) pasta bowls, with similar success.

Now they have extended the range further with four new pieces
 Mikasa Ramen Bowl 21cm £12.99
A properly generous bowl, exactly as a ramen bowl should be. Available in 6 colourways.

I love this range, I think the shapes are good and practical. Its sensibly made of stoneware which is as close to porcelain toughness as you can get, without using the more expensive material. Not indestructible, but reassuringly sturdy, pretty chip resistant, microwave and dishwasher friendly.

The new pieces come in six colourways across the designs (four for the cup-that-isn’t-a-mug).

So, whether you’re laying the table for something elaborate or simply looking for an excuse for more cake, it might as well be done properly.

For this weekend use code MIKASA20 to get 20% off when buying 4 or more pieces of any combination from the Mikasa range.

 

And apropos of nothing at all, I was chatting to Jan our accountant and something she had just heard, struck a chord.

“Hurt people, hurt people.”

It’s a simple phrase that spoke to me, and it made me wonder if it had a similar effect for you? After a cursory bit of digging I suppose the corollary maybe,

"Healed people, heal people.”

Any thoughts?

May I wish you a very pleasant and peaceful weekend.

Warm regards,