The
excitement in the Allen household has built almost to fever pitch, finally,
it’s the weekend for the 1st ever Cake and Bake Show at Earls Court
in London. Charlotte is just about
beside herself and I’m stressing – I’ve got to get us there and back, on my
own, without loosing her. I know this
sounds ridiculous as I am a grown up, and so far I’ve managed to cope with most
things in my life so a short trip to London with an 11 year old who, I might
add, probably could manage the trip on her own, should be a piece of cake
(pardon the pun). We will get the train up to Schiphol for our early morning flight. Oh, no trains
that early! Okay not a problem, I’ll
drive up. Oh, the A2 is closed in
places on Saturday morning. Is someone
trying to tell me something?? I’ll
leave very very early! 
We’ve
arrived!!! Hoorah, but it does look like half of London are here with us – wow
what queues. The staff moved
everyone inside very quickly and up the escalators we went. What an amazing
sight. Bakers young and old, little and
large, new and experienced everywhere – Hmmmm what do you call a group of
bakers? A Batch? A Batter? A Cream? I
don’t know, think I will Google it – be right back……….. According to www.myuniversalfacts.com the
collective noun for a group of Bakers is a Tabernacle of Bakers. I think I prefer a Batch of Bakers.
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| Catherine and Sarah Jane |
Earls Court is massive, and everywhere is packed, but we
picked up the programme and planned our route – so much to see in the Market
place and so much to taste, this really is my kind of show. We made our way past the Cake Kitchen and
found ourselves at the Kids kitchen and they were about to begin a bread making
and shaping workshop, so Charlie joined in and took another little girl under
her wing. While I was taking photos of
Charlie I spotted a couple of familiar faces – Sarah-Jane and Catherine from
this years Great British Bake Off. They
were just lovely and were happy to smile for a photo – apparently they are
doing a demo this evening. Sorry to
say, they didn’t give anything away about who won – Im glad really as I’m
loving watching them both.
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| the Lovely Paul Hollywood |
When Charlie finished her course, we wandered on only to
“bump” into Paul Hollywood who was being rushed off to present in the Bread
Kitchen. I asked him for a photo, but
he was really busy – then he stopped and said “of course, no problem” Thank you
Mr Hollywood you are a true gentleman – you made Charlie smile and I will never
believe anything negative written or said about you – I know just how lovely
you are. You were also pretty fantastic
in the demo and had everyone laughing.
We picked
up our copies of the Telegraph so we have our lovely pink bags and popped into
Pretty Witty Cakes and picked up their pink bags too. I had a lovely chat
with the chap who runs some of the courses and he told me about courses
available not only in the South of England but also in Altrincham,
Cheshire. Also, if you cannot get to a
course, they have just launched on line courses - so you can learn how to make
some of their fantastic creations from where ever you are in the world – I love
their fairies and will probably be joining them for a course very soon. Check
them out www.prettywittycakes.com
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| Patrick Ryan making bread |
Did I
mention the queues? OMG – massive
massive massive. Luckily there were
enough toilets, but there weren’t enough places to get a drink. I think there were four vendors – really not
enough. We stood in a line waiting to
get a cup of tea for over an hour! It was our only gripe; we couldn’t even buy
a bottle of water without standing in one of the never-ending lines. I think vending machines with bottles of
water would have been a great idea.
After all the yummie munching we indulged in, we really needed a
drink! Tomorrow we’re bringing water
and sandwiches – top tip for next time bring your own just incase!
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| Juliet Sear |
Mary Berry
wasn’t at the show on Saturday, but will be there on Sunday and is conducting a
book signing so before we left for the day we picked up her new book, Mary
Berry’s Complete Cookbook. I don’t want
them to run out! Charlie also picked up
a copy of Juliet Sear’s The Cake Decorating Bible, which Juliet signed for her
and obviously had a little photo.
 |
| The really nice Ed Kimber |
Day 2 at
the show began very wet, again massive queues but apparently they are going to
have more refreshments stalls so at least we will be able to get a drink easier
today. We dashed in and went straight
to the book-signing stall. Mary is
signing her new book at 11:45 and at 10:40 people have already started lining
up. I’ve got two books I would like
signing so I lined up and Charlie went to watch Ed Kimber, who won the original Great British Bake Off, in the
Bread Kitchen next door who was “really really good” Unfortunately Ed’s book
was sold out so we were unable to get that one. Charlie was able to have a photo taken with Ed, who was also
“really really nice mummy”
Mary was
escorted to the book-signing table surrounded by what looked like baking
security – bouncers with aprons! She is
tiny. I wonder what she makes of all
this fame and the level of interest in her – I’m sure she is quite bemused by
the whole thing. We are shuffled to the
front of the line and Charlie slips round the back to have her photo taken –
she signs the books and we’re gone! There was not time to say anything and I
think she probably was slightly dazzled by all the photo snappers – I know I
was. I’m not sure how I feel, a little
sad to be honest, but I have a photo of Charlie and Mary and she is happy, so
that’s enough plus we have two signed books.
 |
| The wonderful Mary Berry herself |
Baking Mad
sponsored part of the Show and of course Eric Lanlard was on hand running demos
and classes, which were sold out. Boy
that Boy works hard! For two days he didn’t stop – if he wasn’t in a demo, he
was teaching and always with a smile. I
think there is something very special about baking – it makes you happy and if
you are lucky enough to have a job that makes you this happy, you make others
happy. Eric is obviously very happy plus
I could listen to him all day – unfortunately, I have an 11 year old to which a
sexy French accent is totally wasted on so I’m moved along.
The Market
place was truly an Aladdin’s cave of goodies – everything you could imagine for
the keen armature baker. Tins,
cases, moulds, colours, sugars, flours, sprinkles and edibles. We only had hand luggage, so weren’t able to buy too much, but I was
able to pick up some great cutters, cases, a lovely mould and a great
silicone Macaroon sheet. Nothing else could possibly fit in our
little case, never the less, we are delighted with our fabulous purchases. Do you know what was missing? Branded
merchandise! I would of loved
an Apron or Tea Towel or Tote bag with the Bake Show logo on it or Storage tins
or T-shirts or Recipe folders – you know the type of things – I think they
really missed a trick, I might mention it on their Facebook page.Anyway, we had a wonderful time and arrived home safe and sound on Sunday night much to the relief of my hubbie who’s only worry was that I would either loose or forget Charlotte somewhere. If you’re interested in going to the next show its April 5th –7th 2013 in Manchester. Yippie! We can go Home for the weekend and next time I can take the car and “load up”
Some useful links you might be interested in:
www.thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk
www.paulhollywood.com
www.maryberry.co.uk
www.theboywhobakes.co.uk
Happy
Baking everyone x
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