February continues to be a very busy month for the team at ISAC as they travel to 2 different shows this week and next.  By the time you read this, Chef Nicholas and Scott will be in Round Rock, Texas for the That Takes the Cake Show.  Round Rock is near Austin, for those of us not familiar with the state, like me….. 

This show starts tomorrow, February 21 and goes through Sunday, February 23.  Chef is going to be a very busy person at this show because he is one of the judges for the Competitions that are taking place and he will also be teaching a class on Monday after the show.

That Takes The Cake show is one of the largest cake shows in the U.S.  This annual event is run by the members of the Capital Confectioners of Austin, Texas.  They have a Facebook page that you can follow and there is information on the website where you can find out more about the event. That Takes The Cake website.  I have not personally attended this show, but it’s on my bucket list!  There are so many things to see and do at this show and reconnecting with Sugar Friends is always a special treat!

On Monday, February 24, after the show, Chef Nicholas will be offering his Rose Bridal Spray class.  This class is so popular that people continue to ask about it wherever he goes.  The class will be held at the Holiday Inn in Round Rock.  Here is the link to the Class Registration.  The class will be held from 9:00am – 6:00pm.  Space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon!

Next stop for Chef Nicholas will be Louisville, Kentucky where he will be a part of the very popular Cookie Con show.  This show will be held from Thursday, February 27 through Saturday, February 29.  Chef Nicolas will be one of the Core demonstrators at this show.  He will demonstrate how to create a set of “English Garden and Floral Theme Cookies” on Friday.  He will use many different techniques in the class to create his beautiful cookies; like, how to stamp on a cookie, how to use a mold, vein, pipe and dust your cookies, just to name a few.

Here are some pictures of his project.

These are soooooo adorable!!

You can find out more information about his demonstration at this Demonstration link.

Now, I know that Cookie Con is officially sold out, but don’t give up yet!!  You can put your name on the Waiting list for Tickets or a Shopper Pass.  You never know when a ticket will open up!  ISAC will have a vendor booth at the show, so if you are there, be sure to stop in and say hi to Scott! 

There is still a lot more traveling coming up for Chef Nicholas in the coming months, including a trip to India, The French Pastry School and Katy Sue Design offices in London.  Hmmmm….. I wonder what that last trip is about?   Anyway, for now, put your “Nick Stick” or your “Chef Check” in Texas and Kentucky.  (If you don’t know what that means, you need to go back to my previous blogs!!) 

Stay Sweet and Keep Learning!

Do you remember the game “Where’s Waldo?”.  I really loved that game and loved looking at the images to try to find that crazy Waldo character.  I was thinking about that game the other day when I was trying to figure out where Chef Nicholas was traveling to next?   Wouldn’t it be fun to play a new game called “Where’s Chef?”

Over the next several weeks and months, Chef Nicholas will be on the road.  He will be traveling to Florida, Texas, India, Canada, and so many more.  If you are like me, you are probably wondering….. where can I find out where Chef is going to be next?  Now, I don’t mean this in a creepy ‘stalking’ kind of way, but more like ‘where is Chef and if he happens to come to my town…. Where can I go see him?’. 

Hi there!  By the time you read this, Christmas will be less than 1 week away.  Yikes!!  I’m sure you are running around picking out last minute gifts for everyone on your Christmas list.  I know I still have some shopping to do!

If you are still trying to figure out what to get the favorite sugar artists on your list, I have an idea for you.  How about giving them a Nicholas Lodge class and some Florida sunshine?? 

Chef Nicholas will be a part of the 2020 FL ICES Mini Classes, in Orlando, Florida.  This is a 3-day event and is scheduled for January 17-19, 2020.  The event is sponsored by the FL Chapter of the International Cake Exploration Society (ICES) and will be held at the Renaissance Orlando Hotel.  This hotel is located just a few minutes from the Orlando International Airport, and they offer a free shuttle to the hotel, so you don’t have to worry about any transportation!  There will also be a lot of vendors at the event and a raffle where FL ICES will give away a 6qt Kitchen Aid mixer!

Chef Nicholas will be teaching all three days.  Each day in class you will learn to create a different and unique set of gum paste flowers and leaves starting at 8:00 am. 

The first class, on Friday, will be Tropical Gum Paste flowers where you will learn several tropical flowers and orchids including Plumeria, Anthurium and Bougainvillea.

 The next day, Chef will teach his class on Bridal Flower Spray.  He will show you how to make a beautiful Rose, Calla Lily, Hydrangea, Baby’s Breath and so much more, using the Flower Pro molds.

On Sunday, Chef will teach a class on Fabulous Foliage.  This class is perfect to learn about foliage that will go with any of the gum paste flowers you make.  You will learn how to make, assemble and color many different types of foliage including Variegated Ivy, Maple leaf and freehand filler leaves. 

Everything you need to participate in the class will be provided for you.  If you have ever attended one of Chef Nicholas’ classes, you know that he packs a lot of information and details into his classes.  All you have to do is show up, ready to learn!

Chef Nicholas has been attending this event since its inception back in 1999.  He has always given his time and talents graciously to the FL ICES organization and we love it when he comes to Florida!  I’m sure he loves getting out of the cold weather in his area in January for a little bit of Sunshine.  Why don’t you join us!?  The deadline to sign up is approaching fast, so don’t delay!

Here is the link to the website where you can get more information and register. 

One last thing to note, there will be a special demonstration with Chef Nicholas and Sidney Galpern of Simi Cakes on Saturday evening.  You will not want to miss this because when these two get together with sugar, you never know what you are going to see and learn!!

Hope to see you in January!

Stay Sweet and Keep Learning!

It's that time of year again. Those lucky students in Chicago who attend the French Pastry School's L'Art du Gâteau get Chef Nicholas' full attention for two weeks’ time. Chef Nicholas naturally teaches the Cake Decorating Techniques portion of the 16-week program. This is an intensive program. Imagine taking ALL of Chef Nicholas' classes in less than two weeks’ time, and you'll understand just how much these students learn in a short amount of time. 

These students are training to be professionals, like many of you readers have become. As I said, this program is no joke. Here is a snippet from the French Pastry School website concerning the course outline:

• The foundation of fondant, buttercream, royal icing, and modeling chocolate. (9 hours lecture; 52 hours lab)
• The foundation of gumpaste decorations and piping skills. (8 hours lecture; 52 hours lab)
• The foundation of chocolate and sugar decoration. (9 hours lecture; 52 hours lab)

Let's count that up. That is 182 hours of cake decorating instruction. That is seven and a half days. Think about that, they are learning fondant, buttercream, royal icing, modeling chocolate, gumpaste, piping, chocolate AND sugar decorations. Think of all the classes you have taken, think of the time it has taken you to learn ALL of the skills in those areas. Of course, under that general "gumpaste," it includes botanically correct flowers! Sugar decoration includes pastillage, pressed sugar, pulled sugar, and blown sugar. So again, look at everything these students are taking into their cake decorating brains in only 182 hours. The days are often very long, and start very early. 

If you follow Chef Nicholas on Facebook, you will have seen the class projects from his students. Usually the students create a set of cookies, a Sweet 16 cake, and a wedding cake. Chef Nicholas shares the vision boards and then the final cakes that the students create. When Chef Nicholas posts these photos on his Facebook page it is unbelievable how many people post with really supportive, admiringly, and complimentary words. My favorite part though is when the students themselves get to respond to the thoughtful comments that people have left in admiration for all the hard work put in. I'm not even a student and I find all the compliments so gratifying. 

 What do you think? Would you love to be a student in L'Art du Gâteau at the French Pastry School? Or do you prefer taking classes with instructors at your leisure, or at cake and sugar art shows? No matter how to walk down your cake decorating career path, learning from Chef Nicholas is always worthwhile. I wish all of the current student's learning with Chef Nicholas the best of luck becoming amazing cake decorators and pastry chefs!

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

Renshaw Academy Master Certification Class with Chef Nicholas Lodge, 10/13-10/22

English Over-Piped Elegant Wedding Cake with Ceri Griffiths, 11/7-8

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

Anyone out there read this blog from India? In Mumbai, maybe? Well, if you are reading this, get excited! Chef Nicholas will be heading to Cakeology this October! What is Cakeology you ask? According to the vent website, "Spread over 3 days, Cakeology 2018, is the first show of its kind – bringing every day cake artists, sugar artists, bakers, chocolatiers, retail bakers, ​professional ​pastry chefs and foodies to celebrate the world of Baking and the Art of Cake Decorating. This exciting weekend has something for everyone." Hmm, that does sound like a fun weekend. This is the third year of Cakeology, and Chef Nicholas is so excited to be a part of this year's event! 

It's June which means summer has officially arrived. In the cake decorating world, summertime brings the annual ICES convention! YAY! The ICES convention is an important yearly tradition for the ISAC team; Chef Nicholas first came to the US in the 1980s to teach and demonstrate at an ICES convention. Chef Nicholas has been a fixture at the yearly event since then. After opening the International Sugar Art Collection, there has always been a vendor booth at the convention as well. The 2018 ICES convention in Cincinnati, Ohio will be no different. Chef Nicholas is teaching, and we will have our world-famous vendor booth for loads of retail therapy. 

Hello friends! I have fun and exciting news to share with all of you! Chef Nicholas will be at CookieCon! Hooray! Last year was the first time Chef Nicholas attended CookieCon, but I never mentioned it here on the blog. If you are thinking to yourself, Stephanie... why did you TELL US Chef was going to be at CookieCon? That my friends, is an easy answer. The 2017 CookieCon event sold out so quickly that I didn't even get the chance to write a blog about it. That's right... the event sold out so fast that the blog I was preparing became irrelevant by publication day! Yes, CookieCon is THAT AMAZING. 

If you follow us on social media or subscribe to our blog or newsletter, you must have heard about the brand new Renshaw Academy! Renshaw Academy is a certification program consisting of three modules: Sugar Flowers, Sugar Paste (rolled fondant), and Royal Icing. Each of these courses is one part of the Renshaw Academy Master Certificate; once all three modules are completed, a Renshaw Academy Master Certificate is awarded! This is a brand new program, with brand new course material developed by Chef Nicholas Lodge. Chef Nicholas will be teaching all three modules in 2018 (including a second Sugar Flower module), as well as a Master Certification class. Oh, and good news if you are Canadian; Chef Nicholas will be teaching a Renshaw Academy Module in Ontario!

March Madness usually refers to the big college basketball tournament here in America. I am using it to discuss the class schedule at ISAC this March! We have three guest instructors in March teaching a total of five classes, Spring Open House, one Chef Nicholas class in Texas, and two Chef Nicholas classes at ISAC. AND, one of the classes at ISAC is part of the BRAND NEW Renshaw Academy series! Let me tell you about all of our March classes, and hopefully you will find a class that you'd like to register for. 

In less than two months ISAC will host our 2018 Spring Open House on March 10, 2018. This year we will have two guest instructors that we know will be crowd pleasers: Chef Joseph Cumm and Chef Sachiko Windbiel! As many of you know, Chef Joseph is a frequent guest instructor in our Studio B. Just this past December he taught several French Macaron classes; we started with one, and it sold out so quickly that we ended up adding additional classes! Earlier in 2017, Chef Joseph had taught a chocolate bonbon class and a chocolate showpiece class! All of his classes were very popular, so it was only fitting to invite Chef Joseph to be a part of our Spring Open House this year. 

Chef Sachiko is a Renshaw Brand Associate Partner, or as Chef Nicholas likes to say, "BAP." Chef Nicholas has worked with Chef Sachiko quite a bit in recent years due to their Renshaw Americas association. Sachiko is also the designer of the Chef Nicholas Lodge page picture! She has not taught at here in our school with us yet, but we are all huge fans of her work. Yesterday, we received her demo project and the plans for her classes after the Open House... wow! You are all going to be amazed! 

Now that the holidays are over, everyone is settling back into the groove of everyday life. Kids are going back to school, adults are going back to work,and life is back to normal. But... did you get everything you really wanted for Christmas? Or maybe you got some money as a gift that is just burning a hole in your pocket? Well, then you just come on by our retail gallery or our online shop! ISAC is having our 2018 New Year Sale! 

Boy oh boy. Chef Nicholas is always a busy guy. This year, this fall specifically, Chef Nicholas is taking busy to a whole new level. Beginning on September 21, Chef Nicholas has not had a single day off. And he still has so much to do before the end of the year! I thought maybe I would just give you all a glimpse into Chef Nicholas' schedule!

A few weeks ago, I shared that Chef Nicholas will be attending two different cake shows in October: Show Me Sweets Edible Art and Cake Competition (October 21) in St. Louis, MO, and Canada's Baking and Sweets Show Canada's Baking and Sweets Show (October 29) in Toronto, Canada. The sweets communities of the Midwest and our northern neighbors are pretty lucky. Well, I am here to tell you that the good people of Orlando, Florida are in for some Chef Nicholas awesome-ness as well! Chef Nicholas will be attending The Americas Cake Fair October 13-15, 2017!

Summer is coming to a close. The busy summer wedding season is wrapping up, and depending on where you live, the kids are either back at school, or will be in the next couple of weeks. The days will soon become cooler and longer as fall begins. Why not sharpen some of your cake decorating skills, as the summer rush slows down? Chef Nicholas has a lot of fantastic classes coming up this fall, and he would love to see you in class! 

Sweet Fest Business Convention is back in Atlanta, September 21-24, 2017! This is not your every ay cake show. Sweet Fest Con is aimed at helping aspiring and established professionals in the baking and sweets industry! Whether you make cakes, cookies, or candies, Sweet Fest Con can give you valuable tools to start, grow, and manage your business successfully!

At the 2017 Sweet Fest Con, Chef Nicholas was honored to be one of the seminar presenters; his discussion topic was branding and sponsorship. No surprise there- Chef Nicholas is the Brand Ambassador for Renshaw Americas! As one of the 2017 Sweet Fest Business Convention sponsors, Renshaw Americas is pulling out all of the stops! EACH AND EVERY conference attendee will be participating in a Renshaw Academy hands-on class!! Playing with all of the exciting Renshaw Americas products? Um, yes please!

Things never slow down here at ISAC. We finished up our big two-week PME Master Certification class last week. Chef Nicholas was jetsetting as usual, flying to Chicago the very next day to teach at the French Pastry School. The crew at ISAC has been busy preparing for Chef Nicholas' upcoming Renshaw Difference demos in Las Vegas, Chicago, and New York and our trip to Miami for SoFlo Cake and Candy Expo. And.... Chef Nicholas' will be in Canada next month!!

I love my job. I love being warm. I love the beach. I love the Caribbean. It would be a GROSS underestimation to say I am upset Chef Nicholas didn't take me along to Puerto Rico with him this weekend. Chef Nicholas was attending the Pastry Lovers Fest, and after seeing the photos, well... I'm even more jealous to be missing out! I normally reserve photo blogs only for after our ISAC Open House events or the National Gingerbread competition, but I just couldn't resist! Enjoy!

Part of the Renshaw Americas Alice in Wonderland themed installation

Did you know that everything is BIG in Texas? I've never been there, but I have heard that. Oh, and I heard you shouldn't mess with Texas. With that in mind, I think that I should tell you to stop messing around and register for Chef Nicholas's Texas-Sized Sugar Flower Class at this year's That Takes the Cake- Austin Cake Show!

This year the Austin Cake Show will be February 25-26, in Round Rock, Texas; Chef Nicholas' two-day class will be held on February 26-27. Now, this class is called Texas-Sized Sugar Flowers, and I already told you everything is big in Texas; Chef Nicholas is delivering with some BIG southern flowers: peony. dahlia, southern magnolia, and fully-blown rose!

Just typing that out doesn't quite do these flowers justice. No, I have included some BIG photos of these beauties for you to admire!

The dahlia, with layers upon layers of petals

The peony with its lush, scalloped petals

The immense southern magnolia!

Finally, Chef Nicholas' signature- the fully-blown rose!

As with all of Chef Nicholas' gumpaste flower classes the appropriate buds and leaves will also be taught!  There is still time to sign up, BUT not much, the Austin Cake show is only a few weeks away!

Finally, 2017 makes the 25th Anniversary, the silver anniversary, of the Nicholas Lodge International Sugar Art Collection. Throughout the year we will be celebrating here on the blog, with new publications, and other surprises! I thought I would kick off by sharing some fun, historical ISAC tid-bits with all of you here on our blog. Thank you to all of our students, clients, friends, and family for supporting ISAC over the last 25 years!

ISAC 25th Anniversary Fact: The International Sugar Art Collection began on Friday, July 17, 1992 with a series of 15 one-day classes being taught at "Confectionery Yours," a cake and candy retail store in Marietta, GA.

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. 

Today is January 12, 2017. This year, Nicholas Lodge has already been to Chicago, New York, and is currently on route to Orlando. We haven't even had two full weeks of 2017, and Chef Nicholas has been in four different states; I think he has clocked less than 36 hours in his home state of Georgia. No rest for the weary!

Chef Nicholas started off 2017 with a brief trip to Chicago for orientation with his newest students at the French Pastry School. By January 5th, he was in New York City for six days. A very busy six days indeed! There were meetings for the NY Cake Show, a Renshaw Difference roadshow and demo, a meet and greet and a 1-day spring flower class at NY Cake Academy. And a Renshaw Difference roadshow and demo at David Rosen Bakery Supplies. Chef Nicholas enjoyed catching up with his friends too! Of course he saw Lisa Mansour, of NY Cake, she was even sporting Nicholas Lodge green during class! Chef Nicholas had a fabulous dinner with his longtime friend Ron Ben Israel (a private chef 8-course tasting menu from Chef Ryan Lory, a competitor from Food Network's Chopped, and executive chef at Charlie Palmer Steak House). Brunched with Benny Rivera (City Cakes) and Sachiko Windbiel (mimicafe Union), and got a bunch of City Cake's famous half-pound cookies (yum. so jealous). Chef Nicholas also met with the Renshaw Americas team at the Renshaw Americas headquarters in New Jersey for a bit of team training.

Chef Nicholas and Lisa Mansour during his one-day class at NY Cake Academy.

Chef Ryan Lory, Ron Ben Israel, and Chef Nicholas! 

Chef Ryan even created a dish with Nicholas Lodge Green! 

Benny Rivera, Chef Nicholas, and Sachiko Windbiel.

Benny Rivera's City Cakes!

I'm not going to lie- my mouth is watering looking the City Cakes Display...

Half pound cookies! Yum!

Chef Nicholas arrived home from his whirlwind trip to the Big Apple on Tuesday night, Wednesday morning (yesterday) was spent packing up and hitting the road for Orlando, Florida! Chef Nicholas and Scott are headed to The Sweet Chalet for another Renshaw Difference roadshow and demo! On Saturday and Sunday, Chef is teaching a two-day Tropical and Exotic Flower class. 

After returning for Orlando, Chef Nicholas has a little over a week break from traveling. Then he is jetting off to Chicago again; it will be time to teach his students at the French Pastry School for a few weeks. After Chicago, Chef will get to enjoy the warm sunny Caribbean weather for his trip to Puerto Rico and a Renshaw Difference demo (can you tell how popular Renshaw products are?!). I lived in the Caribbean myself, and I am VERY jealous not to be going with Chef Nicholas. I think blogging on location from the beach is just what this blog needs! Ha!

Once Chef Nicholas returns from Puerto Rico, he will be attending the Austin Cake Show in late February and CookieCon in early March. In late March Chef will be teaching his PME Master Class back with us at home (yay! finally our turn to see him!). Then he will be back to teaching at the French Pastry School in Chicago, straight to SoFlo Cake and Candy Expo, and then up to Edmonton, Canada for a week of teaching in May. Phew. I need a nap. Like I said, he never stops.

Chef Nicholas has a lot on his agenda and there are loads of people who want to learn from him and see him in action. I don't blame them- he is the best instructor out there and that's why he travels like mad. 

2017 is a big year for Chef Nicholas, Scott, and ISAC. Not least because of how busy Chef Nicholas will be. No, 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of Chef Nicholas and Scott's partnership and the International Sugar Art Collection. We hope to share lots of fun experiences with you this year, and cannot wait celebrate this sweet occasion throughout the year!

Chef Nicholas and Scott celebrating 2017, and 25 years together!

Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie

Well everyone, here is the last blog post of 2016! I think it best to go out with a bang. Yes. People are always asking when Chef Nicholas will be coming to their town. Well, those of you in (or near) New York City and Orlando, Florida are in luck! Chef Nicholas is heading to both cities NEXT month! So, if you have Christmas money burning in your pocket, why not sign up for one of these great classes!