Happy Birthday Blog!
Today is an exciting day! Why, you ask? Today we celebrate the one year anniversary of the Nicholas Lodge Blog! Hooray!!! Writing this blog each week for all of you has been a lot of fun, and I have learned so much more about cake decorating and baking in the process! I have enjoyed researching each topic, consulting with Chef Nicholas on what you all would like to read about each week, and reading all the positive comments and emails we receive from our pleased readers (that’s you!). So, how should we celebrate this momentous occasion? What’s a birthday party without presents- let’s giveaway some prizes!
Craftsy. Chef Nicholas is THE BEST Craftsy instructor in all the land! Craftsy students must agree because the total enrollment in his six classes is over 38,500! If you are one of the lucky students enrolled, you know that Chef Nicholas is a wonderful teacher! If you haven’t yet tried one of the six classes, guess what? I will be giving away SIX FREE CRAFTSY CLASSES!!!! That’s right; six lucky readers will be getting a free class! All you have to do is leave a comment below on which class you would like to win and why: Sugar Flowers Out of the Box, Romantic Garden Roses, Custom Lettering & Monograms, Mastering Modern Sugar Flowers, Ultimate Sugar Rose, or Classic Sugar Flowers. Um, you’re welcome. Oh, and if you click the links above, you’ll get each of those classes for 50% off! Again, you’re welcome.
But wait, there is more! Oh, yes. MORE!!! This year on the blog I was lucky to announce that Chef Nicholas had become the Brand Ambassador for Renshaw’s line of Ready to Roll Fondant; if you haven’t yet tried it now is your chance to try it for free! We are giving away FIVE Renshaw Primary Color Collection packs! This 1.5 pound package includes Renshaw Ready to Roll Fondant in red, yellow, green, blue, and black! Leave a comment below telling me what you plan to create with the colors if you win; if you are a Renshaw veteran share why you love their ready to roll fondant so much.
Finally… because Chef Nicholas and Scott are so generous, we are giving away THREE ISAC Gift Cards! YAY! You have a chance to win a $25, $50, or $75! Are you at all interested in winning one of those? That’s a silly question, everyone reading this blog would love to win these prizes! Just leave a comment sharing your favorite blog post from the last year! Chef Nicholas, Scott, and I will read each comment and select the winners. I look forward to seeing which blog posts our readers enjoyed the most!
Happy Birthday Blog, from everyone at ISAC to all of you who have been loyal readers this past last year. I look forward to sharing this blog with you for a long time to come. And thank you, thank you, thank you for reading each week! Be sure to share this blog post with all your friends and ask them to subscribe to our blog so that they also have a chance to win! Chef Nicholas, and the ISAC family, wants everyone to share in the Blog Birthday Love! One last favor- when you are writing your comment telling me which prize you are dying for, why not tell me what topics you’d like me to research, feature, or discuss in the coming year!
All comments must be posted by midnight on Sunday May 31 2015 for a chance to win. I will announce the winners on Monday in a special edition blog. Please do include your email in your comment so that I can contact the winners once they have been selected; if I can’t contact you, I can’t give you a prize!. **Due to shipping and customs regulations, the Renshaw Primary Color Collection packs can only be awarded to those living in the CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.**
Sweetly yours,
Stephanie
Don’t just follow our blog! Follow Chef Lodge on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Flickr, and Tumblr!
Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog
Stephanie, thank you for all the hard work you do to keep the blog going. Nick is a wonderful instructor with the patients of Jobe. I have taken a lot of his classes and now get them on Craftys. The new Renshaw products are very good. It would be great to win a gift certificate to his gallery. A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOU AT INTERNATIONAL SUGAR ARTS AND THE BLOG
I am a new subscriber. I have been enjoying the blogs a lot. I am excited to read them and I open them before any other email. I dont have a favorite yet but, as I continue to read them I am sure I will have many. Happy Birthday!! Back to bed to early to be up. I would have to say this is my favorite post cause its always nice to wake up to a celebration.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I plan to be reading this blog for many years to come. I am pretty new in the cake world but I love anything Nicholas Lodge. My first cake show I went to in Fairfax V.A I did everything to try to meet him. It was like meeting a rock star to me.I even got a picture with him. I would love to win the Crafsty class. I just love his work and have so many books and items from him. It would fit right into my collection. I will be sure to tell others about the celebration. Erika Loff
Howdy – these blogs have been great and they make me feel like I know what’s happening with my favorite chef and sugar artist Chef Nicholas. My favorites are when you share lots of photos of classes and events. Since I live so far away and would not be able to attend – it is the next best thing to being there! Keep up the great work!
I would absolutely love to get the Classic Sugar Flowers tutorial as this is one I haven’t purchased yet. (Yes, Thank You) As far as Renshaw is concerned I was first introduced to Renshaw In Miami at the hands on classes. It felt good, it tasted good and I liked the way it reacted when worked with. Would love to play some more with this medium (insert Thank You here). I would have to say one of my favorite Blog’s was the one that was done about Cake Camp. Not only do I really love the classes Camp Counselor Nick is doing, this is something I have wanted to do for a couple of years. Perhaps next one they do I will be able to participate. I will start saving now. (Um, think one more Thank You goes here).
Love to read the blog, Have most of your Craftsy Classes, except out of the box. They are all fabulous. Especially the succulents. Loved the molds from the shop as well.
Happy Birthday !! I love Renshaw fondant and have used it in many of my cakes. I would also love to win this prize package !!
For me that I am from Venezuela, to meet and read this blog was the most wonderfoul thinks happens to me this year. N, S and S. Are extraordinary persons. This blig has been teaching me very nice and brilliants ideas. Thanks for been there. I love what you do. Congratulations for yout birthday.
From Venezuela in Atlanta
Maria DPaola
Sorry for my english.
I have all of the NL craftsy classes. Love them. Re show fondant I have not had a chance to try. Would love to try it on a birthday cake I have coming up for a wonderful little boy that has had a hard life it is my present to him. As far as my favorite blog post, I don’t think I have one. I love them all. Thank you for keeping it going
I have been following this blog almost since the beginning. I am still new to cake decorating, but it has taken over my world in the past year and a half and I have dreamt of taking a class with Chef Nicholas Lodge from the moment I learned of him on Craftsy. I have purchased the Classic Sugar Flowers class and have thouroughly enjoyed it! I would love to take Mastering Modern Sugar Flowers next!
One of my favorite blog posts was the one about a day in the life of a student at ISAC. I hope to be able to take a class someday, as I mentioned before. I made the lemon cookie recipe soon after it was posted and it has become one of my friend’s and family’s favorite! I have also enjoyed the flavors from around the world posts.
I have never tried Renshaw fondant, but I have a first birthday cake that is bug themed coming up that would be perfect to try all of those colors on.
Thank you for this blog! It has definitely been one that whenever I see a new post, I get excited to read it.
Kathryn (schmaffyschmaff@yahoo.com)
Would love to win his romantic sugar rose class or his classic sugar flower class have his other classes except these two
Happy BDay Blog.love reading it and see all whats happening at ISAC. Chef Nicholas is a wonderful teacher and his staff very profesional. Was there last month. Had a blast. The Renshaw product espectacular and love the taste. Craftsy class feel like you are attending in his classroom. They are espectacular. Keep up the fine art.
My husband, Michael brought back Renshaw fondant from his last class. I was surprised at the taste. I would benefit from the primary colors as we have to create a Thomas the Train cake or our grandson. Okay, I bake and Michael decorates. As far as our favorite blog, it was the one that included the Royal wedding cake. That cake and the history associated with it is always fascinating. Many thanks!
Hi there I would like to win ur crafty class mastering modern sugar flower that s the only class I don’t have from your crafts you class to complete the collection..I have all your books and love the way u teach. Hope to see more classes from you!
I would love to win the Monogram class, because it is the only Chef Lodge class in which I have yet to enroll!! I love Chef Lodge’s teaching style. He really knows his stuff and I always learn a new tip each time I watch a video. Love, love, love Chef Lodge on Craftsy!! Thanks again, Alyssa (Alyssa.wilhite@yahoo.com)
Happy Birthday!
I have quite a few of Chef Nick’s Craftsy classes but I would be even more ecstatic to have his “Romantic Garden Roses” class to add to my growing collection. One of my favorite sugar flowers has to be a classic rose so this class would be right up my alley and would benefit my tremendously.
Oh man. If I was able to win the Renshaw colors, I would use it to make sugar figurines. I love modeling with fondant and tylose and I am always looking for new mediums. I have used Renshaw’s Marzipan in the past and loved it!
My favorite blog post would have to be the one entitled “Cake Decorating: Favorite Tools” from August 13th. I love that one because I am always looking for new tools to add to my arsenal. Chef Nick was my instructor at FPS this past year — LAG Winter 2014!!! — and he introduced so many new and exciting tools into my life. I’d read the blog post prior to the start of the program so it was cool to get the chance to implement some of those items into school work.
Thanks again! My email is takelya.weathers@gmail.com.
My favorite blog was the “Christmas Pudding” on December 15th. I love all of the blogs, but this one just took me back to being at ISAC for class when Chef Nicholas told us about his Mums Fruitcake and shared her recipe. I love Chef Nicholas and Scott both and I love to hear their stories about England / Scotland and Chef’s family. Since I am 60% Scottish, I LOVE to hear about the traditions of the lands my family originally came from. Scott talked about the pudding being prepared in the castle……I almost felt as if I were there and could smell and hear it cooking in the Copper. Chef and Scott are such a wealth of knowledge and I am grateful that I have had some of their knowledge passed on to me, by being a student of ISAC. Happy Birthday BLOG! Thanks for a great year….and Gretchen, keep up the great work. My love and appreciation to all of you!
I love Chef Nicholas! I have his books and have taken most of his classes. I would love to win his custom monograms and lettering class. The ultimate finish to a Chef Nicholas inspired cake! If I won the Renshaw Fondant I would work on making playing card designs for cakes. I love the blogs that feature his tips. Fifficks@verizon.net
While I would truly love to win a class, I already own them all. I can’t say which blog is my favorite because I always enjoy the blog. I’ve never tried The Fondant, but I know Nicholas helped with the formula so it must be good. I will continue to buy supplies from you because they are great quality, and always speedy delivery when they are in stock. I’m looking forward to finding out when there will be a new craftsy class from you, and hoping one day to attend an in person class at your shop. Thank you for the many things I’ve learned from you.
I love love love Chef Nicholas Lodge!!! If I were to win a crafty class I would love the sugar flowers class!!! I would love to learn to make flowers that you have showcased in the gallery.
Stephanie, I can’t believe that it has been a year!! What a great job you have been doing. It’s always hard to pick a favorite anything when it involves Chef and Scott! I have to say that I refer to the blog on vanilla on a fairly regular basis. I hope to be full time caking by the end of the summer with all my certifications in place (that would be a dream come true) and no ‘day job’ to distract me (another dream come true). I am concentrating on flavors and experimenting with recipes. I keep the blog on vanilla close as I experiment! Thanks for all of your hard work and I look forward to seeing you all soon!!
I just joined the Blog. Don’t know how I missed it for a whole year! I have the Monogram class from Craftsy and love it. I’d like to win the flowers out of the box class. Would love to take an in-person class. lvjan777@cox.net
Happy Birthday! Even though I just stumbled upon your blog I have taken a class from Chef Nicholas (Cake Camp) and find him to be a wonderful teacher. I also learned a lot from his books. I would love to win a pack of Renshaw Fondant as I have not yet tried it. laurelc@pacbell.net
Would love to win your Ultimate Sugar Rose class.
I really enjoyed your Delightful Deco gel blog post.
I have 2 kids with upcoming birthdays so I would use the fondant for their birthday cake.
Happy Blogday!
I would love a Craftsy class, but I own all that Chef Lodge has made. I’ve watched them all multiple times. I’ve taken several classes when he came to Tennessee (twice). I would love a gift card, but I learn from everything. – so it’s difficult to say I like one over the rest. I love to learn and I love to play with sugar, especially making flowers.
I would love to win the Romantic Roses class! Chef Nicholas – thank you so much! Your Craftsy classes have perfectly clear and concise directions. It’s been wonderful to learn those skills out here in the wilds of Montana! My daughter (who has her heart set on pastry school) and I are hoping to fly out next summer for a class!
Thank you so much Chef Lodge! I have already purchased every Craftsy class and love every one of them. I used your method in my fakery when I make sugar flowers. I love every blog issue but one that I was particularly interested in was the blog about vanilla. Until that issue I really didn’t think vanilla was that important but now understand the difference. I would love to see more blogs regarding ingredient importance and direction on what’s out there. I haven’t tried the Renshaw since I haven’t seen it here in the States but would love to try it. I love Chef Lodges shop and make purchases. I love the quality of his products and know when I purchase from him that I will actually be able to use his products. It’s easy to be fooled and purchase crap on the internet but I always know his products are good. Thanks again Nick! Ramona Timonere, mojo721@aol.com
I would love to try any of his classes!! I haven’t done one yet. Maybe Romantic Garden Roses? My favorite blog was probably the one that I won a mini palette knife, the blog that included all of Chef Nicholas’s favorite tools. With the fondant I would make my daughter’s first birthday cake! That is, if it arrived in the next two weeks. :) Thanks for the chance to win such amazing prizes! I’m still dying to come to Atlanta and take a PME certification class.
I love 5heae blog posts. I would love to win mastering modern sugar flowers. I love your teaching style and have learned many things that I use on each cske.
Classic sugar flowers because I love yours and I want to make beautiful tulips!
iishasweetexpressions (at) gmail (dot) com
Congratulations on your first year. Stephanie, you are doing a wonderful job! Would love to see more on Modern Techniques that are trendy right now and going forward.
Would love to win the monogram class. I am new to the blog so not sure which is my favorite. Thanks and HaPpY BiRtHdAy!