Happy Thursday to everyone!  Are you looking for more ways to improve your sugar skills?  Do you want to learn more about making sugar flowers, working with fondant, buttercream or other types of sugar art techniques?  Well, look no more!  I have a list of wonderful places for you to go that will provide all that and more!

There are a lot of different places available to get this knowledge and there are a lot of people that are so kind and willing to share their knowledge about the Sugar arts.  You can’t turn around and not bump into someone or something that will help you!  Teachers, classes, cake shows, the list goes on and on!!

Before you get too confused about which way to turn, let me tell you about a couple of things that are coming up that you will want to put on your schedule!  And a few of my favorites too!

First of all, ISAC has put out the class schedule on their website for the next several months.  There are so many opportunities to learn and create new things.  Chef Nicholas pulls out all the stops when he teaches his classes.  All of the supplies, materials, and handouts you need for the class are provided for you.  All you need to do is show up and enjoy learning from one of the best and most professional teachers in the industry.  I have taken so many classes from Chef that I have lost count.  But I always seem to learn something new every time!  ISAC is located in Atlanta, Georgia just a quick 30 min ride from the Atlanta airport, if you are from out of town. 

If you go to the CLASSES page on the ISAC website, you can see the list of classes that are being offered. 

• ISAC Spring Open House, Atlanta Georgia, THIS WEEKEND!! March 14, 2020
• ISAC Renshaw Sugarpaste (Fondant) Module - April 6-8, 2020
• ISAC Rose Bridal Spray class, Atlanta, Georgia -  April 9, 2020
• Simi Cakes Isomalt Glassworks Cake & Isomalt Flamingo, ISAC Classroom, Atlanta, Georgia - June 14-15, 2020

And don’t forget the yummy things that Scott will provide for you during lunch and afternoon breaks.  When his cookies come out of the oven, the smell will make you jump out of your seat and grab as many cookies as you can!

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!

UPDATED LINKS.  The links on the previous blog were not working correctly.  This blog has the correct ones in them.  Happy Thursday!

As I mentioned before in my previous blogs, I want to do my best to keep you up to date on the travels and adventures of Chef Nicholas.  I’m sure most of you are aware of the amount of traveling Chef does to share his love for the Sugar Arts.

Here are some of the latest things coming up.  Remember, if Chef comes to your area, be sure to stop in to say “Hi”!

• Sunday, February 16 – Norcross, Georgia. Chef Nicholas will be teaching his popular Rose Bridal Spray class.  This class is back by popular demand!  It’s a fabulous class that teaches you how to make beautiful flowers including the Rose, Rose bud, Calla Lily, Hydrangea, Baby’s Breath, Stephanotis and Ferns.  He will show you how to arrange all of these in a single bouquet that you can give away to your favorite Valentine, or save it for yourself!  If you want to attend, there are still seats available.  Click on the photo or this LINK to register.

• Friday, February 21 through Sunday, February 23, Chef will be in Round Rock, Texas for That Takes The Cake show.  By the time you read this, the show will be less than 10 days away!!  I hope you are planning to go!!  Chef will be there as one of the judges for the Competitions that are taking place.  PLUS….. on Monday, February 24, he will be offering his Rose Bridal Spray class!  If you can’t make it to the ISAC Studio, this is a great opportunity to take this class!  Click on the photo or this LINK to get more information.

• Wednesday, February 28 through Saturday, February 29, Chef will be in Louisville, Kentucky for the Annual Cookie Con Cookie Art Convention & Show.  Now unfortunately, this event is sold out, but you never know when a ticket might be availble, so be sure to check out the Cookie Con website for more details. 

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?’. 

This is such an exciting time of year!  The holidays are right around the corner and there are 2 very exciting events coming up that I just have to tell you about!

The first one starts today, Thursday, November 7 and goes through Sunday, November 10 in Atlanta, Georgia.   I’m talking about the Ultimate Sugar Show’s Baking Supply Expo and Cake Competition which takes place in conjunction with the Business Conference for Sweets Industry Professionals also known as The Sweet Makers Industry Conference.  Now, I know that is a mouth full when it comes to naming cake shows, but stay with me because I think this is definitely one to attend.  There are so many classes, demos, and things to learn at this convention.  There will be special demonstrations and presentations by many well-known cake artists like Ron Ben-Israel, Joshua John Russell, Holly Broussard and Reva Alexander-Hawk, just to name a few.

Got Cake Shows?

Have you ever been a part of a cake show, either on a local level or a national level?   As I search the internet, there are a lot more cake shows than ever before.   Here are just a few to mention.

A new show that was just held in August was the Cake Clash! 2019. 

The Cake Clash! 2019 was held at Maggiano’s restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia.  This is the first time for this event but let me tell you it will not be the last!   The competition got whittled down to 6 local bakers who were fighting for ‘bragging rights’ to the title “Best Baker in Georgia”.  The show was put together by Greta Russo in honor of her daughter.  The best part about the show was that it all benefitted the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorder Center at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Of course, Chef Nicholas was a part of this great event as a judge and advisor.  Chef pulled in some very talented judges to help make this event even better.  Thank you to Sidney Galpern and Reva Alexander-Hawk for their contribution with the judging!  Here is a great article about the event and a list of the winners.  https://www.supcreativegroup.com/cake-clash-2019--the-recap?journal=26