Last month we were honoured to welcome Clifford from Cakes by Cliff into two of our showrooms, Redfern and Indooroopilly, in conjunction with Barazza, for the launch of their new Feel Oven range.
Throughout the evening, we were lucky enough to watch Cliff at work as he put together and decorated, with utmost precision, his vanilla cake with swiss meringue buttercream icing, before being able to taste this delectable creation at the end of the night!
Cakes by Cliff was born in 2015 when Clifford decided to pursue his passion of baking and decorating cakes and he continues this part-time whilst also juggling a full-time job during the week.
His cakes can certainly be considered works of art, bold and striking, using both delicious and beautiful decorations and colours with his creations promising to deliver both a visual and taste experience.
Cliff’s Kahlua Soaked Vanilla Cake with Coffee Meringue
We sat down with Clifford to have a chat and to gain some insights into his world!
What inspired your love for baking?
To be honest, it wasn’t a hobby or passion of mine until recently. My partner and I would visit his mum in Berry and she always had gorgeous baked goods for us. This sparked an interest for me and I guess that’s where it started! I began to naturally be drawn to creative accounts on Instagram, which still continue to inspire me today. I studied architecture, which I think my love of art stems from – I think my work with cakes depicts this.
We sat down with Clifford to have a chat and to gain some insights into his world!
If you could meet any famous Chef, who would it be?
Heston Blumenthal! I love how experimental he is, pushing the boundaries with food and science.
You favourite cuisine is?
Definitely Vietnamese – can’t beat my mum’s cooking!
What kitchen appliance can you not live without and why?
My microwave! You can’t beat dinner leftovers for lunch the next day!
What is the best meal you’ve ever eaten and where was it?
I would have to say my recent dining experience at Dinner by Heston in Melbourne. It was a beautiful experience – and that’s exactly what it was, it was more than just a meal; something I won’t forget.
Your all time favourite canapé is?
Anything with smoked salmon!
Your ultimate indulgence is…
A triple chocolate brownie, obviously served with vanilla bean ice cream and strawberries.
Your all time favourite cake is make is…
Red velvet is lovely to make. The deep red swirls in the batter are a thing of beauty!
Your top cake cooking tip for beginners…
Don’t be afraid to try and experiment! Trial different recipes for the same thing until you find one that is perfect for you!
