Cherry Oh Baby
Cherry Margarita, Cake Con and a very special event announcement.
Hi Foodie Friends,
Another week down and arghh! Another week closer to Christmas, it’s coming around quick this year isn’t it? We have been so busy lately with cooking classes and pop ups in Tasmania and other events that we are a bit behind the eight ball with prep for Christmas this year. Are you the same? If so… do not fret, we are in this together and, handily, we have a huge range of delicious recipes to inspire your festive hosting and foodie gifting this year. We can get this done 💪. In fact next week’s newsletter will be dedicated to Christmas recipes for you so look out for that one, plus we will be launching our Solidteknic $500 gift voucher competition which if your number comes in would be the perfect Christmas present (more details below).
Back to this week and it is a bit of a jumble of news, new recipes, recaps and the announcement of a very special event we have planned for next year, yes the diary is filling up fast for what will be a deliciously inspirational 2026. Plus it’s Cherry season!
Let’s get into it…
Cake Con - Melbourne
What a weekend! - Apple wins with Banana
Following on from the hugely successful Cake Con in Sydney last October, this Sunday saw the first Cake Con Melbourne. It was big… so big that there had to be two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The morning session was judged by our great mate Alisha Henderson, Darren’s bench buddy on Dessert Masters (pictured below).
Darren was in charge of the afternoon and tasked with meeting and greeting all (well most - there were a lot!) of the amazing bakers and he also judged the best cake competition, with a little help from me 😇.
It was a lot of cake! In fact there were 366 cakes on display (afternoon session alone) and as Daz explained, it was less of a competition and more of a celebration of baking and creativity.
We saw lots of variety and creativity, lots of colour and some traditional and new designs and methods. It was also lovely to see some interesting flavour pairings and also see an increase in indigenous ingredients being used. We also saw a bit of festive cheer in some Christmas designs, which was fun!
Although it is almost impossible to judge, Daz did choose a winner. Obviously it was difficult prospect, we could not physically try each one, so we whittled it down to ten cakes that caught our eye in terms of originality, presentation, design, flavour profile and impact. We tried all ten of them (tough job but someone’s gotta do it 😜) and ended up choosing a very special banoffee flavoured cake with a chess theme (pictured above middle), it was made by a talented and humble young baker named Apple (pictured above left ) who won a new swish stand mixer and ice cream attachment from our lovely friends at SMEG (pictured above right). Apple was such a worthy winner, she promised to donate her older stand mixer to her school as she now has a shiny new one! Check out my instagram for a swipe through of some of the other entries. Congratulations to all of the wonderful bakers who took part in a fantastic day.
Looking for more cake inspiration? Check out these stunning and achievable recipes below and more cake recipes here, we might even see you at next years Cake Con?
Coconut & Lime Shag Cake - above left
Alisha Henderson’s Lemon Meringue Pie Cake - above middle
Fig & Frangelico Cake - above right
Cherry Margarita
It is Cherry Season!
To celebrate we will be whipping up this easy but tasty cocktail to take the edge off while we decide what to bake for Christmas. Honestly, this drink is easy and unique with notes of Rosemary & Lime to pronounce the Cherry flavour. We have a full step by step image tutorial here. Festive Cherry, Lime & Rosemary Margarita.
For the cherry on top here is more fruity inspiration for you as we head into Summer, watch out for pips! See also a great use for Solidteknics cookware in the clafoutis.
Cherry Clafoutis - pictured above left
Cherries In Vanilla Syrup - pictured above middle
Black Forest Brownie - pictured above right
Event Alert 🚨
Dessert, Wine and Art Inspired by the Bellarine
In association with the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
Learn to make seasonal desserts, taste local wine and observe local art techniques
We are so excited about this event with some pretty awesome collaborators here on the Bellarine.
Tickets are on sale NOW. These will sell fast and numbers are limited so hop on here to purchese Dessert, Wine & Art Inspired by the Bellarine.
Enjoy an inspired afternoon overlooking Swan Bay at Marthadale – a remarkable home brought to life by Jennie and John Sloan. Acclaimed pastry chef Darren Purchese will present a live demonstration of desserts, inspired by the gardens of Marthadale. Each creation will be paired with a tasting of Circulus Wines from Portarlington — cool-climate, maritime-influenced drops that capture the elegance of the Bellarine Peninsula.
Celebrated local artist Ryan Brearley will create on canvas in real time, revealing the rhythm, process, and energy behind his works. Together, they offer a truly one-of-a-kind collaboration: three masters, each exploring beauty through their craft.
Tickets on sale from Thursday 27 November, 10am.
Limited to 20 places.
Solidteknics Giveaway
One Week To Go!
We are proud to be partnering with one of our favourite cookware brands this Christmas… Solidteknics. Solidteknics are the best brand of cast iron cookware out there and best of all, it’s Aussie made.
Look out here in this newsletter next weeks as we launch a competition to win a $500 gift voucher from Solidteknics. Get ahead now and give them a follow on instagram @solidteknics and make sure you are following @darrenpurchese and @lovestudiokitchen too!
World leaders in healthy and durable cookware…
Solidteknics isn’t just a cookware brand; they are engineers with decades of experience, revolutionising the industry with patented, world-first innovations made in Australia. Their seamless one-piece cookware, crafted from wrought iron and non-nickel stainless steel, is designed for durability and health. Unlike traditional cookware, our products are toxin-free, ultra-conductive, and built to last centuries—offering a sustainable solution to disposable cookware.
Praised by top chefs and home cooks, including us here at Studio Kitchen, Solidteknics are at the forefront of a shift toward healthier cooking. The cookware requires less heat and maintenance, with natural nonstick surfaces and no synthetic coatings.
With a focus on longevity, they proudly offer a multi-century warranty, ensuring your investment benefits generations to come.
Chocolate, Orange & Sesame Souffle with Miso
New Recipe - Online Now
Give that dish a raise! Souffle’s have a reputation of unpredictability and being tricky to get right but you really should not be scared of these. Make sure you have everything ready when you need it such as prepared moulds, cold chocolate centres, room temperature egg whites and a preheated oven. This will be half the battle, and the rest is just to whip up a few egg whites and to fold and bake your way to soufflé glory. Check out the recipe and step by step image tutorial to guarantee a rise! Chocolate, Orange & Sesame Souffle with Miso.
