Love Bites by Erika

04/09/2023

Easter dessert: carrot cake base, then an almond & orange cheesecake layer, then a sweetened sour cream topping with vanilla, ginger, & cinnamon. All the garnish is homemade and edible: dried oranges & hibiscus, dehydrated carrot Easter grass, and candied walnuts. Buona Pasqua to those who celebrate 🐰🥕💜😘

11/24/2022

Behold, the CharcuTurkey 🧀🦃🥩

Wishing a very happy Thanksgiving to everyone, I hope your day is filled with things that remind you of how blessed we all are to be experiencing this thing called life 🧡

10/22/2021

oh hushed October morning mild
begin the hours of this day slow
make the day to us seem less brief
hearts not averse to being beguiled
beguile us in the way you know
-robert frost

This cake will ways embody October to me: London Fog Cake. Earl Grey sponge cake with notes of mandarin orange + lavender, soaked with a London Fog simple syrup I made with Earl Grey + Tahitian vanilla, filled with a vanilla bean mousse, iced with a vanilla + lavender creamcheese buttercream, + dripped with more of the London Fog syrup, because it's one of the most delicious things I've ever made. For decor, I wanted things that made sense with a good cup of tea, so I went with dried lavender, pink lemons + mandarin oranges that I dehydrated + edged with my edible gold paint, + a candied apple sugar orchid. I created a lot of texture with the buttercream, + inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, I gilded each imperfection to highlight rather than hide them 🎃💫☕🍊💜

09/01/2021

I spent my morning doing something I did not enjoy in the least: sending my regrets to all of my outstanding requests for wedding cakes + confections for 2021 weddings. I am simply not ready, physically or mentally, to return to the kitchen yet.

I was really hoping my recovery after having my 1st child in May would be quicker + easier. "I'm fit + healthy; I'm a fighter; I have too much energy; I hate sitting still; I'll be chomping at the bit to get back to it," I had told myself, before enduring 14 hours of labor (10 of which without an epidural or anything else) that ended in an emergency c-section. And I truly thought that would be the case. But there really is nothing but the event itself that can make you comprehend how childbirth will change you: mind, body, + spirit. I have to accept + embrace my current limitations. I'm just not my former self. And I can't guess, let alone guarantee, when I will be. That means granting honesty to those that seek my services, + allowing them to go elsewhere for the sweet creations they desire on their very special day.

It isn't easy. Not because I'm not enjoying every blessed moment with my most precious creation, my sweet Iris. But because I truly love being a small part of people's love stories, and making them something as one-of-a-kind as their partnerships. So as much as I keep telling myself I owe it to my clients (and the years of effort I've put into building Love Bites into something I'm very proud of) to have a fixed return to work date, the truth is I don't have one. I don't know when my body will stop feeling like something foreign to me. I don't know when I'll have the artistic + physical energy needed to create like I used to. So I ask for your patience, and hope for your continued support while I navigate a new chapter of my life.

To all the boss moms out there who manage to juggle it all, I salute you. To all the women who had to step back from one dream to focus on another, I truly understand the complex mix of emotions that entails. Gift yourself grace, and do your best to live without the weight of a culture that has commoditized our time to the extent that taking a break feels like a breakdown ♡

02/16/2021

Throwback to this Salted Caramel drenched beignet tower for a Southern Gothic Mardi Gras themed wedding I did a few years ago 🖤

01/24/2021

The finished, styled version of the last cake I shared! Thank you to Nicole Cordisco Photography for this gorgeous shot and planning the shoot, and Pen Ryn Estate for hosting 🌿🍊🌟

01/21/2021

"Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us." - Jane Austen, Pride + Prejudice ♡

It's been a while since I've shared anything. I am expecting my 1st child in May, and social media can be such an energy sap at times. But I'm still creating, as much as life allows.

This buttercream beauty went to a Pride + Prejudice themed photoshoot at the Pen Ryn mansion yesterday, here is a behind the scenes shot before she got decked out by the florist. The bottom tier features an ombre of terrain inspired buttercream layers in shades of green, and the top tier features botanical inspired stenciled buttercream. Handpainted gilded edges added a little luxe to this modern rustic beauty. I made dark chocolate dipped candied orange slices finished with edible gold + a touch of rosemary as an edible decoration. I like to think this cake would have been perfect for Elizabeth Bennett + Mr. Darcy, as it embodies a mix of wild beauty and luxurious sophistication, much like the fictional couple ♡

11/01/2020

While everyone else is like, "Spooky season is over" I'll be over here witchin' it up til about December 20th. Don't rush s**t, time moves quickly enough on its own 🔮

Perfect for whatever mood you're in this dreary season is my London Fog Cake: Earl Grey sponge cake with notes of mandarin orange + lavender, soaked with a London Fog simple syrup I made with Earl Grey + Tahitian vanilla, filled with a vanilla bean mousse, iced with a vanilla + lavender creamcheese buttercream, + dripped with more of the London Fog syrup, because it's one of the most delicious things I've ever made. For decor, I wanted things that made sense with a good cup of tea, so I went with dried lavender, pink lemons + mandarin oranges that I dehydrated + edged with my edible gold paint, and a candied apple spice sugar orchid. I created a lot of texture with the buttercream, and inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, I gilded each imperfection to highlight rather than hide them 💫

Shout out to Jennifer Green Photography, whose special birthday request led me to one of my most favorite cake creations ever 💫☕🔮🧙‍♀️🍊

10/18/2020

Sending Unicorn wishes + Mermaid kisses to Princess Aya, who celebrated her 9th birthday yesterday with this Mermicorn cake fit for royalty 🦄💖🧜🏻‍♀️

3 layers of chocolate fudge cake, filled + iced with vanilla creamcheese buttercream, and transformed into this magical creature with a mixture of handpainted fondant + buttercream kisses in hues of pink, purple, turquoise, + gold. I wanted a watercolor look for the mermaid tail + scales to fit her oceanic home, and beautifully gilded unicorn features to befit its mythical status. Finally, she was topped with a variety of gold sprinkled and a real crown of gold, pearls, + pink rhinestones to honor both creatures (and because her little sister got a crown on her cake 2 weekends ago). This came was an absolute joy to craft, and if you want to see the pure joy it brought to the birthday girl check out my stories 💖🦄👑🧜🏻‍♀️💖

10/05/2020

Princess Houda celebrated her 7th birthday this past weekend, and it was my honor to create this Belle inspired cake for her 👑

Chocolate cake covered in vanilla buttercream rosettes, edible pearls, a fresh red rose + cascading petals, complete with a real rhinestone tiara that she can wear long after the cake had been enjoyed. Wishing another happy year full of love + laughter to Houda + her wonderful family 🌹🎂👑🍰🥀

09/13/2020

There will be no tailgating, no parking lot chanting, no roasting anyone wearing opposing colors in the stands, but there will be Wawa coffee, hoagies, buffalo chicken dip, and plenty of BirdGang Opening Day spirit from the couch today. Throwback to a cake I made for a 30th Tailgate at the Linc last season 🦅🏟🏈🍻💚

09/01/2020

Hail September! School is back in session and there's a crispness in the air that whispers autumn is around the corner. Summer berries will give way to apples + pears, picked fresh from the orchard. Bold summer brights will transition to warm, earthy hues. We will turn from cool, refreshing water to the heat of a bonfire. Bare feet will seek cozy socks. Just like the earth, I we will refocus my energies + embrace the new season 🍎

My latest autumnal masterpiece: textured terracotta buttercream with gilded edges, a ruffled coral-to-copper ombre of translucent, colorful candied apple slices gilded with my housemade edible gold paint, finished with a single perfect rose 🕯🍎🍰🍎🕯

08/09/2020

His + Hers Greek Yogurt Bowls for Sunday Brunch 💖

Joe's has banana yogurt, + mine has strawberry, with strawberries, banana, raspberries, dark chocolate almonds, coconut flakes, cacao nibs, chia + flax seeds, french vanilla granola, + melty peanutbutter 🥜🍓💖🍌🥥

07/26/2020

Kicking off Joe + my weeklong staycation with an epic breakfast: Deep Dish Supreme Pizza Crustless Quiche 🍕

Quizza? Quichezza? Whatever this thing is, it fu***ng slaps. Half a dozen eggs, heavy cream, farm-fresh veggies, some good pepperoni, parmigiano + sharp cheddar cheeses, herbs + spices. Considering the Covid-19 20 lbs. I've put on, I am starting to embrace Joe's carbless existence. This is an amazing protein + nutrient rich alternative to one of my favorite comfort foods, + I look forward to trying it with a zillion different topping combinations 🍕🥚🍕🍳🍕

07/15/2020

Thrilled about this styled elopement, published by Philadelphia Wedding Magazine Philadelphia Magazine 💖💖💖

Elle Studios Pocono Palms Kraft & Co. Floral Design BBDhairandmakeup Barbara Kavchok Couture Top Hat Formalwear

The Sooner and Later package is a perfect option amid the pandemic.

07/02/2020

Wishing a sweet birthday to the wonderful, weird + whimsical Jennifer Green Photography 💫🔮🎉

I knew I liked Jeni Green when we first collaborated on a shoot she dreamed up inspired by gothic New Orleans + vampires...I was an instant fan. She wanted a birthday cake inspired by her favorite beverage, a London Fog. Meet my London Fog Cake: Earl Grey sponge cake with notes of mandarin orange + lavender, soaked with a London Fog simple syrup I made with Earl Grey + Tahitian vanilla, filled with a vanilla bean mousse, iced with a vanilla + lavender creamcheese buttercream, + dripped with more of the London Fog syrup, because it's one of the most delicious things I've ever made. For decor, I wanted things that made sense with a good cup of tea, so I went with dried lavender, pink lemons + mandarin oranges that I dehydrated + edged with my edible gold paint, and a candied apple spice sugar orchid. I created a lot of texture with the buttercream, and inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, I gilded each imperfection to highlight it rather then hide it. I love the magic that happens when clients give me full creative freedom.

Happy birthday Jeni, I hope your day was awesome + thanks for letting me make it a little sweeter 💫☕🔮🍰💫

07/01/2020

I miss making these for clients, so I'm just gonna make them for myself 👩🏻‍🍳

Grazing board with red wine pepperoni, herbed mozzarella with balsamic reduction, smoked gouda, apricot stilton, concord grapes, strawberries, mandarin orange slices, pistachios, sweet + spicy gherkins, jalapeno mustard, lemon + fig jam, + all the crackers...locally sourced whenever possible 🍯🍇🥐🥗🥖🌶🧀🍓🍞🥒🍊🥜

06/30/2020

A sweet little birthday cake from this past weekend, baked with love for 2 of my favorite humans: my dad + my sister-in-law Hope 🎉

These 2 not only share a birthday, but lucky for me they share similar tastes in cake. I made them a vanilla butter chocolate chip confetti cake, with terracotta colored vanilla creamcheese buttercream, alternating drips of salted caramel + chocolate ganache, rainbow sprinkles, dried citrus, + one of my candied apple sugar flowers edged with my edible gold paint. We skipped the candles + enjoyed it together, that was the sweetest part 🎉🍰🎉

This wedding season isn't what I thought it would be for a variety of reasons out of my control, so I have a decent amount of availability for all your celebration needs, let me make your special events of all sizes a little sweeter 🎉