This week, we’re diving headfirst into a tub full of tinsel, candy canes and glass ornaments (ouch!) here on rebstevenson.com. I’m unwrapping a ton of holiday posts, starting with five awesome things to do in Toronto to get you in the mood for the holidays.
First up: a Christmas-themed cupcake decorating class at Le Dolci, a foodie studio in the King Street West neighbourhood. Owner Lisa Sanguedolce invited Billy and me to swing by for a little cupcake date. As we exited, we agreed that the class was 100% joyful. If we had to break down the causes of that joy, it would look like this:
50%: Playing with icing that felt like play-doh
20%: Sampling icing when Lisa wasn’t looking (mostly Billy)
30%: Lisa’s friendly, laid back vibe
The Le Dolci studio is nice and airy.
Some of Lisa’s décor hints at the fact that she recently moved back to Toronto after a long stint in the U.K. As you know, I’m a major anglophile, so these touches scored extra points with me.
In the cupcake classes, you learn to use both fondant (above) and piped buttercream icing.
All of the materials are supplied, and you will stroll out of there with a dozen cupcakes. A word of advice: think about what you’re going to do with them in advance, otherwise you’re in for some pre-Christmas dinner stomach training. In a bad way.
Working with the fondant was a blast. If only it bounced and picked up newspaper ink like Silly Putty, it would be a perfect substance.
Billy’s first oeuvre was this festive octopus. Apparently, he felt that sea creatures have been excluded from holiday celebrations for too long.
He also made this super cute snowman. “I made little indentations in the snow to show where people were walking.” Pretty cu-ute. But what else would I expect from a man who makes puppet videos for toddlers!?
These were my final fondants!
Lisa makes for a great teacher because she makes her pupils feel like superstars. She tweeted pix of our cupcakes.
Le Dolci’s Christmas cupcake classes run until December 21. A 2 hour class costs $80 per person. For a full schedule, click here.
She also does macarons, cake pops and general cake decoration.
…and now we’d like to announce that we’re opening our very own cupcake business! Only the cupcakes are going to retail for about $50 each, since we spent half an hour on each of them. Might fly at the Trump…
This was #1 of 5 posts on what’s happening in Toronto during the lead-up to Christmas!
To see #2, “A Euro Village of Our Own,” click here.
To see #3, “On Top of Toronto,” click here.
To see #4, “An Evening at the Toronto Temple of Cinema,” click here.
To see #5, “A Victorian Christmas,” click here.
SPECIAL DEAL: Until December 20, if you book a Toronto hotel package priced at $99 to $179 plus taxes, you will receive a Torontoland wristband worth 15% savings at more than 50 participating attractions, restaurants and retail locations, as well as a $50 gift certificate for The Bay. If you stay two nights, that gift card will swell to 100$. For more information, click here.
Travel arrangements courtesy of Tourism Toronto.
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I had so much fun! Lisa was great.
60% fun.
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