Thursday, February 5, 2015
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| White chocolate sculpture Eiffel Tower |
I recently decided to create an architectural detail piece to represent iconic romance, just in time for Valentine’s Day. I thought to myself “Where in the world can I find a building that represents romance? What city is associated most with romance?” Obviously it had to be Paris! The capital of Romance with a capital R. And the Eiffel Tower would be ideal. Not only is it a perfect romantic icon but it’s also an outstanding piece of architecture.
As usual I started my research by looking online for images, resources and information, gathering my references. I like to make sure that my pieces are accurate and to scale, especially ones that are based on existing architecture.
For example when I made the Chocolate Carousel cake I not only looked online but I did that thing, you know that thing that your teachers tell you to do at school? Where you have to actually go out to do your research, and then take photos, and do sketches, from all angles, and make notes, in whatever weather, and for ages? Well I did that! And, you know, it worked; they were right!
Then I did that thing again, when I created the Bandstand cake, and I can tell you that it really made a difference – it’s pretty impossible to recreate architectural pieces without the plans, especially one as beautiful and detailed as the Brighton Birdcage Bandstand.
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| Brighton Bandstand Cake in Chocolate Art |
Although I would have loved to have taken a trip to Paris, to the Eiffel Tower, to do that thing those teachers tell you to do, I couldn’t. I had to find another way. Then as good luck would have it, it was my nephew’s birthday and my hubby and I went shopping. We found a nearby toyshop and low and behold there was a 3D puzzle of the Eiffel Tower! It was perfect, perhaps a little small but I could work with it. I couldn’t wait to take it home and make my romantic piece of chocolate art, a one-meter tall Eiffel Tower in white chocolate.
When I got home I made the cardboard model to see how it all fitted together. I can tell you I am not the most patient of people, especially when it comes to fiddling with small bits of cardboard and fitting it all together. Anyway I figured this was another bit of that research thingy that teachers used to make me do. So I soldiered on. Once I’d assembled the puzzle I then dismantled, photocopied the pieces and scaled it up. Finally I was ready to play with chocolate.
Using melted dark chocolate I piped on the detail of the ironwork onto huge pieces of greaseproof paper. There was a lot of piping to do! Once I’d completed the piping, I took a well-earned cup of tea while I waited for the chocolate to set. Once it was set I poured on some tempered yet cool white chocolate to create the panels. Then I let the panels set.
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| Eiffel Tower Chocolate Sculpture Detail by Chocadyllic |
Finally I could assemble the panels. The design from the puzzle was fantastic. It was created in three different sections: the arches leading to the first level, the mid section leading to the second level, and the top section. Little did I realise at the time but this would be really useful for transporting this very delicate and tall structure.
In true Evelyn Day style I started with the hardest section, the most complicated. The middle section has four corner pillars each with four sides and all with angles just so for them to come together with good structural integrity. (If you’ve been to the Eiffel Tower and tried to walk the stairs, they’re the corner pillars with all those stairs!)
Assembling this section first had me worried, it was really tricky and the chocolate panels were so fragile, they kept breaking. There’s a great saying “Everything will be ok in the end. If it’s not ok, it’s not the end”. Well I did do it in the end, and I can’t tell you how relieved I was that the other two sections came together quite easily.
So here is my gift to you for this Valentines. Whether you’re in a relationship or dreaming of being in one, a chocolate Eiffel Tower is a true Romantic icon.
Oh btw I found out during my research that there is an actual Eiffel Tower Romance Tour, a backstage pass to the Eiffel Tower.
Sounds like a fun romantic idea, what do you think?
Sounds like a fun romantic idea, what do you think?
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A little about me…
I'm a chocolate artist delivering a luxury brand of personalised and unique quality chocolate creations. Chocolate sculptures and cakes that taste as good as they look with amazing entertainment value. Working with quality ingredients I create bespoke, unique, handcrafted, luxury items for my clients. I offer chocolate classes, chocolate making parties (for kids and hens of all ages) and chocolate team building events for corporations and companies. My work varies from fine art to graphic design to architectural detail pieces, and more besides.
I started Chocadyllic in February 2013 after making a friend “a proper chocolate cake”. I work from my kitchen at home, my home smells of chocolate (I think I may also smell of chocolate) and there is often chocolate on the ceiling, curtains, in the freezer and on occasion on my adult children and not because they’ve been eating it (although I know for a fact they steal some of my stock when I’m not looking).
Self-taught and obsessed, I’ll make anything with chocolate, just ask!
I'm a chocolate artist delivering a luxury brand of personalised and unique quality chocolate creations. Chocolate sculptures and cakes that taste as good as they look with amazing entertainment value. Working with quality ingredients I create bespoke, unique, handcrafted, luxury items for my clients. I offer chocolate classes, chocolate making parties (for kids and hens of all ages) and chocolate team building events for corporations and companies. My work varies from fine art to graphic design to architectural detail pieces, and more besides. I started Chocadyllic in February 2013 after making a friend “a proper chocolate cake”. I work from my kitchen at home, my home smells of chocolate (I think I may also smell of chocolate) and there is often chocolate on the ceiling, curtains, in the freezer and on occasion on my adult children and not because they’ve been eating it (although I know for a fact they steal some of my stock when I’m not looking).
Self-taught and obsessed, I’ll make anything with chocolate, just ask!
