Potluck: Dessert Enthusiast Xmas outing

December 23, 2008 | 26 Comments

The official term is potluck, some called it an outing. You can also see it as a pre-xmas celebration. Whatever, it is just a bloody excuse for the dessert enthusiast to get together, have fun and eat! Everybody brought something along, for those experts in baking, a chance to showcase their amazing skills, while the rest of us brought it from elsewhere.

Macarons, the speciality of Evan. She made hazelnut praline, rose, and pistachio flavours this time round. You might be think that i’m biased, but her macarons are one the best i tried so far. And we got some of the strictest dessert authorities who tasted them. Her macarons are available for sale on her site, do order some and give it a try!

Well, i tried rose flavour macarons from Canéle before, and i must say i wasn’t too impress with the rather artificial rose flavouring. While Canéle’s one was subtle in flavour, Evan’s rendition was fulsome in rose flavour. The shell was crispy, not the brittle type. The innard cream fillings were moist and light, and the aroma of the rose spread through, and was contagious like happiness.

Bright green in colour, the pistachio macaron was easy to spot among the desserts. I ain’t a big fan of pistachio, but this one was good enough, with the use of pistachio and almond. Personally, I felt that the almond taste was a tad strong though, and sort of covered the pistachio nut.

The hazelnut praline macaron, was clearly the best among the three. Everybody love hazelnut, who doesn’t like nutella? The strong hazelnut flavour was very nice, with the shells chewy and the whole taste simply blew me away. Everybody had one, while i couldn’t help myself and secretly took two! And do you believe this is actually Evan’s first time trying out with hazelnut for her macaron?

Next up, Vicki’s Swedish cinnamon rolls. Warmed up in the oven, sprinkled with icing sugar, the pretty cinnamon roll wasn’t as soft as i thought, but i enjoyed eating them round and round. Only the mountain of desserts behind stopped me from taking second helpings.

If we were to give out the best actress award for the event, it’ll definitely be the marshmallows. Her sweet looks deceived us completely, as she didn’t turn out to be as sweet as we thought it would. And that’s a good thing, most marshmallows are usually too sweet, but this one was just nice, and there was the hint of peppermint within. Another of Vicki’s creation. Her first time.

The Macha sponge cake ($20) was brought from Minamoto Kitchoan in the basement of Takashimaya. Some felt that the macha flavour wasn’t strong enough, and the sponge cake tasted more like our Chinese Fa kueh. Quite a disappointment actually.

There was rum, and there was nutmeg. The eggnog cheesecake was all about the liquor, and a hint of cinnamon. With the decoration of the pretty strawberries, the cheesecake was simple, and pretty enough. But i ain’t a big fan of liquor desserts, so this one didn’t make it for me. While others thought the liquor level was still acceptable and enjoyed it. Brought to you by caicancook.

Being the novice baker i am, it’ll be very embarrassing to bring my amateur bakes along for potluck. Therefore, i shared the Goodwood Park Hotel traditional Christmas chocolate log cake ($53 before 15% discount) with Fen.

How can Christmas be without the iconic log cakes? Goodwood Park’s one was very chocolatey, with rich layers of chocolate mousse, in between the home-made chocolate sponge. I haven’t had a proper log cakes for years, and to share it with friends who appreciate desserts, it was even more significant.

I wasn’t sure what the cake was initially. With some explanation from Sinny, who made the dessert. I googled the term, and here’s what i got. The bundt cake identity attributed from its ringed shape, it is pronounced “bunt” with the ‘d’ being silent. And guess what again? This was Sinny’s first time making this cake. The bakers were all like, “oh this was my first time making this and that“, when all of us were enjoying their desserts thoroughly!

We ended off our meal with some awesome pepper crabs by Claire’s father. There was also chicken wings, prawn rolls too! What are you thinking? We didn’t just ate desserts for the whole day!

Claire’s dog come out to play

Our first-ever potluck outing was a blast, and i believed everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We spent like two hours taking photos of the food, and there was laughter the whole day. Thanks claire for hosting us at her house, and there’s definitely gonna be more potluck outings in the future!

Check out the rest of the dessert enthusiast entries:
Fen @ sgcake.com
Evan @ bossacafez
Sinny @ Fundamentally-flawed
Vicki @ herlittleblackdress

Until our next dessert enthusiast outing then! Happy Christmas everybody!

Comments

26 Responses to “Potluck: Dessert Enthusiast Xmas outing”

Evan
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:09 am

it was very very fun alright! and nice pics like, AS USUAL? haha. obviously we need more potluck gatherings in future, but that’ll be too stressful for me, i cant be bringing macarons all the time man *flips thru mountains of recipe books to see what to bake for nx time already* LOL

i think our group is just the BEST, really!
cLaiRe
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:24 am

wah kaoz!! you blog damn fast lor!!!! but the photos all turned out nicer than I expected lor… So when’s the next gathering? HAhahhaa..

cLaiRes last blog post..June 3rd- June 5th: Counting down to end of IA Part 1
ladyironchef
December 23rd, 2008 @ 9:35 am

evan: yeah! damn fun, and we actually took photos for like 2 hours, didn’t notice the time pass so fast. Lucky thing we went during afternoon! Yeah man, looking forward to trying your other creations! haha : )

Claire: haha nope i blog very slow one. Its only events and outings like these can get to “cut Q”, if not i queue this post will appear next month! lol! Yeah when’s the next potluck? haha
Dora
December 23rd, 2008 @ 11:25 am

Wow! So many yummy goodies.

Merry X’mas and a Happy New Year! Have Fun!

Doras last blog post..It Meows #14
Vicki
December 23rd, 2008 @ 11:25 am

Learning to cut Q like me?? LOL. Nice pics as usual. Finally more pics of human even tho I look damn ugly in them hahaha.

Vickis last blog post..and so, the lion fell in love with the lamb
ladyironchef
December 23rd, 2008 @ 11:38 am

Vickis: hahahaha yeah cut Q like you. Thanks! Looking forward to your photos too. haha. Ya nowadays cant help it, with so many dslr taking human shots have to post some. My dear, you where got look ugly? I think you really got the super-humble bug from evan. Both of you always so humble, the next time you all say your photos are not nice, i’m going to say my photos are the best! haha.
ladyironchef
December 23rd, 2008 @ 11:39 am

Doras: Thanks! Merry Xmas to you too : )
elaine
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:04 pm

NICE! haha guess what, i’ve been trying out my dad’s dslr too.. and im so in love with it (:

elaines last blog post..Ate Too Much.
Evan
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:26 pm

erm hello vicki, did i hear wrongly?? you cannnot fight with me in terms of ugliness hahahaaa! seriously la you’re such a babe, are you comparing your makeover or magazine shots to these? *FAINTS DOUBLE OVER* haha!

yea LIC, pls continue to say your photos look the best, coz they are!
ladyironchef
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:30 pm

elaine: hahahaha its time to get your own dslr girl!

Evan: Yeah precisely, a babe say she’s ugly, whats the world coming to? haha! yay since both of you don’t want to admit that your photos are good, i just have to take up the task, my photos are the best!
Evan
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:49 pm

yep ladyironchef takes the best pics!

vicki, u know yr marshmallows were reallyyyy good chilled! i had 3 pcs in my “tapao” box and i finished them all 1st, among the other desserts hehe. we shd hv them cold yest la heh!
Sihan
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:23 pm

thanks peeps for a wonderful gathering and claire for being a great host! special thanks for Evan for the macarons and Vicki for the bdae gift!!! and pls.. vicki, you’re a babe. please face the facts!
ladyironchef
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:42 pm

evan: hahahaha yay! i also finish them already : )

sihan: yeah somebody was late. ahem* It was a wonderful outing, so where’s the next potluck going to be at? Vicki’s or Sinny’s place? haha! Sinny are you going to cook for us? Since u already do 20 people dinner, a few of us wont be difficult ma. haha. Ya vicki need to face the facts. LOL
ladyironchef
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:24 pm

you know people, i’m like having a post-potluck illness, i keep thinking of it. haha. when/where are we going to have the next one? lol
Evan
December 23rd, 2008 @ 11:46 pm

do u really think its the food? i feel it’s more of the people =) ok maybe both haha. but i think we’ll be just as happy if we were to go hungry! our group is just awesome. hard to describe it in words
Foodies Queen
December 24th, 2008 @ 12:52 am

Wow…you guys surely enjoyed yourselves!

Foodies Queens last blog post..211. Dessert Couture
sgfoodlover
December 24th, 2008 @ 8:49 pm

Sounds like a good load of fun! Merry Christmas!

sgfoodlovers last blog post..Loy kee chicken rice one of the best
Sihan
December 25th, 2008 @ 3:02 am

ahem ahem.. in case u guys didn’t notice.. weili is the one with the fab cooking skills. haha. so please turn to him! haha.
wenxiu
December 25th, 2008 @ 9:46 am

merry xmas! =D
June
December 25th, 2008 @ 12:33 pm

Food looks yummy =) Anyway Merry X’mas!!

Junes last blog post..Merry Christmas!!! =)
Nate
December 25th, 2008 @ 4:28 pm

What an exquisite collection of delectables. I want to try that hazelnut macaron.

Looks like a lot of fun was had. Merry Christmas to all!

Nates last blog post..Merry Christmas from House of Annie
Foodiegymmie
December 25th, 2008 @ 5:37 pm

im not late yet! merry xmas LIC!
EteL
December 27th, 2008 @ 8:38 am

wow wow what an event! merry belated xmas!!
ladyironchef
December 27th, 2008 @ 10:51 pm

evan: yeah i agree, its more of the company than the food! but all of us are such gluttons, we cant go hungry la! lol!

foodie queen: yeah we had a great time!

sgfoodlover: merry xmas to you too!

sihan: haha sinny singing weili praise! we didn’t forget him of course!

wenxiu: merry merry xmas!

june: yeah thanks. merry xmas to you too!

nate: haha you can order it from evan, click on her website to find out more : ) Merry xmas!

foodiegymmie: but i’m late in replying! haha, merry xmas dude!

etel: yeah merry belated xmas!
didally
December 29th, 2008 @ 10:15 am

Hazel nut macaron looks good and the marshmallow too.

You guys are on a sugar high, eh? Dessert outing almost every week!

Happy New Year!
ladyironchef
December 29th, 2008 @ 1:32 pm

didally: yeah man we seem to be like meeting almost every week. hahaha. we need to thank evan and vicki for the macaron and marshmallow. happy new year to you too!