Playing With Food: Springtime Desserts
Hello everyone! I’m Emilie Guelpa from Paris and I’m one of Holly’s brand new columnists on decor8. I work as a freelance stylist, photographer and cookbook author and maintain a blog called Griottes. I love food so it was only natural that I met up with Holly recently at a cafe in Paris. We became fast friends and it was decided then that I would write once monthly on decor8. Today is my debut and I hope what I’m about to share makes you smile big. But first, a bit about my column…
Once a month, around the third week, I’ll be popping in to share my column: Playing With Food. I won’t be providing recipes or step-by-step instructions on how to make anything because my column isn’t about holding your hand and telling you how to do stuff, rather this column is meant to inspire you, to build your color confidence and to show you alternate ways to look at things and how to think of ways to translate the things you see around you into the kitchen or next dinner party and to have some fun while doing it, careful not to take yourself toooooo seriously. I love to laugh and so I wish to inject some of my more quirky thoughts into the mix, too.
Spring has Sprung! In the streets of Paris all of the cherry trees are in bloom and the days have begun to lengthen. I felt inspired by the color of cherry blossoms so I took that inspiration into the kitchen and thought to pull together a quick trio of desserts meant to invite you to embrace spring’s arrival. With March being the third month, three seemed like a good number to work from.
First, I made a small pink Bavarian torte with a light meringue on top, as fragile as the petals of flowers.
To invite spring to the table I brought in a few Persian buttercups along with ranunculus, pretty pastel ceramic cups, fresh pink, mint green, and a bit of Liberty fabric which is always inspirational to me. Then I decided to add some element of fun to the table, something with a little humor because this comes each and every Spring – rain! But…
These cloud shaped cookies twirl around the table and the rain is much prettier with blossoms and tiny pompoms.
These cookies landed gracefully upon a soft minty green plate…
then chewed and enjoyed. :)
The final dessert in my trio is this grapefruit sherbet which gives a soft and happy ending to this tabletop and adds something refreshing and cool. Cake has a completely different texture than a cookie and sherbet is an entirely different sensation from there.
You can serve sherbet (or sorbet, ice cream, frozen yogurt – whatever makes you happy) in a cone or in a cup topped with pretty sprinkles and mini flower-shaped cookies or serve both ways (in a cone and in a cup) to vary the height of your tabletop arrangement of pretty desserts and to suit the desires of your guests as some prefer being offered a choice.
Have you heard of the poem, Spring has sprung? It is a short English poem that my friend Judikaela sent me. I find it perfectly sums up the return of spring, “Spring has sprung, the grass has ris (risen), I wonder where the birdies is. Some say the bird is on the wing, But that’s absurd, from what I’ve heard…The wing is on the bird.” So cute!
Note: If this is all a bit too pastel for you, don’t be afraid to work in brighter pinks and greens as shown above! Play with color and play with your food, always!
See you next month! – Emilie.
(photos: Emilie Guelpa text: Holly Becker & Emilie Griottes)
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March 22nd, 2012 at 2:24pm
Oh my goodness! I’ve been waiting for this collaboration since you both mentioned it on twitter :)
The photos are perfection and completely inspiring. Thank you for brightening my morning with such a lovely post.
Mandy @ Little Maison
Mandy´s last [type] ..Inside The Oracle Club
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:36pm
I will look forward to reading your posts! Great photos and ideas!
Patti Trostle´s last [type] ..Colorful Country Garden Print
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:41pm
Dear Emilie
Wow, what a lovely inspiring post, and a super reminder not to take ourselves too seriously!
Have a lovely sunny day,
Louisa
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:47pm
Lovely post, I’ll look forward to your next! :-)
tinajo´s last [type] ..Ice Ice Baby..!
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:47pm
Absolutely gorgeous! I am so excited about this new column. Looks like it’s going to be very inspiring.
Michelle´s last [type] ..I am enamel crazy!
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:49pm
Hi Emily,
Love your blog and excited about this new column on Decor8! Thanks for sharing, your pictures are wonderful!
Tina Ramchandani´s last [type] ..Design Spotlights
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:58pm
This looks just like you Emilie :) Fun and pretty!
Foley´s last [type] ..Mes marque-pages découpés
March 22nd, 2012 at 3:05pm
I’ve been dying to see her post….finally!!!!! And I am not disappointed, it’s just beautiful as expected!!!!
March 22nd, 2012 at 3:16pm
Emilie this is very inspiring! Thanks you.
March 22nd, 2012 at 3:24pm
GREAT POST!! LOVE IT
Samira´s last [type] ..Things That Make Me Smile
March 22nd, 2012 at 3:35pm
This is so beautiful and inspiring! I bet the cherry blossom cake tastes like heaven.
Clemence´s last [type] ..Art I Heart : Melinda Josie
March 22nd, 2012 at 3:52pm
I’m really liking this post and am looking forward to future Emilie posts!
It would also be kind of fun to have some resource links to some of the things we see featured in these posts from time to time -although they are lovely inspiration even without the links!
Juliette´s last [type] ..A Stitch in…?
March 22nd, 2012 at 4:03pm
Hi Emile, what a fab collaboration! I love your blog with it’s beautifuly stlyed food so it’s great to see you here at decor8 too! Hope to see more great posts like this in the future…x
Rebecca´s last [type] ..sunshine award!
March 22nd, 2012 at 4:36pm
AH! So beautiful…this post fills me with happy thoughts.
March 22nd, 2012 at 4:43pm
Such cute cookies!
Love the pink hues, actually love all the soft, pastel hues of the photos! Makes the sweets look even sweeter!
Eleni´s last [type] ....the day begins..
March 22nd, 2012 at 5:24pm
I’ve put on it in my favorite blogs, how wonderful.
Inés´s last [type] ..Libreta con pedazos de tela
March 22nd, 2012 at 6:16pm
Bravo Emilie pour ce premier billet. C’est splendide … tes photos, ton texte. Je suis heureuse de te retrouver sur ce magnifique blog.
March 22nd, 2012 at 7:16pm
Beautiful and poetic. Makes me long for spring although I’m a winter lover at heart.
Chedva´s last [type] ..A Home With Personality
March 22nd, 2012 at 8:15pm
Love it! It definitely has inspired me to try something new for Spring!
March 22nd, 2012 at 8:36pm
This is so very beautiful and inspiring. I’m quite blown away and just keep going back for another little look. The colours are so delicate and sweet and fun at the same time.
Thank you x
Emily´s last [type] ..Roller Journal
March 22nd, 2012 at 8:48pm
What I can I say, but wow, much more inspiring than a recipe, beautiful styling, and gorgeous looking food. Looking forward to your next post.
Emma´s last [type] ..Jude Turner (aka Jessie Jumbles) – Textile Jeweller
March 22nd, 2012 at 9:14pm
Bonne chance pour cette nouvelle rubrique qui commence très joliement! Bravo Emilie!
March 22nd, 2012 at 9:20pm
Merci Emily and Holly!C’est magnifique…. Ah tout a fait inspirée pour préparer de jolies choses ce weekend! :)x
Sandrine´s last [type] ..New…
March 22nd, 2012 at 10:24pm
I’m so glad to see to see your column on decor8! I’ve been excited about it since Holly mentioned it at the BYW Road Trip! Such an inspiring spring table and trio of desserts! Beautifully crafted and styled as always!
Ashley´s last [type] ..We’ve reached the Hottie Madness Final 4! Taye Diggs vs. Ryan Gosling.
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:24am
Those cloud cookies are delightful!
Jessica @shimmerkai´s last [type] ..Ombre Napkin Rings
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:36am
Ha ha! I wish we could just eat the clouds round here sometimes!
Gorgeous post, Emilie, I’ve been looking forward to seeing you here ever since Holly announced it. Your food styling is AMAZING.
Paola´s last [type] ..Kate Moss at the Ritz for Vogue US
March 23rd, 2012 at 4:49am
i feel like i’m in heaven looking at these images!
Punctuation Mark´s last [type] ..Time for Playtime
March 23rd, 2012 at 6:04am
I instantly in love with your column Emilie. This is so inspiring images and your encouragement to don’t hesitate to play with food is fabulous. I especially love the cloud cookies, such a cutie. And also love your style, the pastel color and the ceramic glass. Lovely!
March 23rd, 2012 at 9:03am
the colours, the styling, the atmopshere… so beautiful and serene! congratulations Emilie :-)
andriana´s last [type] ..Ευτυχία είναι… ♥ Happiness is…
March 23rd, 2012 at 10:07am
Love love love those cloud cookies! So dreamy and cute x
Polly´s last [type] ..Swimwear from Anthropologie
March 23rd, 2012 at 10:59am
I love the cloud cookies. Whimsical, fun and quirky. I get a lot of inspiration from food for my ceramic cupcake and ice cream cone money boxes.
March 23rd, 2012 at 11:00am
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
I recently bought your books, Emily, and what a true delight they are!
I look forward to your next collaborations already.
Marcela´s last [type] ..Our family trip Part II-Córdoba, Argentina
March 23rd, 2012 at 11:50am
Bonjour Emilie and thank you for your gorgeous and inspiring first decor8 post. I live near Geneva where the cherry blossom isn’t out yet, but I’m waiting patiently. I love what you’ve done with the theme, and it’s inspired me to get out in the garden and take photos of the yellow daffodils and fushia pink tulips next to them and see what I come up with!
Bon weekend!
Micala´s last [type] ..Oooh la la!
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:39pm
Emily, you are one of a kind!
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:41pm
Wow, I have no words. Your work is amazing.
So excited about your new monthly column! This debut rocked.
Ronnie xo
Pink Ronnie´s last [type] ..Make my home / Our very first formal dining room
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:43pm
Very excited to see your column here. I loved your Pantone tarts so I’m looking forward to seeing more of you!
Fiona Humberstone´s last [type] ..In the studio this week: A new website for Kate Lloyd Family Photography
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:45pm
Colourful, fresh and creative as always ! It’s a really nice first column here, keep going ;-)
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:54pm
Hummmmm… C’est canon !!
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:20pm
Yay ! Félicitations Emilie pour ce premier et délicieux billet sur Decor8 !!! J’aime retrouver ta petite touche de poésie partout où tu passes :)
Congrats, clap clap clap !!!
Chloe – 24 hours of sunshine´s last [type] ..Spring is here ♪♫♪
March 23rd, 2012 at 4:48pm
Very cute pictures! I love the colors.
Ría´s last [type] ..4 Things.
March 23rd, 2012 at 6:39pm
I love those little, cloud cookies!
sécia
sécia´s last [type] ..~Kate Checks In~
March 25th, 2012 at 7:07am
I love the little cherry blossom cake. It’s amazing what you can come up with if you use some imagination and creativity. Sometimes we get caught up copying other people’s ideas and never finish our own.
March 26th, 2012 at 12:58am
Oh my goodness the colors are so beautiful! And this looks so yummy!
These little cloud cookies are the cutest!
March 26th, 2012 at 10:00pm
WoW! Fabulous photos and the food looks delish! Very excited to see more posts!
Rachel´s last [type] ..Lake Point Logo
March 27th, 2012 at 12:40pm
this all looks so beautiful and yummy!
March 27th, 2012 at 5:00pm
Gracious, these pictures are so beautiful and inspiring.
March 28th, 2012 at 1:47pm
Reallyyyy beautiful !!! As usual ^^
The poem is so nice ! Thank youuuu !
March 28th, 2012 at 7:04pm
Oh I need a cloud cookie with my tea today!!
Monica Lee´s last [type] ..A look through the eyes of Moss and Isaac, a photography team and terrific collaboration
March 28th, 2012 at 11:34pm
I love your blog, it’s so inspirational!! Thank you for sharing.
Claudia´s last [type] ..My High Low ProjectS
March 28th, 2012 at 11:36pm
Also, how can I subscribe to your blog? thank you
Claudia´s last [type] ..My High Low ProjectS
March 29th, 2012 at 2:23am
LOVE!!!!!! So inspired. Looking forward to your next post. :)
Emily Crawford´s last [type] ..Watercolor Butterfly Easter Sneak Peek!
April 5th, 2012 at 5:24am
So inspiring! Love how the food and kitchen seamlessly merges with colour study, creativity, humour, and food for thought.
Gosia´s last [type] ..Comment on Verdant with Herbs by Iza
April 6th, 2012 at 3:07am
hi, i love the table accessories you used here. Can you please tell me where to buy these cute pastel ice cream cups? my girls will totally love them!!!
April 20th, 2012 at 11:40pm
muy bonito, so divine!
April 21st, 2012 at 2:52am
Thank you so much for this wonderful great enthusiasm! It’s really adorable and inspiring!
Merci beaucoup tout le monde, je suis contente de voir quelques phrases françaises ici !! :)
@Marcela : oh thank you for my books! It’s very nice! I’m glad you like them :)
@Micala : Is the cherry blossoms have arrived in Geneva?
@Jen Laceda : I bought them at Habitat, i dont know if you have a store near you ?
July 17th, 2012 at 1:48pm
Oh, this looks lovely! Thanx for sharing.
Esther.
Esther´s last [type] ..All set for the summer Olympics
March 25th, 2013 at 6:44pm
The grapefruit sherbet totally makes me want to make cantaloupe sorbet again. I made it once in High School and haven’t forgotten about it since.
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