I have been pondering starting a cake club in Dundee for some time. I have hummed and hawed and generally put it off. I have friends who are already in the club and love their meetings. I am always reading about their creations and their excitement as each meeting draws closer. So, I decided to take the plunge and start a club. I got in touch with Lynn Hill the Founder of
The Clandestine Cake Club and wheels were set in motion.
Next thing I had to do was find some members. I put a little shout out on facebook to see if there were any takers. I thought a small group would do to start with. A few people got back to me to say they were interested, so it seemed like it was a good idea after all.

While I was on
The Scarlet Bakery facebook page (I did a
cupcake decorating course with them last month), I saw that there was mention of a cake club, so of course I piped in to say I had started The Clandestine Cake Club in Dundee if anyone was interested. A few people were and this is where I met Becca, my co-host.

Becca has a small cake business and blogs over at
Becca Bakes. It turns out that Becca had also submitted a request to host a club in Dundee. So, I asked Becca is she wanted to co-host with me and the
Clandestine Cake Club Dundee was born.

For our first venue I approached the lovely Sinead from
Whitehalls Bar & Grill, a fairly new restaurant in the heart of Dundee city centre.. She was delighted for us to host our first cake club there.
We had our first meeting in
Whitehalls on Sunday .My plan was to get to the venue early, ready to greet everyone as they arrived. Unfortunately things rarely go to plan.

Sunday was earmarked for a trip to Ikea. Cooper had a great time running around spotting all the arrows and keeping us in the right direction. He even had his own wee trolley so he could help. We got everything we went for and Graham didn't get too irate. It was all going swimmingly until Graham took a wrong turn coming out of the car park and we got lost. This is when I realised how invaluable it was to have Becca as co-host. Becca was there in plenty of time and I arrived with my friend Andrew only slightly harassed.

What a fabulous evening it was. The
venue was perfect, the staff were friendly, there was a jazz band playing in the background and there were eight of the most terrific cakes to taste. Our theme was 'Getting Fruity' and our bakers came up with a good variety of cakes. There was a
Date & Orange Ring, a
White Fruit Cake, a rather spectacular
Hummingbird Cake, a
St. Clements Cake, a
Victoria Sponge with a Strawberry Filling, a
Blueberry & Raspberry Sour Cream Cake with Cheesecake Frosting,
White Chocolate, Blackberry, Rose & Lavender Cake and my own offering was a
Flourless Chocolate & Raspberry Brownie Cake filled with Creme Fraiche and piled high with raspberries. My cake did not look impressive set beside all the others, but everyone got stuck in and there wasn't any to take home, so that is a good sign.
Such a lot of cake. Even though we brought tasters, invited other diners and staff to partake, we came to the conclusion that we need more tasters next time. There was a bit of a competition as to who could taste the most cakes, but I had to step down from that one. I won't name names.
Everyone went home happy, with a selection box of cake, a group of lovely new friends, full tums and a smile on their faces.
Roll on the next meeting!
If you would like to join or even start up a Clandestine Cake Club, head over to the
official website for more information. The Dundee club now has 23 members and counting.
Whitehalls Bar & Grill
13 Whitehall Street
Dundee
DD1 4AA
info@whitehallsdundee.co.uk
facebook
01382 200811
Now that is my idea of a great time!
ReplyDeleteIt was a great evening. I didn't manage a lot of cake through :(
DeleteYIPEEE!!! I've been waiting to hear about your event!!! Will keep an eye out for the next couple of events...would love to come up!!
ReplyDeleteI will add you to the members then Victoria, so you get an invite :)
Deleteamazing stuff J... the cakes look stunning, I am very jealous.. it would have been worth the air fare just to try them!... I MUST start one of these in Lincolnshire!
ReplyDeleteYou really must Dom! Air fare and cake club :)
DeleteOh, Jac, what fun! I'm sure there are tons of like-minded foodies in your burg; good luck bringing them all together (although I definitely advise all Ikea trips be the ONLY thing you do in a day - too many things always go wrong with them for me, too!)
ReplyDeleteI think you are right Tanita, it was a bit ambitious. Free time is at such a minimum that I have to fit as much as I can in.
DeleteWell done on your first meeting, sounds like it was a big success. I don't know how you manage to find time to do all you do!
ReplyDeleteMe neither Janice, it always surprises me, but then sometimes I am just completely shattered. Quite a often actually :)
Deletesounds fantastic and the cakes look great x
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteWhat a brilliant idea and a brilliant way to meet new friends. Those cakes look fantastic! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, I think they look pretty fab too :)
DeleteThese cakes look amazing. It's like one of my happy dreams. Congratulation with your Club, it sounds like a fantastic way to meet and exchange tips, recipes and eating cakes, of course.
ReplyDeleteHi Rita, I like that you dream of cake. It was great fun. If you bake, you should look for a club in your local area.
DeleteNow I want to live in dundee! Sounds like a great event and all the cakes look fantastic - though my eyes went straight to yours because I love chocolate and raspberries
ReplyDeleteThanks Johanna. It wasn't bonnie like the others though. Very rustic :)
DeleteOh my goodness...I want to join a cake club!
ReplyDeleteGo for it. Check and see if there is one near you and if not, start one like I did.
Deletewhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tandy :)
DeleteWhat a lovely selection of big cakes. Love how CCC is really taking off. Tempted to start one in my neck of the woods!
ReplyDeleteIt can only be a good thing for us foodies Sarah :)
DeleteOh Jacqueline, I am so excited for you and so pleased that you started a CCC in Dundee, a trendsetter for Scotland no doubt. You are inspiring me to perhaps start one up here, I may do in the near future. Its lovely that you have met many like minded people too, bursting with the same enthusiasm and passion for baking. So funny that you required more tasters though...I would hae been more than delighted to have tucked into your flourless cake. Good luck with this.x
ReplyDeleteThanks Shaheen, I do hope you give setting up a club some thought. Jac x
ReplyDeleteLove the blog! It looks really tasty..Have you guys heard about the campaign Taste Success? The aim is to encourage younger people to explore an education and/or a career in the Food and Drink industry. We want to show everyone that the sector involves so much more than chefs and restaurants like for example scientists, manufactures and technologists. Follow this link to get some more information: http://bit.ly/fdftastesuccess - The campaign also features a range of videos, the most popular is the Chilli Baby --> http://bit.ly/ChilliBaby. Please share and spread the word! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Marcus. It is late tonight, but I will have a look tomorrow.
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ReplyDeletePuts my three cakes to shame for my first club meeting! BUT LOVELY turn out Jac, and LOVELY cakes, well done you!
ReplyDeleteNot at all Karen, the cakes at your meeting looked fabulous and I bet you had a great time.
DeleteWhat an amazing idea. I need a cake club! :)
ReplyDeleteI love that a lot of those cakes have fruit on them. that is my kind of club.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to meet people who love cake. This is my kind of Club...I wish I lived in the same area I would love to join!!! DARN!
ReplyDeleteAll those cakes look fabulous!