We are pleased and
proud to be listed by ModernReston.com as one of the top bakery’s to purchase a
pie! Thanksgiving is coming, so don’t forget place your order for our festive pies.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
"Behind the Scenes" at Amphora Bakery
We
are excited to introduce our Chef Decorator Juan Lucas, a.k.a. Wonder Boy,
Juan! From his routes in New Jersey, were he practiced his decorating
craftsmanship alongside celebrity Pastry Chef, Buddy Valastro, a.k.a. “Cake
Boss”, in the kitchens of the internationally acclaimed bakery, Carlos Bakery,
to joining the Amphora Team in 2013, Juan has mastered his confectionary
artist.
We
would like to share a candid interview we conducted with Juan sharing his
experience and influences within the cake decorating world!
How
long have you been decorating cakes?
Just
shy of five years. I started working with cakes in March or April of 2010.
What
are your favorite types of cakes to design?
I
actually really enjoy designing tiered wedding cakes and finding different ways
to make a composition work. But when it comes to working on a cake and getting
my hands dirty, I love working as a sculptor and creating organic shapes with a
lot of emotion or movement; like a portrait bust or an animal in motion.
What
would you still like to accomplish?
I've
always wanted to tap in to the realm of food as modern art. Creating abstract
pieces that play with color and space would be such a thrilling challenge!
Who
has influenced your style? What has been the most difficult challenge for you
to overcome?
I
didn't go to culinary school. I went to art school, so I think of my influences
as an art student. When it comes to color I think of Lawrence Alma-Tadema's
palette. Piping and paint application, I think of Odd Nerdrum's brush
work, and carving and sculpture I think of Auguste Rodin's plane changes.
My
biggest challenge was creating clean geometric shapes with buttercream cakes
and piping words. Luckily I get to learn a lot from Janet, the resident wedding
cake master at Amphora Bakery. Her work is brilliant, inspiring, and
intimidating!
What
was the turning point in your cake career? What are your favorite cakes you
have made?
There
is so much more that I want to sculpt out of cake that I feel my turning point
is still waiting for me. When I reach that sculpture I'll know.
My
favorite cakes have always been the portraits, hands down. I love making a
person's likeness to appear like it's a marble bust. I've always wanted to do a
cake sculpture of a person but instead of covering it in fondant, I would apply
the color in buttercream like they were brush strokes on an impressionist
painting. Ha-ha! Is that weird?
What
tips would you like to share with other cake decorators? What don't people know
about you that you would like to share?
Stop,
take a deep breath, and think about the project before starting. Also, nothing
makes the process more enjoyable than good music and dancing to it while
working.
Also,
I am the worst dancer on earth.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Redskins, Macy’s and Make-a-Wish® Mid-Atlantic Kick-Off “BELIEVE” Campaign with Local Wish Children
Several local wish children and their families joined
Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and the Washington Redskins at Macy’s
Dulles Town Center location on November 12 for a special afternoon of holiday
festivities kicking off Macy’s “Believe” campaign. During the campaign,
Macy’s will donate $1 for every letter to Santa that is dropped off at special
mailboxes located inside every local Macy’s store.
Redskins’
wide receiver Leonard Hankerson and local Make-A-Wish children wrote their
letters to Santa and dropped them off at the Macy’s Santa Mail letterbox to
help launch the annual “Believe” campaign locally. In addition to his own
letter to Santa, Hankerson brought along a big, red bag filled with letters
from his teammates in support of the “Believe” campaign and the local
Make-A-Wish chapter. The kids enjoyed hot chocolate while decorating
gingerbread houses, provided by Amphora Bakery for $10 per house.
“This
campaign is a very special and unique way children can help others this holiday
season,” explained John Ogden, vice president of communications and community
relations for Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. “Every thirty-eight minutes,
Make-A-Wish grants the wish of a child with a life-threatening illness. Locally
on average, we grant a wish every day. Quite honestly, we would not be able to
do this great work without the support of our partners, most of all
Macy’s. We look forward to working with Macy’s this holiday season and
throughout the year to make the wishes of these children come true.”
The
public is invited to participate in the “Believe” campaign by visiting Macy’s
stores across the country. In the sixth year of the campaign, Macy’s will
donate $1 for each letter mailed in store through December 24 to Make-A-Wish,
up to $1 million. The campaign was inspired by the 1897 editorial titled, “Yes,
Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Believers of all ages are encouraged to
write letters to Santa and help to make wishes come true.
About
Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic serves children who reside in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Founded in 1983, the Mid-Atlantic chapter is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year and has granted nearly 8,000 wishes in the Mid-Atlantic region since its inception. For more information, please visit: www.midatlantic.wish.org.
About
the Redskins Charitable Foundation
The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation, the non-profit philanthropic arm of the team combines the influence and popularity of the Washington Redskins with the resources and assets of area corporations. Founded by owner Daniel M. Snyder, the Charitable Foundation is guided by its Leadership Council that consists of CEOs who help shape and define the philanthropic efforts of the Redskins to achieve a measurable impact on youth development in the areas of education, community outreach and health and wellness. Visit www.Redskins.com and click on Community for more information.
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