DVD Review - Jennifer Dontz' Sensational Sugar Flowers Volume 2 - Cymbidium Orchids

Hello Cake Boys and Girls!

I know it's been a while, but life has been hectic!  My wife has returned from her 6 week business trip to India, I have been working on a few different projects, including a holiday flower dvd which is in progress as I write this, and what else?  Oh yeah!  I tried out for TLC's Next Great Baker, but didn't make the cut!  It's all good though, it just leaves more time to focus on growing my cake business! 

A few posts ago, I wrote about a recent class I took with Jennifer Dontz in Ottawa, Canada.  Over the past year, Jen and I have become friends, and I can honestly say she is one of the nicest people I have ever met - I consider her a true friend for life!  I picked Jen up at the Ottawa Airport, and Jen was kind enough to divulge to me that her next DVD would be coming out soon and that it was on one of the flowers we were doing in class -the Cymbidium Orchid!  Needless to say, I told her to hold a copy for me and as soon as the announcement was made that the DVD was out, I paid and she shipped!  Jen is great that way - her shipping is always reasonable (man can she pack alot in to one of those flat rate packages!) and fast!

My DVD came in the mail today, and even though I have a bazillion projects that need to get done before I return to my day job next week (yes I am on "vacation" this week), I needed to watch it right away.  Keep in mind it is sweltering here in Montreal, and I should have been by the pool, but I am an ADDICT!  I popped the disc in and kicked back with a coke zero to enjoy 97 minutes of sugar bliss!

In the second installment of her Sensational Sugar Flowers series (roses were first), Jen walks you through step-by-step on how to make Cymbidium Orchids.  Not only does Jen teach how to make them with wired petals, but she also shows an unwired method as well!  By the end of the DVD you have learned how to make the beautiful and much requested green cymbidium orchid.  I can vouch for the realsim seeing as we made them in class.  I actually brought it in to the office to give to my sister who had a fresh cut green cymbidium on her desk and you cannot tell the difference (except for a few days later when the live one is now mulch)!  Jen also offers up two different variations in an ivory cast flower and a pink version that uses her "berry" dust recipe (which she offers up on the DVD).

Along with the Cymbidium, Jen includes her techniques for making Ivy to use as a filler along side the flower.  She show in detail how to color the ivy to give it the variations required to make it look like real ivy!

The DVD is available on Jen's website, sugardelites.  She also offers two package deals - one that includes the cutters and veiners, and another for the Ivy!  All of Jen's cutters and veiners are great quality, they are my first choice whenever possible!  As you know, I have learned from some of the best in the industry, and I can tell you for certain, Jen's flowers are the most realistic I have ever seen!  This is because Jen used to work in a flower shop, and is familiar with the way the petals should look, move and feel!  She uses different pastes for different flowers to achieve the most realistic results!  The DVD is well priced and definitely a must have for all sugar artists.

And if you have the opportunity to tak a class with Jen, you get a quality lesson for your $$$.  Sign up for her newsletter or check the class page on her site for updates on when and where she will be teaching.  I am trying to get her to Montreal for fall 2012, so keep posted her for updates on that as well.

Jen and I in class, May 2011

That's it for now.  Keep checking back in the next few weeks, I am workking on a few new interviews and will also be posting pics and info on my Fall & Winter classes at Creations Gourmandes in Ste-Catherine Quebec, Canada

Until Next Time,
Happy Caking!