Chicago’s Finest Bakeries: Vanilla Sugar Bakery

I used to think that all cupcakes were created equal, until I had my first Vanilla Sugar Bakery cupcake. With flavors like “Its Just Nuts” and “Banoffee,” they’re as fun to say as they are to eat. And they aren’t just making me rethink my cupcakes. Everything from their delicate French macarons to their delicious caramel covered brownies come from well crafted recipes, over 10 years in the making. Vanilla Sugar Bakery’s secret, though, is that they use only the finest and freshest ingredients – real butter, sugar, flour, eggs etc. to create their delicious desserts.

The bakery was started by two sisters, Norma and Maggie, and grew from a small batch business in their home to a thriving bakery in Winfield, IL. As their client base grew in 2010, the sisters decided to give up corporate careers to fully pursue their dreams of opening and operating a bakery. In a region full of world class bakeries, what has continued to set Vanilla Sugar Bakery apart is their focus on quality. All of their recipes are made fresh daily, without preservatives, fillers or additives. Just yummy, gooey deliciousness!! Check out some of their mouthwatering sweets below.

It was so amazing to have them as one of our esteemed vendors at last week’s Love is Sweet Valentines dessert event (full event recap to come!!). I’m still dreaming about those salted vanilla cupcakes. Yum!

– Stay Sweet

Native and Posh

Chicago’s Finest Bakeries: Penthouse Sweets

The Chicago based custom dessert studio Penthouse Sweets is truly one-of-a-kind. Founder and Head Pastry Chef Yvonne Ivy-Stephens created the boutique pastry company in 2014 and has grown it into one of Chicago’s premier wedding and specialty cakes vendors.

Chef Ivy-Stephens first discovered her passion for baking at 18 and honed her skills at The Illinois Institute of Art Chicago. After working at 5-star restaurants, local bakeries, hotels, cupcake boutiques, and couture wedding cake companies around the Chicagoland area, she decided to pursue a business of her own.

Her experience as kitchen manager and head decorator at the city’s finest restaurants allowed her the opportunity to serve President Barak Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Chicago’s mayor Rahm Emanuel. Chef Yvonne and her husband have 3 lovely daughters, Erin (8), Sacha (7), & Kassidy (6), that sometimes “assists” her in the kitchen. Check out her amazing creations below!

I’m so excited that Penthouse Sweets will be one of our esteemed vendors at next Thursday’s Love is Sweet Valentines dessert event. If you want to sample some of their seriously delicious deserts, you can get your tickets at Eventbrite. Hope to see you there!

– Love is Sweet, Native and Posh

Upcoming Event: Love is Sweet Valentine’s Dessert Tasting

Confession time. I have a sweet tooth and I can’t deny it. No matter how many times I try to give up sweets, they always keep calling me back. So, I finally decided to give in and indulge my vice, just a little bit. Ok…a lot bit!! I’ve connected with a select group of the coolest and most gifted bakeries in town to host an event that will be as delicious as it is fun!

I’m calling it the Love is Sweet: Valentine’s Day Dessert Tasting Event because, what’s sweeter that enjoying dessert on the day of love? Each ticket gets you UNLIMITED dessert tasting/ appetizers, (1) COMPLIMENTARY drink ticket, and one (1) COMPLIMENTARY raffle ticket. Along with sampling delicious sweets all evening, guests will have the opportunity to speak to the city’s most talented wedding dessert vendors and receive discounts.

This event is also a great way to do good!! We’re donating a portion of the proceeds to Brides Against Breast Cancer. 

I’m super excited about this!! As you can likely tell by my excessive use of exclamation points!! Tickets are limited, so get your today on Eventbrite!

– Love is Sweet

Native and Posh

Love at First Sight: Foye and Orseer’s Real Wedding (Atlanta, Part 2)

A few weeks ago, I shared one of my close friends’ traditional Nigerian weddings from Atlanta. I know you all have been waiting so patiently, so here are the breathtaking pictures from Foye and Orseer’s church wedding. Once Like a Spark did the dang thing with these photos!! And, of course, Foye and Orseer look absolutely incredible! Many blessings on their new family!

– eternal love, Native and Posh

2015 Wedding Cake Trend Predictions

Happy New Years lovelies!! Thanks so much for all of your love and support in 2014!! We’re only 6 days in, but 2015 is shaping out to be an even more awesome year!! I have some amazing real weddings lined up and lots of vendors interviews to help you have the most stress free planning process possible.

Source: Cake Ink

But first, I wanted to kick off 2015 with something that is very near and dear to my heart…cake. Besides the fact that I have a ridiculous sweet tooth, I believe that the wedding cake is an easy way to let your personality shine through, without having to negotiate with too many family members. You can be trendy, traditional or anywhere in between.

If you got engaged over the holidays or are just now kicking your wedding planning in high gear, here’s my list of 2015 wedding cake trend predictions. I’m not a fortune teller, but if there’s one thing I know, its’ cake!!

Tasty Alternatives to Wedding Cake

Source; Cake, sweets + venue: Cacao Sweets and Treats | Styling + photography by Melissa Becker 

I love a delicious, moist wedding cake as much as the next person, but it never hurts to switch it up. I saw my first Croquembouch at a friend’s wedding last year and was totally wowed by how classy it looked and how delectable it tasted. This French dessert, which literally means “something that crunches in your mouth” was my first introduction to the wonderful world of non-cake wedding desserts. Since then, I’ve seen everything from cake pops, doughnut towers and more popping up on dessert tables. If you’re looking for something to replace your traditional wedding cake with or a little addition to spice up your dessert table, check out these tasty options below.

– native and posh

French Croquembouch from Luxury Wedding; French Macaroon Tower by Cake Opera Co, Photo by Cynthia at  Cynthia Martyn Events”; Pie Table from Snippet and Ink, Photo by Suzi at Q Weddings; Ice Cream Dessert from The Knot, Photo by Photos by Jay; Doughnut Cake from Rainy Kitchen

How Your Wedding Can Help…End Hunger

Happy World Food Day! Every October 16th, organizations around the world honor the day the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization was founded in 1945. One of my very favorite organizations Oxfam America encourages people who care about food insecurity and poverty alleviation to host a dinner to help raise awareness of these issues among their friends and family. Hubby and I are hosting our very own Hunger Banquet tonight, with a few of our closest friends in Chicago! In exchange for a yummy dinner, cooked by yours truly, we’ve asked our friends to bring a nonperishable food item or donation for Oxfam America, to help in their fight to end hunger.

All this got me thinking about the vast cornucopia that was our wedding reception…what if weddings could help end hunger? Well, it can! Check out these five tips on how you can be a do gooder bride and help end poverty and hunger in Chicago.

1. Choose a Non-Profit Caterer.

If you’re already going to spend thousands of dollars on food and beverage, why not spend your money with caterers that give back?

Inspiration Kitchens is a restaurant and a restaurant skills training center with locations in Upton Chicago and Garfield Park. In addition to serving yummies, they provide social services to the homeless and hungry in Chicago and help individuals gain skills and experience that help them get jobs in the service industry.

First Slide Pie Cafe serves much more than just pies. Community volunteers and staff servemore than 4,000 needy and homeless each month through partnerships with several social service organizations, such as Streetwise. A pie from any one of their three cafes (North Ravenswood inside the Lillstreet Art Center, North Ashland Avenue, and Manor Street) would make an awesome addition to your dessert table!

2. Donate leftover wedding food to a food rescue program. 

Maybe your venue is really strict about the caterers that you’re allowed to use. Don’t worry! You can still help by working with your caterer to donate any uneaten food to a local food rescue center. You can arrange with your caterer to have a center like the Greater Chicago Food Depository come and pick up leftovers you have, after the ceremony. Couples would probably cry if they knew how much food caterers usually throw away after their receptions. By donating, you can cut down on waste by doing something good.

3. Ask guests to bring nonperishable food items to the reception.

Unless it’s a potluck, it’s usually considered impolite to ask guests to bring their own food to your wedding, but you won’t get any notes from Mrs. Manners for this third idea. You can follow the example of this wonderful British couple and ask your guests to bring a nonperishable food item or make a donation to a local homeless center, in lieu of wedding gifts.