All My Bags are Packed & I'm Ready to Go

Okay, not really. But my train tickets are purchased and I have RSVPed for London's very first Cupcake Camp! As well as registered as a baker for two of their exciting contests; lord knows what I am thinking considering I will be navigating the Eurostar with 2 kids, a stroller and our luggage sans my other half. My Halloween-inspired entries might just be the scariest looking things once we get there if they survive the journey!

I'm looking forward to sampling some of London's best cupcakes and meeting many of the bakers I correspond with on twitter, facebook and flickr. I'll of course be taking lots of photos to share and picking up any great ideas for Cupcake Camp Paris (part deux!). Will you attend Cupcake Camp London? If so,shoot me a note so I know to be on the lookout for you. Here's the who, what and where from organizer, Daisy Coole......

It is the phenomenon that has taken Paris, New York and Sydney by storm: Cupcake Camp London, London's first cupcake extravaganza, hits town on Sunday, 31st October, 2010!

Hosted at Camden's stylish Proud Galleries, Cupcake Camp London will be a mass-gathering of people who love to indulge in the darling of the baking world - the cupcake. Supported by live bands, competitions, prizes, a Create-Your-Own Cupcake Art room and American-style frosting shots; the focus of the day will be the delicious cupcakes donated by England's wonderful baking community, including major cupcake companies, Primrose Bakery, Ella’s Bakehouse, Crumbs & Doilies and Buttercup Cake Shop. Whether you're a professional cake baker, an enthusiastic amateur, or just someone with a sweet tooth, this event is for you.

Organiser Daisy Coole said: "Bakers are encouraged to bring along their best creations to be judged by a fabulous panel, including the lovely ladies of Primrose Bakery, Martha Swift and Lisa Thomas and vegan goddess Ms. Cupcake. "We also need lots of non-bakers to drop into the event and raise money by eating the best cupcakes our capital city has to offer."



Cupcake Camps have ballooned in popularity since their creation two years ago as a tasty way to raise cash for charity. They have taken place in over 50 cities, attracting anywhere from 250 to 1,000 participants and raise thousands of pounds for good causes.

London's first ever Cupcake Camp will raise money for the North London Hospice, spurred by Daisy's own experience with the 'fantastic community-centered charity'. Daisy, full-time musician and sometime baker, lost her father, Fleet Street journalist, Bob Coole to kidney failure earlier this year. She said: "A serious addiction to baking cupcakes and my connection with the North London Hospice came into my life at the same time. Dad was a patient at the hospice and the nurses were simply amazing.They were caring and supportive to my Dad and my family, offering cups of tea and a shoulder to cry on as we sat with him for up to 24 hours a day. After Dad died, baking was a huge comfort and the physicality of it was very theraputic so I went on a baking frenzy.

"When Dad died I never got to say thank you to our nurses. This is my way."

About the North London Hospice:
The North London Hospice needs at least 16,000 a day to run and has to raise as much as 80 per cent of its budget through donations. It provides in-patient and home-based palliative care, counselling services, respite care and a day activity centre, all of which is completely free of charge.



Cupcake Camp London is sponsored by Ms. Cupcake, Mychelle’s Baketique, Candy Pulse, Caked, Bake Me Happy, Made With Pink and An American Cupcake In London.

Cupcake donors include: Primrose Bakery, Ella’s Bakehouse, Crumbs & Doilies, Buttercup Cake Shop, Bake-a-boo and Clare Ptak of Violet Cakes.

For more information:
Visit www.cupcakecamplondon.co.uk
or email Daisy Coole: cupcakecamplondon@gmail.com

Photo Credits:
Cupcake Camp London poster designed by Christopher Cantrill (top)
Primrose Bakery cupcakes, photo from http://www.operaquarter.co.uk (middle)
Crumbs & Doilies cupcakes, photo from Cupcakes Take the Cake (bottom)