Chocolate Showpiece

[paynes1]

Hello All

I am a student and need to begin preparation for the class final project which is a decorative centerpiece. The medium to be used include chocolate, pastillage, pate morte and cast sugar as these are the class topics. Any other medium that I have learned to use could also be included. The class has just started but I want to work early. How do I implement the design process? Any input that you have would be appreciated. Please include any books, websites, articles etc. Thanks.

[PastryGuru]

You can start in one of two ways:

1) Think about the medium that you are most comfortable using. Then decide on a concept for your project.

2) If you're confident that you can work in any medium, think about the concept of your piece: will it be concrete (i.e. replicating a natural object---like a vase of flowers) or abstract (i.e. deconstructing a garden scene and reassembling its colors and textures in a new and unexpected way). Either way, using this approach, you can combine different mediums to convey your idea.

To give you an example, I have to make table centerpieces for Valentine's day.

If I went with approach number 1: I like to work with pastillage and royal icing. Since these mediums are very good for "structural" work and are not temperature sensitive, I'm going to make boxes but monogram the lid of the box in "satin stitching" and embroidery (to give it a Victorian look), use the pastillage to replicate the tissue stuffing, and fill the box with an assortment of chocolates.

If I went with approach number 2: Valentine's day is typically associated with chocolate but I want to do a fruit theme to convey the fillings of my truffles ( a little abstract but easy enough for people to understand my idea). Since marzipan takes very kindly to natural hues, I will construct a basket using nougatine (do the detail work in royal icing), fill it with truffles, and decorate the base of the piece with an assortment of marzipan fruit. Also, you can place the entire piece on a base of black poured sugar that is marbled with gold dust.

I hope this helps to give you a good start.

[paynes1]

Hello All,

I working on a chocolate showpiece 2 dimensional and it does not look as well as I think it should. For those of you who have done this, how did you proceed.

Thank you

[K8memphis]

Define 'does not look well'.

[paynes1]

Define 'does not look well'.

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The figures were cut out of chocolate using a template the edges are not smooth and the pieces does not at all resemble the pictures. The details are piped on appear stacked and not feathered as they should be.

[Kerry Beal]

Pictures?

[Marmalade]

I wanted to start a new topic for showpieces since we have just begun doing them with little guidance. Here are some of the first ones. Comments are much appreciated.

These are for a wedding this weekend for a client here.

[prairiegirl]

Nice work. You did an awesome job.!

[Marmalade]

Nice work. You did an awesome job.!

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Thanks a lot! You have to be pretty meticulous and I'm still unhappy about the uneven shine on the heart.

[chiantiglace]

Sorry I am not critisizing but I cant really see in the light, is that a transfer on the first one in the backdrop or is it really bad bloom. From what I can see it almost looks like hearts but I really cant tell for sure.

[Tri2Cook]

Definitely hearts, I can see them.

[Marmalade]

Definitely hearts, I can see them.

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You got it, those are hearts. It was hard to get them to show up well in the photo.

[Kerry Beal]

Lovely showpieces! I see what you mean about the uneven shine however. It looks like the contraction marks you can get on large smooth molds.

You might be able to minimize those marks a bit with a badger hair brush. There is a discussion on minimizing those marks somewhere here on eG. I'll see if I can find it and link to it.

Here we go. Start at post #204

Edited June 17, 2008 by Kerry Beal (log)

[Marmalade]

Lovely showpieces!  I see what you mean about the uneven shine however.  It looks like the contraction marks you can get on large smooth molds. 

You might be able to minimize those marks a bit with a badger hair brush.  There is a discussion on minimizing those marks somewhere here on eG.  I'll see if I can find it and link to it.

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Thanks for the tip. I have been considering getting one for a while now, just never got around to it. Maybe in August when I visit the US. Any other ways to polish chocolate? I know those brushes are expensive.

[Kerry Beal]

Lovely showpieces!  I see what you mean about the uneven shine however.  It looks like the contraction marks you can get on large smooth molds. 

You might be able to minimize those marks a bit with a badger hair brush.  There is a discussion on minimizing those marks somewhere here on eG.  I'll see if I can find it and link to it.

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Thanks for the tip. I have been considering getting one for a while now, just never got around to it. Maybe in August when I visit the US. Any other ways to polish chocolate? I know those brushes are expensive.

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I did get a nice brush from Lee Valley - I've forgotten what kind of hair, but it's wonderfully soft and seems to work on the marks. Here is a link to it. Lee Valley also had badger brushes, but they weren't soft like the ones I had seen at Tomric and at Hilliard.

[Sebastian]

actually, i got a badger airbrush with a 1/4 hp compressor, 5 extra brushes, and a whole grab bag full of stuff (cleaning utensils, spare pigment containers, etc) for about 65 bucks on ebay. sure it's used, but it'd been used for food applications and 5 of the 6 airbrushes were brand new. compressor's great. some great deals can be had if you're willing to invest the time and be patient....

[Kerry Beal]

actually, i got a badger airbrush with a 1/4 hp compressor, 5 extra brushes, and a whole grab bag full of stuff (cleaning utensils, spare pigment containers, etc) for about 65 bucks on ebay.  sure it's used, but it'd been used for food applications and 5 of the 6 airbrushes were brand new.  compressor's great.  some great deals can be had if you're willing to invest the time and be patient....

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Bonus! What are you airbrushing these days?

[Lior]

They are beautiful! One of these days Iwill have to get into this area. Just not quite ready yet. I also want a badger brush- for a long time now, and a compressor. I need 220 which is difficult on ebay... Any suggestions, Sebastian?

Thanks for the pics, Jeff!

[Sebastian]

actually, i got a badger airbrush with a 1/4 hp compressor, 5 extra brushes, and a whole grab bag full of stuff (cleaning utensils, spare pigment containers, etc) for about 65 bucks on ebay.  sure it's used, but it'd been used for food applications and 5 of the 6 airbrushes were brand new.  compressor's great.  some great deals can be had if you're willing to invest the time and be patient....

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Bonus! What are you airbrushing these days?

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my daughter and i play a lot in the kitchen at home (she's 9 and can slab temper, make a stable ganache, etc - i'm training her to work for me when she's older 8-) ). i thought she'd enjoy airbrushing, so we got one. not airbrushing anything special, just moulds. she makes a mean toffee as well, and last night we made black raspberry marshmallows and peppermint marshmallows just to see what it'd be like.

Lior - i hadn't thought about the 220 bit for you... i know a lot of them are coming out of china these days - i've no idea what the quality's like, but you might be able to track some down on alibaba.com or something similar. at the end of the day it might simply be worth spending the extra $60 or whatever it is and get an established reputable brand locally (local service, troubleshooting, etc)

[Lior]

I will still check it out. Thanks. My 10 year old also loves to help out! They could have a kid's chocolate forum!!

Edited June 18, 2008 by Lior (log)

[prairiegirl]

Lovely showpieces!  I see what you mean about the uneven shine however.  It looks like the contraction marks you can get on large smooth molds. 

You might be able to minimize those marks a bit with a badger hair brush.  There is a discussion on minimizing those marks somewhere here on eG.  I'll see if I can find it and link to it.

←

Thanks for the tip. I have been considering getting one for a while now, just never got around to it. Maybe in August when I visit the US. Any other ways to polish chocolate? I know those brushes are expensive.

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Badger might be the most preferred but I went into an art store and said I needed badger or anything comparable and told them the purpose. They sold me a brush that might have been goats hair? and the bristles were very soft like the badger hair for only about 20 $ CAD.

Oh, another recommendation was to get a paint sprayer and spray it (with chocolate of course!) Derek Poirer with Valrhona suggested that to me and says it is common to do so.

Edited June 19, 2008 by prairiegirl (log)

[Lior]

Has anyone heard of a can of spay that sprays clear cocoa butter? What would it be used on/for?

[Kerry Beal]

Has anyone heard of a can of spay that sprays clear cocoa butter? What would it be used on/for?

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I've seen cans of food grade lacquer for shine, but never cocoa butter.

[Sebastian]

chefrubber has aerosolized cocoa butter and colored cocoa butter (undre pressure, think spray paint can). good for large area color work, but nothing detailed. uncolored ccb i'd use only for barrier coating application (ie slow down moisture migration between say, a cracker and a marshmallow, or a cookie and a caramel, etc)

[Lior]

What a good idea. I could use that on my S'mores! Thank you! Would it shine up a dull area like on Marmalade's showpiece?