Peggy Porschen
In the cake world, and actually in my world too, there are few that are bigger than Peggy Porschen. She is the queen of cake and cookie decorating, a woman that gets respectfully mobbed at cake shows by cake decorating enthusiasts around the world. With three successful books published on cake decorating, she has a fourth coming out in May. Peggy doesn’t follow trends, she starts cookie and cake trends and her incredible iced cookies were what started me onto my iced cookie obsession. And somehow she knows my blog? Oh my, how surreal a moment that was!
Peggy’s Fondant Fancies. Credit: Georgia Glynn Smith, for Peggy Porschen Cakes www.peggyporschen.com
When my friends Linda and Guy at Whimsical Cakehouse told me that German born and London based Peggy was on her way to Sydney and asked if I wanted to interview I stood up straight and said something quite incomprehensible but along the lines of “oh yes please!” And a couple of months later, there she was, showing people how to decorate a cake Peggy Porschen style with delicate lace imprints and airy light touches that you’d swear were painted on by gossamer winged fairies.
She has three parts to her business set in fashionable Belgravia in London: the academy where students enrol in a one month course to gain a diploma, the parlour which is a feminine space where people can sit down and try some of her cakes and cookies. And lastly, there is the bespoke cake making business where she makes cakes for wedding and special celebrations – a recent order was for Kate Moss and Jamie Hince’s wedding cake. Her husband New Zealand born and Australian raised Bryn Morrow, runs the business side.
She had just finished up one of her two days classes, where 20 students learned the art of lace stencilling and flowers with her. The classes were upwards of $1,200 per person and both classes filled quickly selling out within a day or two. Whimsical Cakehouse regularly bring out cake superstars like Debbie Brown, Kaysie Lackey and Jacqueline Butler and touring internationally for them is cyclical.
Credit: Georgia Glynn Smith, for Peggy Porschen Cakes www.peggyporschen.com
Indeed, the Peggy Porschen Academy is hosting Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet who is famous for her beautiful handcrafted sugar flowers and Wendy Kromer who is a contributing editor of Martha Stewart Weddings.
Guy Harden, Peggy and Linda Harden from Whimsical Cakehouse
Whimsical Cakehouse would also play host to an exclusive book signing of Peggy’s newest release, Boutique Baking (which hasn’t officially been released yet). The book contains more accessible cake recipes for the less “hardcore” decorators. Peggy’s point of difference is because she has a pastry chef background, the taste of her cakes is as important as their look so there are cake recipes as well as decorating ideas.
As I am before every interview, I was nervous but excited. I wasn’t sure what she’d be like; I had seen interviews with her and she was polite and modest. Changing out of her chef’s whites, she arrived wearing a salmon pink silk dress, a black jacket and L.K. Bennett black high heels and she is petite, thoughtful, charming and warm. Sitting down and talking to her was like chatting to a friend about their trip. So without further ado, here is my video interview with Peggy (and please excuse my overly expressive hands!).
Peggy at the signing
So tell me Dear Reader, who is a superstar in your world or who would you like to meet or interview? And tell me, do you prefer video interviews or transcribed interviews with pictures?
Peggy Porschen
116 Ebury Street, Belgravia, London,SW1W 9QQ
Tel: 020 7730 1316
http://www.peggyporschen.com
Whimsical Cakehouse
743 Port Hacking Rd, Dolans Bay, NSW 2229, Australia. By appointment only.
Tel: +61 (02) 9501 2492
http://www.whimsical.com.au/
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now?
NQN on Facebook
RSS
53 Comments | Add your own
OMG OMG OMG that’s so amazing Lorraine
That you got the chance to interview Peggy Porschen!!! So happy for you and thanks for sharing it with us!
If i had the chance I would LOVE to interview Nigella Lawson or Jamie Oliver ~ I really respect them and would the chance to talk to them personally!
Hmmm it depends what mood I’m in and how long the interview is. Sometimes I find transcribed interviews to be easier because I can skim through it quickly go back when I forget what was previously said. But other times i much prefer seeing and listening to people talk ~
You must feel so proud that she knows your blog!
My cooking hero is currently Ina Garten of The Barefoot Contessa cooking shows. I adore her down to earth approach, easily achievable recipes and a smile that just fills the screen. I would love to interview her in her gorgeous home in The Hamptons.
I like your video interviews, but on iPad they can’t be viewed properly.
OMG you met Peggy Porschen !!! I’m so jealous. She is absolutly my favorite, I’m obsessed with her cakes, her cookies and more than that, her roses..her fondant roses are most perfect inthe world.
Wow wow and wow, I’m running late this morning but when I saw your email, I HAD to read it! I won’t say you lucky thing, because I’m sure you work very hard to get to interview amazing people like Peggy P. I love all of Debbie Brown cakes and any of the amazing and talented cake people out there really… The list is so long!!! great interview Lorraine!!
I enjoyed this story immensely especially the video interview. I am supremely ignorant about the who’s who in the culinary world and will definitely google Peggy Porschen asap.
I am having a difficult time considering someone a superstar – however I do admire Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. The two as a package to interview would be very intimidating but so rewarding at the same time.
How fabulous, yes Peggy is an amazing talent. It would have been lovely to see her in person.
Magic! That’s all I can say. Thank you for the Peggy interview.
Can’t wait to see the book myself.
SSG xxx
She’s an amazing talent! I love her work! And I loved the video interview! Such a great idea! Thank you so much for that Lorraine! <3
You are so lucky that you get to meet all the foodie superstars. Love your blog, I prefer the transcribed interviews with pictures as I tend to read blogs on the train. Thx
How fabulos that Peggy Porschen knows your blog but I’m not surprised. I’d love the opportunity to interview Raymond Blanc or John Torode. Very different people but both very interesting. I like seeing video interviews because you often get a bit more of a feel for the person, but it does depend on the interviewer. GG
Nice interview, great opportunity. And of course she knows your site
I have her book and it has some amazing things in it. I’ve also met the lovely Linda years ago when she worked at PC. What a small world. I usually prefer transcribed interviews with pics then I can scroll down to questions and answers that interest me
Transcribed interviews when I’m at work and video interviews for home viewing.
Videos at work are a no-no for two reasons: 1) I can’t have the sound on – it’s too obvious I’m not working, 2) Video streaming is not possible via work internet.
Well done you for conducting yourself so well. I’m not sure I’d be capable of uttering anything sensible if faced with any of my own food heroes.
Gordon Ramsay. And I’d love to see both versions: video and transcript with pictures…:)
Shall keep the pleasure of the interview until the day’s work is done. Lovely to see the payoff for hard work as far as such a young woman is concerned! And would absolutely love to stand on her corner of Belgravia at the moment: miss London so much
! So many people I would like to interview: possibly other women whose work has paid off such as Condy Rice, Pres Merkel of Germany or Eva Cox or Natasha Stott Despoja from home grounds: both so brilliant just recently on Q&A 
!
How exciting to meet her, and that she knows of you as well!
I do like to hear real peoples voices, but I do like to read more than watch.
I don’t know who I’d like to interveiw, it would depend on the reasoning behing it- maybe that means I have too many questions rattling around my head?
She’s lovely, isn’t she? I went and tried a few of her cakes at the Belgravia shop last May and she did my friends wedding cake in June. It was a Victoria Sponge… one of those gorgeous, delicate, seemingly simple cakes that can go so bad so quickly. It was, as you’d expect, perfect… and it’s hard to say what was better, the look of the cake or the taste of it.
Oh, how lucky you were able to meet & interview Ms. Porschen!
I would have loved being there to meet her in person, as well. I have two of Ms. Porschen’s books, with a third, her newest, on pre-order. I do love her style of decorating, especially her flowers.
The only decorator I’ve met in person is Colette Peters. She’d come to my city for a hands on cake demo class, & to promote her latest book. It was so nice to finally meet her & to learn her decorating tricks I’d never have thought of on my own.
There’s nothing better than having the actual cake artist teaching you the ropes. I do hope to attend more classes with other favourite cake artists one day, but they’re far and few between in my area, I’m afraid.
I’m not at all familiar with the Whimsical Cakehouse? I suspect thats because you’re so far from my part of the world.
I do know of, and do have all Kaye & Liv Hansen’s Whimsical Bakehouse, books though, as well as their Christmas cookie book.
Personally, I love all cake & cookie decorating books, & I do have a lot of them. From the elaborate hand piping to the fondant & figurines, it’s the most wonderful craft to learn!
I love Peggy Porshen, her sugar cookie recipe is by far my favourite one for cookie decorating.
I remember you mentioning that she was going to Sydney, how cool that you got to interview her!
p.s. I love how you described her outfit, down to her LK Bennett heels!
Wow! What an impressive and talented woman and how wonderful you had the opportunity to interview her! I’m happy with either a video interview or a transcript. And as for me doing an interview, my choice would be two people dead before their time, Elvis and Princess Diana.
A great interview Lorraine!
What a privelage to meet and speak with Peggy Porschen. Peggy is so meticulous with her cakes giving importance to flavour as well as decoration. Afer all, the cake will be eaten eventually!
A great interview Lorraine!
What a privilege to meet and speak with Peggy Porschen. Peggy is so meticulous with her cakes giving importance to flavour as well as decoration. After all, the cake will be eaten eventually!
Cool, I like anything pretty and sweet
!
I am not sure who are the ‘superstars’ because I confess I am a bit out of touch, I don’t watch TV and most of the writers I know are not food related. The chefs… I am a bit out of touch with those too, I guess that I am not eating out much these days
Ciao
Alessandra
oh wow you got to interview her! She is amazing and her books are brilliant, pure cake porn!
Great interview Lorraine
OK, Lorraine: just HAD to see/hear a little of that interview, whatever my own time limits! Kudos, lady! This will probably be as important an interview for you as the Anthony Bourdain one has been! First time in a long while I have seen half an interview w’out the one interviewing: just your very melodious voice and hands saying you really were there
! Obviously there was not a problem communicating!! Looking forward to quietly listening to all of that later tonight!!!
I’d love to interview George Clooney — but he’s not exactly in my world. LOL Darn!
Hi Eha-Thanks! I had intended to have myself there but alas it would have been too tight in the room and we ran out of time and space to shoot my so I kept it all as Peggy!
Wow, lucky you! You sound like a natural interviewer, no nerves detectable.
At first I didn’t realise who she was, but then as soon as I saw the first picture with the “fancies” I realised that I have her book.
I’d love to interview anybody that was down to earth and non-intimidating!
Those little pink fondants are SO cute. Too cute for me, but yes, *so* cute
Hi Lorraine – But: did that not make it all the more different AND memorable in the long run? One does remember what is special! For me it was/is the ‘story’ of two young women who have worked damned hard and thereby attracted our interest and admiration!
What beautiful work she does; I just don’t have the patience for it! I’d love to meet Nigella Lawson! I came really close a couple of years ago at a book signing, but sadly the queue was too long!y preference for interviews are photos and transcripts; I very seldom have ear phones handy to pop in!
Didn’t have time to watch it yet, but I will. I am so excited for you meeting her. So many chefs I would love to meet, but not actually sure what I would say? Might just stick to cooking
You have a very nice speaking voice Lorraine.
Thanks Margaret! You are very sweet to say that!
Sadness, I can’t watch it
My home internet is too dodgy for videos. However, I’m going to bookmark this and hopefully watch it if/when I visit my parents (and their strong internet) on the weekend 
what an inspiring person…i love her work and have all her books..she would be one of the people …call me old fashioned. but i would like photos and transcript and i would love to interview elissa strauss of confetti cakes
Peggy is one of my favourites. I remember when I got Cake Chic for Christmas. I looked at every single page 3 times. You are very lucky to have been able to interview her.
My friend Iris went down to Sydney for this event and I saw the flowers she created. OMG I was gobsmacked by what she learned in 2 days. I’m also very envious
Aren’t you the lucky one!
I LOVE Peggy Porschen. Hopefully a copy of her new book should be on its way to me from Amazon now – very excited
I always love reading your interviews because I hear of people that I am not familiar with living in rural New Hampshire.
Great profile! I really enjoyed reading about Peggy and seeing her amazing creations. She is truly an artist!
Those cherry blossom cakes are stunning. Wow. What a talent!
clearly, my ideal life would involve baking and decorating for a career and making megabucks whilst doing so.
I’d be pretty excited to meet Jamie Oliver. I love how passionate he is about food. I was rather excited to meet you too!
I like the video because I can play it and listen while I’m doing other things too.
Wow Peggy’s fondant fancies are so gorgeous!
Video is pretty cool, but I do prefer transcribed interviews with pictures.
Superstars in ‘my world’ would be Jamie Oliver, and… you
I want to eat the picture of the fondant fancies.
I have never heard from this lady before but if you like her , she must be good!
I loved your video intervieuw a lot & sometimes, I prefer it against the normal written intervieuws!
A job well done! Thanks, I have learned something & someone new in the fab cake industry!
Hmmm, could you please give us the option of both video and transcribed? My firewall at work won’t allow me to watch this and sometimes I just don’t want to have to wait!
What an amazing experience! Thanks for sharing!
I admire peggy.. she is an amazing lady!
That is so amazing! WOW. She’s one of my idols!
Post a Comment