Bits & Pieces with Eva Liu of Eva Liu Confectionery Artistry {HKG}

After months of posting inspiration-rich content, we realised that we’ve been a tad bit negligent on the food department. After all, it is the most important part of a wedding, at least for the majority of wedding couples. To keep to the spirit of all things nice and lovely, we’re turning the spotlight on cakes and dessert.

Meet Eva Liu of Eva Liu Confectionery Artistry.

Based in Hong Kong, Eva is an established figure in the wedding industry. Besides being delightfully creative, she also possesses keen business acumen and has developed a loyal following ever since she decided to pursue her passion in cake-making. Ironically, it was a frustration encountered during her own wedding that sparked that drive to be a cake designer and sugar artist.

While planning for her wedding, Eva was appalled that there were so few sugar artists in Hong Kong that could make her a unique, highly-themed wedding cake.  So after her wedding, she located one of the most prestigious sugar artists in New York and went there to master her skills in confectionery creations. She returned to Hong Kong and started her own business.  A year later, she completed a pastry course in Paris and trained with one of the best pastry and confectionery chef in France in making chocolates and huge sugar showpieces. She employs the skills learnt from the chefs, coupled with her experience of over 10 years in drawing and pottery skills, to craft every edible art piece for her clients.

Eva’s stunning creations never fail to impress and has been featured in numerous Hong Kong publications including Elle, Cosmopolitan, Ming Pao Weekly, In Magazine and Milk.  Eva was also featured in lifestyle programs such as Now TV, Cable TV and CETV.  Besides creating wedding cakes and special occasion cakes, she has also worked with both local and international brands such as Dior, Mercedes Benz, Roger Vivier, Siemens, Pedder Group and MTR for their events. She was also invited to demonstrate cake-baking at press conferences and healthy food-making for home magazines.

Much loved by her clients, Eva’s elegant creations are simply an inspiration on its own accord. In this exclusive interview with WedInk Tattle, Eva shares with us her thoughts on wedding cakes and answers the million-dollar question, “Can beautiful cakes actually be tasty?”

1. YOUR CREATIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR INSPIRATIONS FROM?
My inspirations are from everywhere! These include my pottery and tableware, fashion, flowers, furniture, architecture, as well as paintings and sculptures.

2. AS AN ESTABLISHED FIGURE IN THE HONG KONG WEDDING INDUSTRY, WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY IN YOUR LIFE LIKE?
I have a cup of coffee and newspapers to start off the day, followed by checking my emails and communicating with clients.  After some paper work, I start putting my energy into making the cakes and sugar work.  It’s usually busy after lunch with many phone calls and emails to reply, meeting with clients and also continuing with my sugar work.  I’ll have a tea break with another cup of coffee or tea and my favourite scones, cakes or chocolate at around 4:30 PM.  I enjoy reading fashion, home and wedding magazines then, and get some inspirations.  Whenever I see something interesting, I keep a record and make sketches on my sketchbook.  Usually, I try to finish work before 6:00 PM and go back to my family.

3. WHAT ARE THE FIVE KEY WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE?
Feminine, Delicate, Stylish, Artistic, Extraordinary

4. WHAT ARE YOUR BEST-SELLING FLAVOURS?
Hazelnut Chocolate, Green Tea & Cream Cheese, Chocolate Truffles, Lemon

5. IT IS DIFFICULT NOT TO BE INSPIRED BY YOUR WORK. ANY ADVICE TO BUDDING WEDDING CAKE DESIGNERS OUT THERE?
Open your eyes to see the things around you.  There are many things which are interesting that can inspire you.  Also, it’s critical to truly understand your client’s needs.

6. AFTER YEARS IN THIS INDUSTRY, ANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS TO SHARE?
There are many of them!  One of them was when I was tasked to make a wedding cake for 500 guests with many sugar flowers.  The couple also wanted their guests to have sugar flower wrapped in a box as wedding favour.  For that project, I made almost 3,000 sugar flowers!  It was tiring but I had a sense of fulfillment because everyone loved the wedding cake and the lovely wedding favour.

7. WITH A MYRIAD OF COLOURS, DESIGNS AND FLAVOURS AVAILABLE, WHERE DO COUPLES BEGIN? HOW INVOLVED SHOULD THE COUPLE BE WITH THE CREATION OF THEIR WEDDING CAKE?
Designs and colours come first.  I always advise clients to have a wedding cake which can fit their wedding theme.  I discuss with clients to know their requirements and their ideas.  For clients who do not have any ideas on their wedding cake design, their involvement can be minimal. Based on their requirements, I’ll be able to give them suggestions and advice. I’ll then design a cake that matches their wedding theme and/or personal style.

8. ‘BEAUTY SUBSTITUTES SUBSTANCE’. CAN BEAUTIFUL CAKES BE TASTY?
I totally disagree with the phrase.  Many of my clients said they love both the design and the flavours.  For wedding cakes, we need to avoid cakes which are too soft and too moist.  But the taste can also be great!

9. CAN YOU RECOMMEND A PLACE IN HONG KONG WITH GOOD FOOD AND GREAT AMBIENCE.
I personally like Sevva. It’s a good place to chill out and food is good too. I also recommend Domani at Pacific Place for its delicious Italian food and comfortable environment.

10. WHAT’S NEXT FOR EVA LIU CONFECTIONARY ARTISTRY? ANY PLANS IN THE PIPELINE FOR EXPANSION INTO CHINA OR OPENING A SCHOOL?
My thought at this moment is to focus on what I’m doing now – spend more time with my clients and enjoy designing cakes.  If I expand my business now, my business will be on a mass production scale.  By keeping my business on a smaller scale, clients can really feel the soul of “Eva Liu” in each and every creation of cakes from Eva Liu Confectionery & Artistry.

Eva’s success can be attributed to her belief that a cake can, and should look as good as it tastes. Achieving this without compromising on either, is a feat indeed. In other words, Eva custom-designs your cake and ensures it is delicious! Bride and Groom-to-be’s will be happy to know that Eva also accepts orders from outside Hong Kong. However, due to the delicate nature of cakes, clients have to arrange to hand carry the cake from her store located at:

White Bridal Couture
5/F, 22 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong.
For further enquiries, Eva can be reached at
E-mail l Phone+852.2376.4900 l Website

 

Everlasting Love (Part 1)

verlasting Love is the theme for today’s moodboard, inspired by (one of the) greatest rock bands on planet Earth – U2. Although many artistes have sung the song, I still prefer U2’s version over the rest, apart from the original version by Robert Knight.  Besides, no one can deny that U2, to-date have sold more than 150 million records, placing them amongst the best-selling music artistes of all-time. So here’s one for those who breathe Brit Rock music.

It is not every bride’s dream to have pretty pink peonies and white doves for their wedding. So for brides with a rocker chic edge, we turn to the Guru of gurus, the quintessential fashion icon, the authentic rule breaker, the real deal who makes it all look so effortlessly chic and edgy – Kate Moss.

1. DINNER MIX OR AFTER DINNER LOUNGE
Bryan Ferry’s latest album Olympia showcases his collaborations with Scissor Sisters, Groove Armada and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. Olympia has been described by Ferry as “a labour of love” and sees him return to reclaim his throne as the undisputed ‘King of Cool’, with a little help along the way from Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, Chic mastermind Nile Rodgers, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The cover is graced by iconic model Kate Moss.

2. CAKE NOUVEAU
Three-tiered black and white cake by Eva Liu Confectionery Artistry (Hong Kong).

3. SEXY SIREN
Vixen Red and Hollywood Red lipsticks from Bobby Brown. Read here for tips on choosing and applying red lipsticks.

4. & 5. GLAM ROCK STAR
For this moodboard, red rouched tube dress and black oval stud ring from Miss Selfridge.

Check out Part 2 for more music playlist.