BUD

On April 3, Bud (E.R.) Shelton celebrated his 80th birthday and I was honored to make the cake!

I first met the Shelton family when they first began Vintage Virginia Apples years ago. They have since brought multiple generations of the family on board to run the successful heritage variety apple orchard/nursery and now the new cidery. Bud is the patriarch of this fine family and luckily for me has a big sweet tooth!
To honor this fruit growing family, I cut branches from the flowering quince in my front yard. The piping was inspired by the unique branches and flowers, complete with thorns.

The cake was the moist vanilla chiffon. Each layer was spread with a homemade fresh strawberry compote and then a thick layer of whipped chocolate ganache. The outside is iced with bittersweet chocolate buttercream.
The pictures were taken by Anne Whiting Shelton, Bud's granddaughter. I hear tell that she is also the new tasting room manager. Thanks Anne for the photos! If anyone has the opportunity to get to Albemarle Ciderworks, I have recently tasted the new vintage of ciders and they are great! Not a bad pairing with cake!