North Carolina Azalea Festival Announces Public Meet and Greet Opportunity with the “royal wedding cake baker” Claire Ptak leading up to the 2nd annual Chefs’ Showcase
The North Carolina Azalea Festival will be hosting a public meet and greet opportunity with Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Bakery from London on Friday, January 18th. Claire is the baker made famous for baking the royal wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle this past summer. The meet and greet will take place on Friday, January 18th from 3-5 pm at One Belle Bakery.
Meet Claire Ptak
A California native, Claire Ptak now resides in London where she is the chef / owner of Violet Bakery. Alongside baking, Claire works extensively as a food stylist and writer. Prior to moving to London Claire worked as a pastry chef for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse. Most recently Claire was commissioned to make the Royal Wedding cake for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, she created a bespoke cake installation for the couple using vanilla sponge, Amalfi lemon curd and elderflower Swiss meringue buttercream using Sandringham Estate’s elderflower cordial.
The meet and greet is free and open to the public. At the meet and greet, guests will be able to meet Claire and take photos and get autographs. Guests will also be able to purchase inspired treats made by One Belle Bakery, with opportunities to meet the owner and lead baker at One Belle, Anna Echols. There will also be Festival-inspired raffles (free to enter), with prizes including tickets to the Chefs’ Showcase and the Main Stage Concerts.
Baker Claire Ptak will be in Wilmington for the North Carolina Azalea Festival’s 2nd annual Chefs’ Showcase, happening Saturday, January 19th at the Hotel Ballast from 1 – 4:30 pm. The Chefs’ Showcase was a new event to the Festival in 2018. This afternoon culinary adventure is a seated, 5-course meal with wine pairings, light entertainment, and high-end silent auction items. Notable chefs from our region (and beyond) work together to prepare the dishes…they always cook up something exciting!
2019 Chefs’ Showcase Chefs:
Baker Claire Ptak – Violet Bakery from London
Chef Steve Foote – LM Restaurants Corporate Chef
Chef William “Kelly” Robey – Hotel Ballast
Chef James Patterson – Sedgefield Country Club
Chef Matthew Register – Southern Smoke BBQ
With Special guest Anna Echols of One Belle Bakery
Tickets to the Chefs’ Showcase are still available for sale for $75 at the Azalea Festival Ticket Office or online. This event sold out last year.
Table Sponsorships are also available for purchase and include eight tickets to the Chefs’ Showcase at a designated table, entry for the eight table guests to the private sponsor Meet and Greet with the Chefs (1 hour before event start time), and two Airlie Luncheon Garden Party tickets for the table host. Guests can contact the Azalea Festival Ticket Office at 910-794-4650 for more information or to purchase a table sponsorship.
Also available for sale are raffle tickets for a Savor California wine country getaway. More details can be found at the link below.
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