What could be better than a garden in high summer full of warm sunshine, flora, fauna, wine and friends – old and new – together with the sounds of laughter, animated chat, whoops of delight, and the chinking of glasses? What could raise the bar and make this evening outstanding? How about 20 or more large cakes to share and delight in!

Our local member, Vanessa Kimbell – together with her family – hosted the Northampton & District Clandestine Cake Club’s July event in the lovely garden of their Northamptonshire village house. Well over 30 guests attended and we were also treated to a wine-tasting given by Vanessa’s mother from close-by Fleur Fields vineyard.

Thank you, member bakers, for bringing the ‘stars of the show’ – cakes in all their summery guises.  We had a wonderful variety of flavours and shapes, as you can see from the photographs. The aroma of summer berries – strawberries, cherries, blueberries and raspberries – pervaded the air, together with the scents of elderflower, rose, lemon and chocolate. The cake display looked and tasted like a complete celebration of this season in baking.

My personal thanks to all those that helped make the evening special – Vanessa for being such a lovely host, Tina for plates and forks, my right-hand assistant Laura for cake-cards and photos but, especially, to all CCC members and guests who attended. See you next time!