FOOD
Eat My Style
Various dessert boutique locations
Review by Hannah Kuhar
With the rise of social media putting dessert designers under increasing pressure to create visually appealing, Insta-worthy treats, the worlds of fashion and food have merged in VAMFF’s innovative new cultural sub-series, Eat My Style.
Pairing four of Melbourne’s favourite south of the river dessert boutiques with rising local fashion designers, Eat My Style is the perfect opportunity for fashionistas to explore their inner foodie. Running from February 13 to March 13, the sweets are available from each creator’s respective dessert boutique.
Inspired by the marbled framboise and white ‘Lovette’ print from RACHELALEX’s Efflorescent collection, Bernard Chu of LuxBite has created a simply divine dessert, aptly entitled Be My Love. Based on the best selling milk/dark chocolate cake of the same title, the white/milk chocolate version embraces the femininity of RACHELALEX’s collections, with tempered, red-coloured chocolate hearts and a freeze-dried raspberry topping the petite gâteau. A remarkably homogenous raspberry jam is the most astonishing element of the dessert; the entire morsel, however, is certainly not of lesser acclaim. Perfectly balancing flavours and their textures – sourness of dried raspberry, sweetness of raspberry jelly, smooth texture of chocolate mousse, density of chocolate cake base, sticky touch of white chocolate glaze and crunch of tempered chocolate embellishments – it is little wonder why the fine detail-driven boutiques are now each others’ new favourite loves.
LifewithBibelot, a collaboration between South Melbourne institution Bibelot and Melbourne’s monochrome specialists LIFEwithBIRD, is also a multi-layered cake, rich in white, milk, and dark chocolate notes. Without doubt, the highlight of the dessert is a an aerated layer of earl grey and lemon; keeping the dessert honest, the sharp notes cleverly cut through decadent chocolate soufflé biscuit and soft creme brûlée. In addition, notes of clove, spice and vanilla, and the fantastical meringue, reminiscent of a magical pashmak, create strong links to the Middle East-inspired LIFEwithBIRD AW16 range. Acknowledging the collection’s colour palate, the clean white exterior and chocolate garnishes (one a white and black geometric printed panel, the other a black and earthy red demisphere) demonstrate a strong connection between artists.
For those who enjoy the high life, Eat My Style is a delicious mélange of Melbourne’s finest offerings. Highlighting the powers of local design and brand association, Eat My Style is a successful exhibition of artists collaborating in previously unexplored realms. Can life get any sweeter than this?
