An Afternoon of Cake & Contessa-Inspired Charm at Cassandra’s Kitchen
This May, I had the joy of spending a spring afternoon in Bluffton, South Carolina, surrounded by beautiful kitchen tools, incredible women, and the delicious aroma of buttercream. I was thrilled to lead a spring cake decorating demonstration at Cassandra’s Kitchen, a boutique with heart and heritage, inspired by none other than the Barefoot Contessa herself.
If you’re a longtime Ina Garten fan like me, you know the magic she brings to simple, beautiful entertaining. Cassandra’s Kitchen carries that same spirit in everything they do. Founded by Cassandra—whose mother was Ina’s longtime kitchen assistant (and who herself worked in Ina’s specialty store as a teen!)—this charming shop is a must-visit for anyone who loves to cook, bake, and gather beautifully.
For this demo, I brought a few of my favorite springtime cake ideas, using all the tried-and-true tools you can find right there in the store. We walked through simple buttercream techniques that make even a basic cake feel elevated, then I showed the group how to pipe a hydrangea basket cake—a deceptively simple design that looks like it took hours to create (it didn’t, I promise!).
We wrapped up with a nod to Ina herself: her iconic American flag sheet cake, just in time for Memorial Day. It was so fun to share how I approach recreating classic recipes with a hyperrealistic cake twist. This one was extra fun because we had some of our attendees place all the fruit on the cake, so it really was a great group activity.
From the beautiful setting to the laughter shared across the demo table, this was such a special event. I loved getting to showcase the tools I genuinely use in my own kitchen—many of which were inspired by Ina and are now staples in my work—and to meet such a wonderful group of bakers and food lovers.
I’ll be back at Cassandra’s Kitchen in October for another cake demo, and I already can’t wait. If you’re local (or just looking for a beautiful excuse to visit Bluffton!), I’d love to see you there.
