"elizabeth falkner" news and stories

Bubbles & Sweets...with a Twist, presented by the Art Institute of Charleston and Charleston Magazine, was back by popular demand at this year's Charleston Wine + Food Festival. What exactly was the promised twist? There were more than a few unusual flavors and interpretations of the classics (and, unlike almost every other festival event this year, there was nary a cupcake to be found).

Elizabeth Falkner, of Citizen Cake and Orson in SF, created a dense, tart, eggless lemon curd, finished with micro herbs that added a refreshing and oddly savory end note. Andrea Lever, of Magnolias and Blossom in Charleston, brought together sweet and salty with her Split Farms goat cheesecake with a crunchy pretzel crust and a smoky fig and bacon jam topping. M. Kelly Wilson of Low Country's Cassique offered up a bubblegum ice-cream float (think straight Bazooka) in house-made cherry soda.

Spicy additions to the usual mix of sweets was Todd Richter's dark-chocolate cake served with spearmint mojito, and the candied jalapeno on top of Kinsey Sattane's creamy lemon cheesecake with prickly pear cactus sauce.