Introducing Food Creative Frankie de Vorms

With a background in fine art, New Zealand-born Frankie de Vorms’ sweet treats not only taste divine – they’re objects of beauty, according to journalist Alice Ryan who calls into de Vorms’ Cambridge kitchen for a sugar kick.

De Vorms’ HQ is part pro kitchen, part art gallery. Trays of meringues – the size of boulders, the texture of clouds – cover one worktop. The chocolate flavour is dusted with cocoa; the citrus swirled with lemon and orange; the rose tinted palest pink and finished with a single velvety petal.

“I have a fine art background, so the visual aesthetic has always been very important to me,” de Vorms says. “Obviously I want them to taste great and have a good texture – but I want them to look beautiful too.”

With 16 UK Great Taste awards to her name – she’s scooped stars for her brownies and chocolates, as well as the meringues and macarons – it’s evident de Vorm’s confections taste every bit as good as they look.

De Vorms set up The Fabulous Food Company (mother company to Te Koko, the name she trades under) supplying her baking to special events, retailers and even chefs.

The latest addition to the Te Koko repertoire is the couture chocolate range. There are seven themed collections, spanning herb and tea infusions and citrus and exotic fruit flavours. Unusual yet winning combinations include pineapple and black pepper, manuka and caramel and yuzu and green tea.

“I do love the creative side of what I do,” she concludes, “and I love that people enjoy the results. Seriously: what better reward is there?”

Original article by Alice Ryan, Cambridge News, February 4, 2016.