After looking at the creations that Leah Rosenberg of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has made, I look at my food photos and think, “I think I could’a done better.” Aren’t these dishes clever?
Leah was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan but was raised in Canada. She’s a painter, sculptor and cake maker. Isn’t that a fantastic combination? Those of us who have food blogs often use our food as our creative outlet and Leah’s gone about it in a really big way.
Her paintings, paint-based sculptures and even her cakes have been exhibited throughout the US and Canada. She currently works at the SF MOMA as one of a trio of pastry chefs at the Blue Bottle Coffee rooftop garden café at the museum.
The chefs create desserts and savory dishes based on the rotating artworks in the museum’s collection as well as from those in the touring exhibitions. The minute I saw them I knew I had to share them with you. I’d love to make gorgeous food like this. Maybe I need two art degrees like Leah has?
How about hot chocolate from Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller?
Her work was so popular she was invited to produce a book Modern Art Desserts, which came out just last week. (written by Caitlin Freeman, published by Ten Speed Press) Leah made the Mondrian cakes with Tess and she said it was a good thing that Tess is left handed so they didn’t elbow each other.
I can’t imagine the work they put in to get these cakes ready for people to eat. In the photo of Leah upper left, you might think that was a piece of art she’s working on but no… that’s her iPhone that fell into the ganache.
Here’s a video of Leah and her work. It’s only a few minutes and worth a peek. If you have time, check out their blog at Blue Bottle Coffee and scroll right on down to April 10th and look at the banana. No wonder she was on the floor “inconsolable.”
WOW! Is really amazing. I love Leah’s creation!
me too !! 🙂
Holy Moly this is not possible…no…
I want to try one 🙂
What an artist… I am in awe of her 😀
Cheers
CCU
Wow!What a pastry Chef!!!! These are really gorgeous creations…
Wow is an understatement! These are works of art… beautiful!
I love the modern looking cake – so very cool!
I have made a Battenberg before and I know it’s not easy! Leah’s work is stunning!
Compared to these artistic treats, mine have zero artistic ability.
What an incredible “job” Maureen, I can’t imagine how challenging it is to first come up with a subject but then his to turn it into a cake. Just lovely.
That banana was a little risqué!
Wow… I enjoyed the video and learning about Leah! She’s amazing… and I didn’t know about this cafe! I have to go!!! I love Blue Bottle Coffee and I’m excited to try this cake and hot chocolate! 🙂 Thanks for the post!
How very creative, Maureen! I would really enjoy seeing some more of her work. That book must be fascinating. Thanks for bringing her to our attention.
I love the mondrian art in the first picture. I also loved the video and want to see more pastry in art form.
Thanks for the post!
Malou
Beautiful work!
Hehe her Mondrian cake looks much better than mine! 😛
Not much better!
Mmm, I think my answer has to be, “not very”! These are very inspiring.
I know. I look at some people’s food and photos and I think I come very second best. You don’t!
Needing two art degrees sounds about right. 😀 I always wish that my photo looks amazing like pro’s. I guess it will come with time and practice.
LOL I’m not going back to uni to make cake. I’ll drool over Leah’s.
wow lots of work and thinking goes into one art piece. I wonder if Leah dares to eat her own creations. I mean they taste for sure amazing but after spending so much time into one food art, I d feel reluctant to eat my own art piece. ^.^
Cake? I don’t think I’d have any trouble at all tucking in to a piece of cake 🙂
Oh, I love that. Really, really LOVE it. I made my first battenberg at the weekend and I was having enough trouble just getting it to stick together 😉
That sounds like a lot of work – I’ll have to watch for photos!
Wow, simply amazing! I love Mondrian’s squares, and it’s adorable to see it in cake form!
Whoa that is such a cool concept!!
Makes me wonder why I could do that’s “beautiful”. 🙂
Thanks for sharing the work of such a talented artist baker.
I was quite impressed.
Ahh that’s SO COOL! I love the artsy cakes!
Gorgeous, aren’t they? Thanks so much for coming by today.
After viewing her work, I feel I must step it up…like a LOT, lol–amazing!!
I think about how my cakes look and I’m pretty poor by comparison!
Dear Maureen, I marvel at the work she has done. I basically pray each time I bake that it will come out looking at least decent.
I must step it up a bit!! Blessings dear. Catherine xo
LOL we’re twins!
Beautiful work. It definitely sets the bar fairly high.
I wouldn’t want to go in competition with her 🙂
What an amazing women! I love what she is doing!! I will need that book 🙂
Me too, it’s just too clever to miss
What fabulous desserts! I just love the thoughtfulness and creativity that goes into them. Thanks for sharing this.
I can see getting them ready to sell but making it the first time must have taken a long time 🙂
So creative! Gesine Bullock-Prado just came out with a cookbook called “Bake Like You Mean It,” and she creates artistic cakes that remind me of this, too! Perhaps this might be something to try for Baking Club?? 😉
I’m up for it !
I’ve been eying this book. It looks great! I love the idea of combining art and food. And, the cakes are so pretty.
I’d love to look at her art cakes in that book
How fabulous to create such inventive compliments to the art work in the gallery. What could be more wonderful than an edible Mondrian? Thanks for the intro. GG
Not much that I can think of right now 🙂
Fantastic and very creative indeed.
Very creative
Elegant and creative food art.
It certainly is! Thanks heaps for coming by.
That cake is so awesome looking! She really is so creative!
I was suitably impressed 🙂