For those hoping to get crafty on Valentine’s Day, Emily Allen has some sweet tricks up her sleeve. The Dallas baker is hosting a Cakewalk Bake Shop Valentine’s Day pop-up at her Bell Jar studio on February 14, from noon-6 pm. But it won’t be all red paper hearts and cupcakes.
For starters, Allen will offer her hand-painted, gilded and Sweetheart candy-inspired macarons in pretty craft paper boxes — ready for gifting or eating on the spot. But she is also debuting her “Man Macs,” a line of snack-time-flavored macarons she recently developed to appeal to the more rugged gender.
“I get so many clients who think men don’t like macarons, so I wanted to make something fun that the ladies could buy their guys,” she says. “I thought it would be fun to play on manly flavors.”
That means versions of the delicate treat in root beer float, s’more, Guinness-infused chocolate stout, and peanut butter and jelly flavors. There is even an unexpectedly sweet Cheetos-n-beans combo. And, yes, you can sample before you buy.
Allen also will offer plenty of her most popular flavors, including lavender, pistachio, lemon ginger, raspberry and vanilla bean. Each box of five costs $14.
Those who wish to customize their gifts can pick their macaron flavors, then head to the Yeti & The Beast station for decorating supplies and DIY heart box kits. Funky extras — think hand-painted “You’re a Gem,” gift tags, leather pens and photo-strip cards — will also be available for purchase from the custom design company.
To preserve those Valentine’s Day memories, Allen has partnered with the Photo Wagon, a vintage 1960s trailer-turned-photo booth, for on-the-spot, prop-packed photos. The wagon will be stationed at the back of the Bell Jar, where guests can snap shots for $5 per strip.
“My hope is that the event is interactive and fun for people,” Allen says. “And not just couples.”
Can’t make it to the event? Fort Worth fans can swing by Shampoo salon or Maven boutique to find her pre-selected and packaged macaron boxes. Or keep an eye on her Facebook page for future pop-up shop dates.
Pop-up shop attendees to can also decorate their gift boxes and purchase additional supplies such as gift tags, courtesy of Yeti & the Beast.
Smoky garlic hummus from Aba.Photo by Jeff Marini.