Breaking New Ground

My initial vision for Edible Architect was to change the way people made and entertained with cookies by providing cookie cutter construction sets and cookie texture rollers, so bakers could build their own structures from scratch. Whether baking solo or with family and friends, I wanted cookie-house-making to serve as a form of therapy, entertainment, and dessert. But what if most people don't want to, or are too intimidated to try?

I recently began working for a friend of mine as an Event Designer/Assistant. Over the past several years, this friend has built a thriving floral and event design business in the Hamptons and New York. His designs are beautiful, unique, and organic, and he is highly sought-after for weddings, birthdays, religious celebrations, summer events, galas, and more. I am so inspired by his work that I took a chance and asked if he'd consider letting me work with him. To my shock and delight - he said yes!

Working with my friend has opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities. Every event is a new opportunity to create something special, to raise the bar, and to pull in something unusual. Watching as my friend and his team develop concepts from scratch and then execute them flawlessly has been amazing to watch, and has made me feel more inspired than ever to create.

As I have watched my friend create tablescape after tablescape, each more beautiful than the next, and loaded with beautiful flowers and candles, I immediately began to imagine how they might look with cookie houses sprinkled in. Maybe cookie houses in multiple varieties for a bar mitzvah, cookie churches for a wedding, or even cookie stables with rice cereal treat hedges and horse jumps for the Hampton Classic! Cookie structures of all kinds could be designed and built easily to suit any occasion.

Mock-up of a tablescape complete with chocolate chip Cottage 1 cookie houses

While I continue to tinker with my business model, and while I do feel that there is a market for my cookie cutter construction sets, I have to begin thinking outside the box. Maybe people prefer to buy these pre-made. Maybe people need to see, touch, and feel them to understand them. However it happens, I'm going to make sure cookie houses become a bigger part of food & entertainment culture. And maybe it starts here.

Now I really can't wait to see what we build!

Patrick