Meet the pastry chefs at Black Eye Cap Hill who bring you delicious art-inspired macarons each week as part of the Painted City series.
Alicia Luther (on left) – @alicia.j.luther
Where were you born? Where did you grow up? What brought you to Denver and when did you move here?
I was born and raised in the LA area. I moved here to Denver when Black Eye Coffee offered me a position as their Executive Pastry Chef.
How did you get started baking? Was it something that you always wanted to do?
I grew up surrounded with strong influences in the kitchen. My love for baking didn’t really start until I was in high school. However it wasn’t until years & years later that I realized it was something I wanted to make as my career. I went to design school first thinking I would become an urban and interior designer. I changed paths about 2 years in realizing it wasn’t something I was as passionate about as I had thought. After some serious research and self reflection I enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu & graduated in 2009.
Is there anything you especially love to bake? Why?
Pie. It’s absolutely one of my favorite things to bake. And to consume. It’s almost like a comfort food. Who doesn’t love pie?!
What drew you to collaborating with Go Play Denver on the Painted City series?
I think it was a mixture of the fact that our sister Base Coat Nail Salon was part of a previous series and it was another way to include a challenge and art into what we do everyday.
What has the the experience been like, in terms of the process of creating macarons inspired by Denver murals? How do you begin? What makes for a successful design? What materials do you use? How long does it take? Has there been anything surprising that you’ve discovered over the weeks of making these cookies?
(See Ann Marie’s response below)
Do you have any favorite Denver murals? If so, where are they and what do you love about them?
I haven’t had as much time to explore the many murals of Denver as I would like. I have a soft spot for the MOTO building mural by Jamie & Pedro simply because I see it every day. But Gemma’s gold and black mandala on the crema building is one of my favorites as well.
What does summertime in Denver mean to you? What do you look forward to?
This will actually be my first summer here in Denver. I moved here at the beginning of fall so this isn’t a season I’ve experience in the city as of yet. Looking forward to the weather & some serious patio session for sure. Being outside I think is one of the biggest advantages of this city. It doesn’t have the beaches California has but it definitely has the mountains to explore & it seems as though there’s always an awesome event happening in the city!
What’s your favorite thing to order at a coffee shop?
Chai. The spicier the better. Or a cortado when I need a quick pick me up. Our iced lattes at Black Eye are really delicious on warm days however.
Ann Marie Trent (on right) – @sugarsaltglitter
Where were you born? Where did you grow up? What brought you to Denver and when did you move here?
I was born in Houston, Texas. I moved up to Denver after my senior year of high school to go to Johnson and Wales University in 2011.
How did you get started baking? Was it something that you always wanted to do?
I started baking when I was a kid. I was brought up in the kitchen. My mom grew up cooking as well, so that was just the way it went. I spent many afternoons as a young kid licking the mixing bowl with my younger brother after my mom had made her famous brownies.
Is there anything you especially love to bake? Why?
I like the more classic pastries. The french pastries. The things that take time, patience and love to turn out.
What drew you to collaborating with Go Play Denver on the Painted City series?
It seemed like such a fun opportunity! At Black Eye we always have macrons. But taking them to this level and showing the people of Denver the amazing artists we have here was the perfect combination.
What has the the experience been like, in terms of the process of creating macarons inspired by Denver murals? How do you begin? What makes for a successful design? What materials do you use? How long does it take? Has there been anything surprising that you’ve discovered over the weeks of making these cookies?
It takes a lot of time and a lot of planning to make these special macarons. I have to make the actual macaron shells first, which is a lengthy process on its own. Then I do a little research on the artist of the week. I pick the murals I want to showcase and plan out how I think I can best portray the artists work. Then finally I sit down and paint the actual macarons. I am not a artist like this by any means, but I enjoy the challenge. After I paint the macarons, I let them dry overnight and then finally fill them the next day. The whole process from start to finish takes about 2 work days.
Do you have any favorite Denver murals? If so, where are they and what do you love about them?
I love the Larimer boy and girl! I think its such a fun mural. It was also a fun macaron to paint. I think those have been my favorite ones to execute so far.
What does summertime in Denver mean to you? What do you look forward to?
Summertime in Denver is perfect. It gets hot, but cools down in the evening. Its not too humid either. I camp and hike a lot with my boyfriend and my dog in the summer too, so I am excited to start doing that soon.
What’s your favorite thing to order at a coffee shop?
Cappuccino
The pastry case at Black Eye Cap Hill (8th and Sherman) is always full of tasty treats. Be sure to try all of Alicia’s and Ann Marie’s creations. They even offer gluten-free and vegan options!
See the Painted City series macaron gallery here.
