Baker and Masterchef alum Reece Hignell has made a career out of building community. The 36-year-old has written two cookbooks and his Newcastle cafe Cakeboi's range of made-to-order cakes covers everything from Vintage iced birthday cakes to Nan's sponge, giving any Instagram baker a run for their money. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CAKEBOI (@cakeboinewy) As the professional cook amongst his friends, Reece's home is often where the group will gather, so we spoke with him to understand how his skills translate into hosting prowess. He shared that, having strengthened ties amongst his Newcastle community, hosting doesn't start in the home but with ritualistic excursions to his local shops. Sitting down with Concrete Playground, Reece spilled on where his baking journey began before divulging his best hosting tips. From getting your friends involved in cooking to stopping by your local Cellabrations, anyone looking to up their dinner party game can follow in his footsteps. Who are you and what do you do? Hello, I'm Reece, a baker, cookbook author and small business owner behind Cakeboi. How'd you get started? I got started by following in my Nan's footsteps with baking. I worked in pastry sections in commercial kitchens before opening my own bakery. What is your ideal gathering? My ideal gathering is at my house, surrounded by friends, good food and plenty of drinks. Whether it's a dinner, long lunch or afternoon snacks, I just love bringing people together. What do you love at a party? I love community, bringing people and friends together, even if they aren't already friends. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CAKEBOI (@cakeboinewy) What's your philosophy for hosting? You bring nothing and I do everything haha. What makes an event you host special? I love doing interactive events. If it's a dinner, I'll often get people involved with rolling pasta, shaping dumplings or even making cocktails. It makes the event much more memorable. How important is it to you to find opportunities to gather with your local community? In small business, community is everything, and having my shop makes that really special. I feel like the shop has become a gathering point, and I've even had families grow up through the shop. Where do you go for drinks that make hosting easy? The local bottle shop haha. Cellabrations near me is great because the owner always has the perfect recommendation on hand. How do you pair the perfect drink with a gathering? Any tips on curating a drinks menu depending on the event? It really depends on the food. If you're thinking Italian, wine is perfect. Maybe cocktails or beers for Asian food, and spritzers for afternoon snacks. What do you hope your guests will get after being hosted by you? I just want them to think, "Wow, that was as good as, if not better than, actually going to a restaurant." Whether you have mates dropping by or find yourself settling in for a long lunch, find a drop for every occasion at your local Cellarbrations.
