If you're feeling guilty about all the not-so-good foods you've been eating, then creative artist, food sculptress and owner of Delectable Delights by DM, Daychelle Morris, can probably sort you out.
Not only do her edible arrangements make for beautiful presents suitable for any occasion, but hey, they're pretty healthy too. One can never have too much fruit, right? Her clientele boasts an impressive list, with orders coming in from NGOs, government officials, the medical fraternity, high commissioners and athletes.
"The watermelon cake is a hit," Morris told the T&T Guardian. Though it makes for much work, Morris is a one-woman show, sculpting and designing these themed edible arrangements all out of her kitchen home in St James. "It can be time consuming, but I love it and I am happy I get to contribute to healthy eating habits," she said. She said it is also a very costly venture as most of the fruits used are imported.
Clients can pay top dollar for an arrangement and pricing is influenced by size, type of fruits used, and design of the arrangement. Morris explained, "It is hard to find edible arrangements that are above standard. So when clients receive a good one, they come back for more and they tell their friends and their friends tell their friends, and they all make me a very happy lady," she said, followed by a hearty laugh.
Though Morris is versed in balloon decorating–she is the creative director and founder of Bellissima Balloons and Body Glitter, a body art service–she learned about the art of food sculpting and food arrangements as a hobby, during a workshop helfd last Mothers' Day.
But within a month of the workshop, Morris began churning out edible arrangements. At first she just did it for friends, but word got around and pretty soon she found herself with lists of orders.
Additionally Morris, who is big on fighting obesity and non-communicable diseases among children, hosted parent/children workshops last year to teach parents how to get creative with their fruit and vegetables. She showed them how to make the foods more attractive and exciting for kids to consume. It turned out to be a good bonding exercise, too, for parents and their children. She said she was well received at her first workshop held at St Monica's Preparatory Private School on Dundonald Street, Port-of-Spain.
But it's not just the kids that benefit from her passion, as Morris also hosts courses for adults in edible arrangements and other gifts.
More info
To order an edible arrangement, or for information on her creations and courses:
Email: delectabledelightsbydm@gmail.com, or telephone: 323-7794
See her work on Facebook by searching Delectable Delights.