There and Back Again
Hobbit Cake
Hobbit Cake by Perry McDaniel
Mechanical puzzle lovers are a comfortable lot, content to quietly while away the hours in deep concentration while poring over an enticingly challenging object of interest. Such pursuits can be embarked upon whilst sitting in a favorite armchair or couch, at a desk or table, but given the chance for flights of fancy, one might envision said chair, couch, or desk to be situated within an invitingly cozy room, one that is also, preferably, overflowing with more puzzles. A few fortunate folk have what might be described as a “puzzle room”, or, perhaps proudly, a “puzzle cave”. This puzzling preamble is all by way of introducing the fact that September 22 is Bilbo (and Frodo!) Baggins’ birthday, a date which sets the specific events in the Lord of the Rings tale in motion. The day is now officially “National Hobbit Day” in the US as well. I suspect I’m not the only fan of Tolkien who would consider a lovely Hobbit home to be a perfect place to puzzle.
“Sorry! I don’t want any adventures, thank you. Not Today. Good morning! But please come to tea – any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Good bye!” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
I’m celebrating Hobbit Day with the perfect puzzle. Hobbits are well known to prize their pantries, which are full of palatable provisions and delectable vittles. Surely a Hobbit would absolutely love a puzzle box shaped like a petit four cake, as long as he didn’t attempt to eat it for elevenses. Puzzle master and bake shop proprietor extraordinaire Perry McDaniel is known for his deliciously precise, intricate puzzle box confections. He developed a penchant for pastry puzzles many years ago and continues to produce these fine delicacies. His set of six Petits Fours puzzles, took his passion to a new pinnacle and earned him a Michelin star.
“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”― J.R.R. Tolkien
From Perry: “The Petits Fours box series began as a simple idea to produce a small box in the likeness of the popular petite French cake complete with the requisite decorative flower on top. In keeping with my penchant for producing dessert themed puzzle boxes, it provided a recognizable shape to work with and the small size presented some interesting challenges. I really enjoyed discovering some of the many different ways to lock this delightful project shape.”
“I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”― J.R.R. Tolkien
photos courtesy of Perry McDaniel
Perry first introduced the tiny cakes in 2009, and the subsequent two cakes came the following years. “The first 4 [Strawberry Very Shortcake, Pineapple Downside Over Cake, Cinnamon Walnut Twist Cake and Black Forrest Lemon Cake] came in a single spurt and one of the them, the walnut box, was offered as an exchange in 2009 SF. 2010 was Hawaiian High Jinks in Japan, then 2012 was Hobbit Cake in DC”
Perry McDaniel puzzles from the Robert Sandfield collection
For years, Perry has been making a traditional Christmas gift puzzle for friends and family. Hobbit Cake, the sixth and final design in his Petits Fours series, was originally a Christmas gift but Perry made a set for sale to complete the series in 2012. These beautiful “Christmas” creations, which are extremely limited and largely unknown to most, were on rare display from the Robert Sandfield collection at the 41st International Puzzle Party.
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”― J.R.R. Tolkien
photos courtesy of Perry McDaniel
“This Christmas 2010 exchange [Hobbit Cake] offered a unique opportunity to display life imitating art. I convinced a local bakery to duplicate my small wooden cakes as a true pastry delight. I was really surprised when I picked up my box of petit fours to find that they were also selling them in their bakery! Hobbit Cake was the last of the Petit Fours series of 6 box designs and later made it into regular production as my 2012 IPP32 Washington DC puzzle offering.”
“Go back?" he thought. "No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!" ― J.R.R. Tolkien
Perry also explains the origins of the name. “The alternate title to J.R.R Tolkien's book The Hobbit was "There and Back Again" and it gave me the idea for the solution sequence. There was a lot packed into this small box made of bloodwood, walnut, maple and poplar with an ebony flower. 18 moves to open.” If you’ve held one of these mini marvels in your hand, or even if you have ever eaten an actual petit four, you’ll appreciate how tiny they are, and marvel at how Perry manages to pack so many well hidden moves into such a small form. Chef’s Kiss!
Bilbo Baggins by Colin Field
The apropos toast to the Hobbit box comes by way of Paris, where we make a required pilgrimage to Bar Hemingway at the Ritz Hotel. Fancier digs than a Hobbit may be accustomed to, but an awfully nice place for a drink. It exists thanks to the recently retired head bartender Colin Field, known as the “Best Barman in the World”. Field opened Bar Hemingway in 1994, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Paris, as an homage to the great author and war correspondent himself who claimed that he and the French resistance fighters were truly liberating the bar at the Ritz.
“Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away ere break of day To seek the pale enchanted gold.”― J.R.R. Tolkien
The South American aromatic grape brandy Pisco (typically from Chile or Peru) anchors this elegantly simple drink, and the orange liqueur Cointreau provides the sweet counterbalance. The two ingredient drink works surprisingly well. Field explains his creation, “A potent end-of-dinner drink. Bearing in mind the Bar Hemingway’s great literary associations, I couldn’t resist squeezing in my all-time favorite adventure books, The Hobbit … Hobbits are peaceful creatures who do not like habits to change or adventure to happen, so the cocktail I’ve invented is just what Bilbo would need if he had killed a dragon, fallen down the stairs or forgotten the biscuits for tea!” If you don’t agitate the drink, it appears unassuming, like a clear glass of water. Stir it up, on the other hand, and you’ll quickly realize there is something unexpected to be found here. Just like a Hobbit. Cheers!
“May the hair on your toes never fall out!”― J.R.R. Tolkien
The Bilbo Baggins by Colin Field c. 1994
1 ½ oz Pisco
1 oz Cointreau
Combine with crushed ice, no official garnish
adventure on: