The Chess Problem Cake!

This is an adaptation of a story which appeared in Les Cahiers de l'Echiquier Français (november-december 1936). Story, problem and drawing are by V. Barthe.

A chess player and gourmet once invited a friend to his home. The friend, Onésime XADREZ, besides being a good chess player also appreciated fine food.


In honour of his guest he ordered a cake decorated with a chess problem of his own composition. The problem was symbolic as it was in the form of a letter O, the first letter of his friends name.

White to move. Mate in two

Before serving the cake his cook cut it into four pieces. Unfortunately just as he was going to serve it he stumbled and dropped the cake. Picking up the pieces he quickly reassembled them on the plate inadvertently mixing them up. The cake that arrived at the table looked like this :

White to move. Mate in two

The cook's master, noticing that his problem had been destroyed and the suprise spoilt started to insult the poor cook. Onésime Xadrez was however staring attentively at the cake and the problem. Suddenly he cried "Calme down my friend! Nothing is lost. The pieces now make an X, the first letter of my surname, and it's still mate in two!"

Source: www.chessgraphics.net

Edible Chess Set!

Chess doesn't have the reputation of being the most exciting game out there, but there are two things that you can introduce to heat things up a little. The first is money and the second is food (or possibly alcohol, but we'll stick to food in general). Whether you want to gamble on chess games is entirely up to you, but I rather like the idea of getting food involved by making an edible chess set to play with. This cookie cutter set comes with shapes for all the different pieces, as well as with a square, which you can use to make the 64 tiles that make up the board.

You'll need two different colors of cookie dough to play, and the ideal cookie dough will not spread too much when it is baking. Try a vanilla or buttter cookie recipe for the White pieces and a chocolate cutout cookie recipe for the Black pieces.

Not only do you have the satisfaction of taking a piece, but you can eat it as well!

Source: http://www.biggles.uk.com/wow/edble_chess.html

Chess Recipes!

Our wedding cake:)

Accidentally, I once again stumbled upon the pictures from our wedding and I remembered what a fantastic wedding cake we had! Ok...it was made by professionals, that's why it looked so perfect:)
But what if we could also make something which will look like a chess board?! 
We can bring chess into kitchen and our plates as well:) And we don't have to be afraid of losing anymore:)


So, here you have one idea, very simple to prepare. The one for a bit more advanced chefs is coming tomorrow:)
In any case, I am sure I will be busy after the tournament, not only analysing my games but also analysing the market for the right ingredients:)

Chess Board Sandwiches!


I thought i would write about a different way of making sandwiches.
Very simple to make, anyone can give this ago.
The fillings you can choose yourself and put in whatever you or children like.
Here`s my chessboard sandwiches with a couple of fillings that you can choose for.

I will come back with my own picture,  after the tournament.
It will be bigger and more clear.
This one is taken from internet.

YOU WILL NEED

8 slices of brown bread
8 slices of white bread

MY FILLINGS

50g(2oz) butter
6 tablespoons of mayonnaise
3 hard boiled eggs, finely chopped
50g(2oz) of cream cheese
75g(3oz) cheddar cheese, grated
2 tablespoons of chopped chives

salt and pepper

For the fillings, beat the butter with the mayonnaise, divide in half. 
Stir in the chopped eggs into one portion.
Mix the cheeses and the chives into the other portion. 
Season both of the fillings with the salt and pepper, to how much you like.

Make the sandwiches using one slice of brown bread, one slice of white and one filling for each.

Remove the crusts and then cut each sandwich into 4 squares.
Arrange them in to layers on a square cake board or plate, alternating the brown and white sandwiches to creat a chessboard effect.

There you have it quick and easy to make, and your guests, chess players or not, will enjoy them!

Play chess and eat those yummy sandwiches:)