Travel Spotlight: Sweets of the South

In addition to a trip to San Francisco, I have been lucky enough to sample sweets in several other cities this summer. Oddly enough I didn’t manage to capture the sweet experiences on camera, but hopefully my descriptions will do them justice!

Louisville, KY

– Graeters: I have heard about the renowned Graeter’s for quite some time, and finally had the opportunity to try this famous Cincinnati offering. Established in 1870, this company has been churning out ice cream treats for almost 150 years, and from the few flavors I was able to sample, it’s no small wonder why they are legendary. The mint chocolate chip was pure mint flavor – no green dye used here as a part of the process – and the dark chocolate pieces seemed to be whisked into every bite. Later I learned that they add warm chocolate into the ice cream while it is mixing to create chocolate ribbons, distributing delicious chocolately particles throughout the entire batch. The lemon and raspberry sorbets were refreshing, but the clear star was the ice cream. I will be back to try another – rumor has it the peach is amazing.

– Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen: This is the first time I have ever seen or experienced an upside-down cupcake. This local establishment flips over the conventional cupcake and coats it in a glaze-like icing (slightly reminiscent of what is used on doughnuts). It proved to be a bit too sugary for my taste, but I had the opportunity to sample multiple flavors in one sitting – the Oreo, strawberry, chocolate caramel, and vanilla. The cakes were quite large, dense and moist. The Oreo was a little dry – I’ve found this to be the case with a few cookies-and-cream flavored baked goods – and the strawberry tasted artificially flavored (the brilliant pink hue did not help assuage this feeling). The chocolate caramel did not have a particularly strong caramel taste – it was as if they didn’t fully allow the flavor to develop before glopping on the frosting. Though appropriate for the birthday celebration, I do not feel compelled to try them again.

Atlanta, GA

– Piece of Cake: Only in town for a short period of time, I quickly Yelped the nearest bakery to my location, and Piece of Cake appeared. Off we sped, and we sampled a variety from the glass case – caramel, white chocolate, orange, and cookies and cream cupcakes. The cookies and cream, like others before it, was quite dry and only vaguely reminiscent of the chocolate sandwich cookies from which it was presumably derived. The orange reminded us faintly of an orange-cream popsicle (but came nowhere near the dreamsicle version discovered in Denver), and the caramel was about average. Though the white chocolate did not possess a strong flavor profile, it was still pretty good as a stand-alone treat. If or when I return to ATL, I will be checking out the other cupcakeries in the area for comparison.

Charleston, SC

– Kaminsky’s: The attraction of the beautiful frosted cakes proved to be too strong to resist, and I finally entered the shop after passing several times. Close to conventional dinner time, the establishment was pretty full and I made the decision to forego a traditional dinner, replacing it instead with a monstrous slice of German chocolate cake. The lush, coconut glaze led to layers of moist chocolate cake that were rich enough to have a flavorful chocolate experience without overwhelming the walnut- and coconut-packed fillings in-between. Though I ended up in a bit of a sugar coma, easily remedied by a long evening stroll, I would do it all over again, trying a new kind of cake the second time around to sample more of the wonderful offerings of this local favorite.

With a few more travel plans left, I’m ready to buckle up and try more of what America has to offer…

Until next time,
SugarSource

 

Travel Spotlight: San Francisco Summer Sweets

I was able to visit San Francisco this summer, and could resist trying the new treats the city has to offer, especially given that several of the places I had previously tried have closed since originally sampling their sweets. I left the city with a smile and a roster full of bakeries to visit upon my return.

Raspberry Chocolate,
Kara’s Cupcakes

– Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream: After a long day of walking, we stopped by this Mission District creamery. Though disappointed that the Milk flavor was unavailable (as one of the local favorites, it was no real surprise they ran out by mid-afternoon), the strawberry left me smiling. Fresh strawberries blended with just the right amount of milk, cream and sugar – absolutely reminiscent of the fruit and quite satisfying.

– Kara’s Cupcakes: Though technically tasted in Napa, there is a location in the city itself as well. The raspberry chocolate was fantastic. The raspberry frosting was light and packed with natural raspberry flavor – you would really taste the dimensions of the fruit, including a slight tartness, which was assisted by a layer of fresh raspberry jam sandwiched between the frosting and the cake. The chocolate cake was moist and rich, and though I tried to savor the experience, it was over too soon.

– Hot Cookie: Known for the massive male genitalia-shaped chocolate-covered macaroon, I decided to sample a few of the other items available at this small sweet outpost in the Castro. The salted caramel chocolate chip pretzel cookie had quite a bit going on – almost too much. The caramel was delicious, the pretzel added a nice crunch, and everything managed to combine into one fantastic bite after another. The Butch Bar was a layer of peanut butter followed by a layer of chocolate fudge topped with chocolate ganache. As you can imagine, it was quite rich and necessary to split amongst us. If I work up the courage, I may one day try the bakery’s signature item.

Hot Cookie

– Susie Cakes: Located in the Marina, this little shop quickly developed a line around dinner time. I tried two of the flavors – blueberry pancake breakfast cupcake (one of the specials at the time) and the flourless chocolate cupcake. The blueberry pancake reminded me of a muffin (slightly) – there were fewer blueberries and less of a maple flavor than I had anticipated – and overall I was expecting a little more of a twist. The flourless chocolate cake was on par – rich, chocolatey with a slight crust on top.

– Batter Bakery: Though there are a few locations sprinkled throughout the city, I stopped at the storefront in the Embarcadero. The cupcakes looked a little worse for wear – the store was near closing time, after all – so I opted to try some of the cookies, which were individually packaged and waiting for inspection. I selected the polk-a-dot, which seemed to be the bakery’s version of an M&M cookie, and the coconut oatmeal. The polk-a-dot was fine – an average choice for your basic chocolate candy cookie. On the other hand, the coconut oatmeal left me wanting more. Generally speaking I am quite the coconut fan, and I was impressed by the flavor, texture and overall experience of this cookie. Soft, chewy, not-too-sweet and well-balanced, I wanted to run back to the store to purchase another.

I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer number of remarkable places I uncovered on this visit, and I can only imagine what I will experience on a future trip to the Bay Area…

Until next time,
SugarSource

 

Travel Spotlight: Boston + Philly Sweets

Boston and Philadelphia both offer rich history – Boston Commons, the Liberty Bell, the streets where the Founding Fathers wandered to ponder the fate of this nascent nation. They also provide great opportunities for tasting delicious desserts.

Beantown (Boston)

Lulu’s

– JP Licks: The chocolate chocolate cupcake was not anything to write home about, and was amongst a small selection of cupcakes at the store known for it’s ice cream treats. I would recommend sticking with the store’s original offering instead of trying a baked good.

– Sweet Cupcakes: This cupcakery offered some off-beat varieties including caramel macchiato, maple cranberry and caramel apple. The macchiato did not have a strong coffee flavor – I would have assumed this was more of the vanilla variety if it hadn’t been for the label. The caramel apple was quite sticky, which wasn’t necessarily a bad attribute but it didn’t have the full flavor execution of other cupcakes with this same profile. It was difficult to locate the maple in the maple cranberry, and it was quite sweet – added sugar did not make up for lack of flavor.

– Lulu’s Sweet Shoppe: I committed a Boston sin and had cupcakes (gingerbread and chocolate salted caramel) in the North End instead of the traditional cannoli. The woman working the shop actually kept it open (I had called earlier regarding their hours), and opened the door just for me, which was a wonderful gesture! The gingerbread was decent, though a little dry – I missed the solid punch of ginger that I was hoping for, though molasses and cinnamon were both present. The chocolate salted caramel was about average for this type.

Philadelphia
In the city of Brotherly Love, there are some lovely confections for the trying.

Fruit Loop Macaron,
Sugar Truck Philly

– Reading Terminal: The lemon cake at Termini Bros is heavenly. After a quick day trip to the city for work, I managed to grab one of these delightful mini cakes on my way to the train station. What a great way to unwind from a long day of meetings – the cake was light, moist, and perfectly portioned for one (in my opinion). I’ve since tried some of the other offerings, such as the pecan bar and brownie, but the favorite remains the lemon cake.

– Morimoto: The yuzu meringue tart is delicious. A heavy dollop of whipped egg whites sites atop the yuzu tart – tart, citrusy filling and a buttery crust. I would recommend sharing – while it is scrumptious, it proved to be too sugary for one person to handle.

– Sugar Truck Philly: The fruit loop macaron was a tightly packed sugar punch! The flavor of Fruit Loops was absolutely present – it was as if they managed to condense the cereal into the soft, chewy outer shell of the macaron. It was almost too sweet for my liking, leaving my teeth slightly achy as an after-effect.

While only a small sampling, it did give me a sense of the variety available on the Eastern seaboard, and I’m anxious to return.

Until next time,
SugarSource

Travel Spotlight: Mile High Delights

While Denver offers a myriad of choose-your-own-adventure options, from hiking to exploring the beautiful parks to adjusting to the elevation, I prefer to focus on the sweets. This Mile High city did not disappoint (though, disclaimer: my pictures are underwhelming compared with the sweets themselves)!

– Lovely Confections: I tried the Bees Knees at this small bakery. The lavender cake was slightly reminiscent of soap – it almost always seems to be, as it is a delicate flavor that can oftentimes be overpowering – and the honey lemon buttercream did not add much flavor to the combination.
– Gigi’s Cupcakes: The Italian cream cupcake was not particularly memorable. The decor reminded me of watermelon – green and pink – and the establishment has expanded since my initial visit – I was able to try another of Gigi’s offerings while in Wisconsin.
– The Shoppe: I did not visit this particular store, which is now unfortunately closed, but a client did bring them in once learning of my love of bite-sized cakes. The pumpkin chocolate chip cupcake was decent – the pumpkin flavor was there, though I would have expected a stronger combination of cinnamon and nutmeg. The death by chocolate was as expected – very chocolately and quite rich – but it was the tres leches that stole my heart. The cupcake was very moist, condensed milk almost dripping off of the saturated cake. It somehow managed to be light, packed with delicious milky flavor and topped with a not-to-sweet cream on top. I would have happily eaten another. Thankfully rumor has it the baker behind The Shoppe is considering a cookbook, which would be fantastic.

Big Fat Cupcakes!

– Big Fat Cupcake: Once my client learned of my love of cupcakes, she continued to seek out additional outlets, and surprised our team with a selection of six. As indicated by the name, these are not ordinary-sized cupcakes but giant versions – about 2-3 cupcakes (at least) would fit into each of these behemoths. She selected a variety to try (these are certainly meant to be shared, based on size alone!) – bread pudding, nutty nana (banana cake with peanut butter frosting and nutella filling), monkey love (banana cake, cream cheese frosting), orange dreamsicle, snowball (chocolate cake with coconut frosting), and salted caramel. The dreamsicle was as imagined – reminiscent of the orange popsicle savored during the heat of the summer – and the bread pudding was the hit amongst the group – not too sweet, with ribbons of cinnamon woven into the pockets of the cupcake.  Thankfully she was not offended that we sampled them, but did not consume them all in their entirety – that would have been the equivalent of eating contest volume with the bonus of an extreme sugar high.

I was somewhat surprised that I didn’t run into a Denver specialty flavor. I’m sure there is some sort of Rocky Mountain treat that I missed, and I will certainly seek it out (or whatever the local dessert is) on my next trip.

Until next time,
SugarSource

Travel Spotlight: Cali Cakes

Motto of Citizen Cake

California offers much more than beaches, sand and sun – it presents a plethora of sweets for the trying. From exploring Northern and Southern regions, and even venturing to an island, the Golden State offers a wide variety of tasty treats.

San Francisco
– Citizen Cake: I tried the pineapple upside down cupcake because, on the small description card next to this particular treat, it mentioned it was featured on the Food Network. It was a little late in the day, so I can excuse that the cake was not as moist as it may have been right after it was baked. I enjoyed the overall flavor, and the caramelized, syrupy pineapple made for an atypical cake consistency. I’m sorry to report that this cute place has closed.
– Andersen Bakery: The Halloween cupcake – vanilla cupcake with pumpkin spice frosting – was the natural selection for the time of year for my first visit. The cake had a nice consistency, though the frosting was a little too sweet (imagine when your teeth ache a bit from the punch of sugar).

Santa Monica
– Yummy Cupcake: The banana split cupcake was not particularly reminiscent of the classic ice cream sundae. The cake did not have a strong banana presence, though it was topped with a maraschino cherry. Caramel corn was a somewhat new one – I had tried kettle corn at Sweets Bakeshop before. The frosting had a slight caramel flavor, though the cake did not resemble a texture similar to popcorn.

Pubcakes

San Diego
– Heavenly Cupcake: The strawberry cupcake was about average – the flavor was pleasant, not artificial though not particularly strong either. The chocolate kahlua lacked the essence of the liqueur, and the cake itself was fine. Nothing particularly special or memorable, and provides a good sugar rush in a pinch.
– PubCakes: This San Diego establishment no longer has a brick-and-mortar store, shifting instead to farmer’s markets and festivals. I would highly recommend giving it a whirl. I am biased because I appreciated their approach – there aren’t too many beer-themed bakeries out in the world (though I have tried Prohibition Bakery on the Lower East Side of Manhattan as well). The top ten cake, made from a concoction of IPA, cayenne caramel and cherry, topped with ancho chile frosting, was nice and spicy. The red velvet glove was relatively mild amongst the other selections with a milk-based frosting while the stoned portzilla  packed a punch with porter, coffee ganache and caramelized coconut. The smoking chimpanzee was another highlight (I’m partial to treats with a little heat), and this was no exception – chocolate cake with chipotle whipped cream and banana chocolate ganache.

Pumpkin cupcake,
Andersen Bakery

– Frosted Robin: Located in Seaport Village, this sunny little bake shop offers a good variety of cupcakes and other treats. We tried the Cayman, a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and coriander in a vanilla-based cake. It was topped with a thick (and very sweet) frosting with cinnamon dusted across the top. I could have spent more time in the cheerful interior, and would be up for giving another one a try.
– Coronado Cupcakery: This cupcakery is located on Coronado Island. The trip over the bridge is worth doing itself, though I wouldn’t recommend adding this bakery to the “to do” list. The Mexican chocolate and chai tea cupcakes were overpriced and underwhelming, resembling more of a muffin than a cupcake (denser, less fluffy). The frosting had an odd aftertaste, a flavor that was strange and difficult to discern.

While I was able to sample quite a few varieties, I know there is much left to taste. As always, suggestions are more than welcome!

Until next time,
SugarSource

Travel Spotlight: Seattle Sweet Spots

Doughnut,
Top Pot

Seattle may be best known as the birth place of Starbucks and for the 12th Man, but it has quite a few sweets to offer to visitors and residents alike. I swept through the city on a business trip, and managed to sample some of Seattle’s sugary selections while in town.

Top Pot. Touted for it’s hand-forged doughnuts, it is no surprise that this local shop made the list. While I preferred raised as a child, cake are my go-to these days and though I made the switch, my love of sprinkles has remained consistent. The chocolate icing was a sweet balance to the salty-sweet cake dough. And the sprinkles? The perfect complement.

Chocolate Box. Located about a half-mile off of Pike’s Place, this wonderland has cakes, cookies, macaroons, and a wide variety of chocolates and wines available for tasting and purchase. They had a small selection of cupcakes available from Pinkabella, and I tried the snickerdoodle. It was moist and dense with a strong cinnamon profile. I would give another a try, though I would probably try to seek out one of the bakery’s locations to see the full cupcake spread.

Cupcakes,
Yellow Leaf

Cupcake Royale. Blackberries were in season while I was visiting, so the blackberry buckle was a natural choice. A substantial mound of blackberry-flavored frosting greeted me – it wasn’t until my second bite that I reached the delicate, fluffy cake below. It was delicious, a wonderful combination of vanilla and natural blackberry flavor fused together in a small, delightful package. This experience, combined with the cupcakery’s encouragement to practice “Random Acts of Kindness,” makes this institution “king” in my book.

Yellow Leaf Cupcakes. This small shop, which refers to itself as a “micro bakery,” manages to pack a large variety of cupcakes in a small space. I gave two a try:  chocolate pomegranate and passionfruit guava. The chocolate pomegranate lacked the distinct flavor of the fruit, which I imagine is hard to capture naturally. The cake was unremarkable – neither dry nor too moist, but not memorable either. The passionfruit curd of the second cupcake was wonderfully tart and sweet, though the frosting was flavorless with the consistency of shortening.

I was pleasantly pleased with the few treats I managed to taste while in town, and I look forward to trying several more on my next visit to The Emerald City.

Until next time,
SugarSource

Travel Spotlight: Treats of the Nation’s Capital

In honor of Presidents’ Day, it seemed best to review cupcakeries in the Washington D.C. area. The nation’s capital is full of sugary selections, and the below represents only a small portion of the sweets available for the tasting.

– Red Velvet Cupcakery: Because I am not the biggest fan of cream cheese frosting, I opted not to try the namesake type. Instead I tried the cookies and cream cupcake – it was like an Oreo was synthesized into cupcake format. The frosting was light but packed with chocolate wafer-essence, and the chocolate cake was dense and rich without being overpowering. This establishment is certainly on my list for my next visit!

– Hello Cupcake: I ventured to the Dupont Circle location, and was not disappointed by the chocolate peanut butter. The simple, familiar flavor profile was well-done: the peanut butter icing was a great balance of sweet and nutty, and the cake was light and fluffy. A satisfying mid-day treat, and worth giving another a whirl.

– Georgetown Cupcake: Again as a disclaimer, I am not the biggest cream cheese frosting fan and this bakery is known for using this type of icing for a lot of cupcakes, so I may be rating this a little lower than others would. I tried the chocolate hazelnut – it was decent, though the hazelnut flavor was primarily concentrated in the chopped nuts along the rim of the cupcake top. The cake was moist, though the experience overall was not particularly memorable.

– Cake Love: The salted caramel proved to be an instance of looking much tastier than it proved to be. The icing was quite heavy, with the flavor and texture of butter. Though I had allowed the cupcake to warm up to room temperature (a recommendation from the woman behind the counter), it was not enough to improve the taste of the frosting. Unfortunately I will not be swinging by again.

I look forward to my next opportunity to give more of the city’s sweet offerings a try. Happy Presidents’ Day!

Until next time,
SugarSource

Travel Spotlight: Chicago

Mille Feuille, Au Cheval

The Windy City is known for extraordinary dining experiences (look no further than Alinea), and it comes as no surprise that they have some of the top sweets destinations as well.

– Cupcakes: Molly’s Cupcakes. The swings at the cupcake counter, the sprinkle station, and the fantastic flavors have made this cupcakery one of my favorites. From the Cookie Monster (filled with “cookie dough.” this cupcake leaves you happily satisfied without the salmonella concern from eating real cookie dough) to the Ron Bennington (fudgy chocolate and peanut butter wonder that should always be accompanied by a glass of water or milk) to the Peach Cobbler (absolutely stunning…and one of the reasons why this bakery won Cupcake Wars!). I have not had a cupcake here I haven’t liked. With a wide range of options, from the classic to the seasonal to the slightly out there, Molly’s has something to satisfy any sweet tooth.

– Cupcakes For Grown-Ups: More Cupcakes. These cupcakes are beautifully decorated (the chocolate curls alone are a delicate, elegant and tasty touch), and the store carries many alcohol-inspired and -infused varieties. They used to have a happy hour every so often where you could try miniature versions of the cocktail cakes. More is the place to get exceptional cupcakes for an adult’s birthday party or office event, with a professional look and mature flavor profile. Another bonus? They will deliver cupcakes outside of Illinois, packed in dry ice (I may have been lucky enough to receive a dozen in Manhattan)!

Carrot Cake Club, Angel Food Bakery

– The Mille Feuille: Au Cheval. The waitress made her way to the table with the dessert, and our eyes widened. Layer upon layer of flaky pastry separate vanilla pastry cream. With a decisive thwap, she split the massive dessert in half, explaining that it helps guests tackle the piles of deliciousness. We were only able to consume about half of the sugary wonder, and I would absolutely order it again.

– Retro Treats: Angel Food Bakery. This hidden gem houses a wonderful collection of vintage Easy Bake ovens (and similar toys), and is a throwback bakery of sorts turning out homemade versions of Hostess products like Twinkies. We decided to go for the Carrot Cake Club, as was recommended by the woman behind the counter. At first glance, it could pass as an enormous finger sandwich topped with a pimento olive. However, one forkful and you will recognize that this is not your average lunch item. Two thick slices of moist, cinnamon-infused carrot cake sandwich the velvety cream cheese frosting. I would recommend splitting with another person, although I’m sure you could manage to tackle the entire thing given the time (or the level of empty stomach!).

– Frosting Shots: Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique. If you ever really need a sudden jolt of sugar, look no further than the frosting shots at Sugar Bliss, located off of Millennium Park. However, be warned: you are almost guaranteed a sugar-high.

Once again, just a slice of the many sweet experiences to be had, but a good place to start to sample some of Chicago’s best!

Until next time,
SugarSource

Travel Spotlight: Treats in the Twin Cities

Turtle Cake, Cafe Latte

The Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul – not only hold the title of Healthiest City and play host to the largest shopping center in the US (aptly named Mall of America), they also offer  a wide variety of highly-rated culinary experiences. While we won’t get into the phenomenal pho or housemade pasta favorites, there are some sweets that should not be missed on your next trip to the Midwest.

– 112 Eatery: The Butterscotch Budino. This is an amazing little pot of cream and butterscotch pudding. Rich and satisfying, every spoonful feels like a new experience into the complex world of butterscotchy-caramelly heaven. Quite small, but sizable in flavor, it’s a fantastic way to finish a meal. If you manage to still have room, I would also recommend the tres leches cake as well. The sweet milk-drenched cake is out-of-this-world, and melts in your mouth.

– Cafe Latte: Chocolate Chocolate Cake. Ridiculously moist and rich in cocoa flavor this cake, time and time again, ranks in my top cakes in the United States. The fudgy frosting is layered thickly between slabs of dark chocolate cake – each forkful feels just as indulgent as the last. For those who would like an added layer of extravagance, request the Turtle version, which is smothered in a thick caramel and covered in pecans.

– Salty Tart: The Special Cupcake. The cupcake of the day (or week) will vary, but the few I have had the fortune to try have been fantastic. Dulce de leche had a nicely balanced cake with a decadent filling and a hefty helping of vanilla-based frosting. The passionfruit cupcake, on the other hand, was lighter and the tangy curd hidden within was true to the fruit’s flavor.

Wuollets Cupcake

– Sebastian Joe’s: Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. This Minneapolis mainstay boasts a sizable array of homemade ice cream. Although I’m sure any would be wonderful, I highly recommend the raspberry chocolate chip – crushed raspberries give the base a mellow, natural flavor, and sizable dark chocolate chunks round out this heavenly combination. The Oreo is also worth a try – you can truly taste the cookies in every bite.

– Wuollets: Best Cakes For Special Occasions. The classic cakes baked here (delicious on their own) are taken to the next level by the decorators in residents. Whether it is petit fours shaped like presents for a parent’s birthday soirée or an animal-themed crowd-pleaser for a children’s party, Wuollets has nailed it every time. The basic white frosting is not overly sweet, and is absolutely unique – I have not yet tried anything similar – and the chocolate chip cupcake has remained a fan favorite for well over two decades.

Finally, the Peanut Butter Cupcake at the Bulldog Northeast deserves an honorable mention. This fantastic burger place served up a surprisingly delicious cupcake! The peanut butter frosting sticks to the roof of your mouth in the best of ways.

I can’t wait to see where my travels (and tastebuds) take me next! Seattle? Chicago? It remains to be seen…

Until next time,

SugarSource