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Monday, March 17, 2008

Forget the Brownie

Remember that brownie I told you about?

Old news. I've moved on.

It's all about Kara's Cupcakes, baby. In the Marina, on Scott. Bake sale cupcakes were never this good, ever.

From left to right: Sweet Vanilla (yummiest), Chocolate Velvet (popular flavor but not the yummiest IMHO) and Sweet Chocolate (second yummiest).

I know I haven't been to Miette at the Ferry Building, which is shocking since I go to the Ferry Building all the time. So expect a cupcake report from there in the future.

I do this for you, people. In case you ever come to San Francisco, it's really important that I keep up with all of the food options for you.

Thanks to The Boy for treating and making sure I didn't have to eat all three of these by myself. On a sunny day, you can sit outside Kara's with your cupcake(s) and your little pint of milk and feel like a 5-year old who can drive a car. It's fun!

PS. For some reason, a lot of the food porn I look at secretly is really focused on cupcakes. Like this one. And this one. I'm such a victim of the media. heh heh heh.

15 comments:

La Tanguerita March 18, 2008 at 1:46 AM  

Ok.My jaw just hit the desk and I'm dripping saliva all over my keyboard.I'm officially a victim of you.
Chocolate junkie as I'm,I'd probably go for Chocolate Velvet...

Holly March 18, 2008 at 6:24 AM  

I have always wanted to try a Red Velvet Chocolate Cake. I think they must be the second trendiest thing after the cupcake right now.

La Tanguerita March 18, 2008 at 6:48 AM  

Ladies, are you deliberately torturing me? I can’t concentrate on my work! :-) All I can think about now are delicious, juicy brownies and cape cakes encrusted with chocolate and dusted with vanilla sugar. Well, now I’m seriously hungry. Shame on you.:-)

tangobaby March 18, 2008 at 9:31 AM  

Hi La Tanguerita,

I am sorry to have tortured you this morning! I strongly suggest that you NOT look at any of the links I have in my Food Lust section. There must be some luscious chocolatey baked goods near you to help you get over this? I hope so! I cannot send you a cupcake. It is too soft and the frosting would get on everything.

Hi Miss Tango,

I am with you. I have always wanted to try Red Velvet Chocolate Cake too. I think I want to have some because of the name. It is very seductive.

That sounds like a very tango kind of cake. You should make one and then post it on your recipe blog for us!

***

Just so you both know, the Sweet Chocolate cupcake was WAY WAY more chocolatey than the Chocolate Velvet cupcake. I ate the Sweet one first and then the Velvet one was a little anticlimactic.

Red Shoes March 18, 2008 at 10:12 AM  

Red velvet cakes are amazing...Mr. Red Shoes makes them for birthdays...comes from those years in the South. Makes me just purr, I tell you.

Annie Jeffries March 18, 2008 at 11:44 AM  

omigosh and be still my heart. Send me a list of your top ten and hubby and I will be there in a heartbeat. Bakery hunting and spotting is his favorite outdoor sport!!

tangobaby March 18, 2008 at 1:18 PM  

So, Ms. Red Shoes, I'm not really sure if you're saying that the Mister will make a Red Velvet cake for *anyone's* birthday? You're not pimping him out, are you?

Can we have a library celebration?red velvet cake party? I'll buy the ingredients! My birthday isn't until November.

Hi AnnieElf!!

You want a LIST?! OMG, I would love to do that for you. But not just bakeries? You can start with my People Places Things list on my blog, but I'll make sure to email you something fun so you can plan your next trip. Save your pennies!

Malevito March 18, 2008 at 1:51 PM  

Hi TB, how are you?

Along with your suggestions, I'd like to add Love at First Bite in North Berkeley:

www.loveatfirstbitebakery.com

They are pretty much strictly cupcakes, and with that focus they do it well. Right down the street from them there is another bakery called Masse's Pastries:

www.massespastries.com

This is my go-to place whenever I'm bringing dessert to whatever function and it's always a big hit. Their presentation is always stunning and the desserts themselves are decadent and rich but not too sweet. Enjoyable for all but I think with grown ups in mind.

Between these two shops there is a great little wine store called Vintage Berkeley:

www.vintageberkeley.com

They focus mostly on quality wines under 20 bucks from vintners that aren't garden variety.

Just a few suggestions when you're in the Gourmet Ghetto :)

tangobaby March 18, 2008 at 2:07 PM  

Hi Malevito,

Not only are you a talented writer and dancer, but you are a gourmand as well?

Thank you for the suggestions and I am sure they are wonderful. They are duly noted for the day that I actually leave Brigadoon (aka SF). Somehow I never seem to make it past the city limits any more.

Maybe we should sell cupcakes at milongas. I could do that when nobody asks me to dance...make a little cash on the side!

koolricky March 18, 2008 at 4:28 PM  

Hi TB,
how much is the weight allowance on transatlantic flights?
;)

tangobaby March 18, 2008 at 4:39 PM  

Dear Koolricky,

Do you mean the weight requirement for passenger (ie, me) or for extra luggage full of cupcakes?

I am going to say that you are a gentleman and are offering to pay for my additonal suitcase with the cupcakes that I will bring to you.

Don't worry, between the flamenco and the ballet, I'm working up quite a sweat so the cupcakes shouldn't cause me to have to purchase a second seat for myself. Unless I eat more cupcakes than I have dance classes per week.

Anonymous March 18, 2008 at 7:16 PM  

Food porn indeed! I'd say the Kuidaore blog from Singapore is rated XXX!

I've never had a Red Velvet Chocolate Cake but I did have Red Velvet Cake at a New Orleans wedding once. My sister-in-law told me that an entire bottle of red food coloring goes into one of these cakes.... Oops, maybe I shouldn't have said that.

The cake was delicious but I have to admit I couldn't get the image of all that red dye out of my mind.

tangobaby March 18, 2008 at 9:14 PM  

Hi Dutchbaby,

That Kuidaore blog is really off the hook, isn't it? That is food porn raised to another level. Yeah, it's like Food Pin-Up art.

I will try to forget what you said about the Red Velvet Cake so that in case I ever have some, I won't be too worried about it. In fact, I think I'm already over it!

Now I'm just waiting for my cake.

;-)

paris parfait March 19, 2008 at 2:10 PM  

Oh cupcakes - my serious weakness! Sigh. Must try to resist...

koolricky March 25, 2008 at 6:14 AM  

Tangobaby, obviously I was thinking about myself and wondering about the weight allowance of the carrier bags!
:D