(Local) Cupcake Update!

    Hey everyone! Due to college essays, apps, and all the other fun included in senior year, I haven't been able to post as often as I've wanted. However, today that's all about to change! This Cupcake Update is actually pretty momentous because it's the first post I've done from a place right here in my own town! Merrimack, New Hampshire is filled with exciting places and things to do, like going to the movies at cinemagic, going bowling and observing angsty middle schoolers make out, or hanging out at the good ol' Burger King off the highway. Like I said- Fun stuff. But as of yesterday, a new (actually worthwhile) place has opened in Merrimack. I'm talking, of course, about Cupcake Conspiracy!
    Cupcake Conspiracy is the newest, and only, cupcakery in Merrimack. Believe it or not, it's one of only a handful of cupcakeries in New Hampshire and even New England. Yesterday was their opening day and, as I was told by the owner Lisa Lefebvre, the customers were pouring in. She said there were about 6 customers in line at a time the entire day, with only two 3 or 4 minute breaks to take a breather. I went in today after school with two of my best pals, Amanda and Sam, to get an inside scoop on this so-called "conspiracy." While I met and discovered the idea behind Cupcake Conspiracy from Mrs. Lefebvre, they discovered the tasty deliciousness behind the cupcakes. Lisa, her husband, and her daughter, Stevia, all work at the cupcakery. When I first heard about a cupcakery coming to Merrimack, I was in absolute shock. I never thought something so great could come to Small-Town USA! I knew I had to find the story behind this novel idea. In the interview I had today with Mrs. Lefebvre, I asked the most basic question: "How did this all come to be?" Then she told me her simple, but inspirational, story. She had worked for a job she knew was not her passion. Truly she found her passion in baking and spent most of her time in the kitchen. Her husband had encouraged her to find something she loved, and after a recommendation from a close friend from another local business to open a bakery, she knew what she had to do. She found a property and signed the lease two days later. And after a tiring, busy month, the property went from "dirt floors" to a beautiful, colorful, and adorable cupcakery.
So while I was in the back asking all the questions, my friends were munching on some cupcakes! Amanda had the "Gertrude." This interesting name comes from Lisa's mother, Gertrude's, secret family vanilla frosting put on top of this treat. The cake is a red velvet. Sammie had a blueberry-lemon cupcake. Both of them said the cakes were moist and absolutely scrumptious. As for the frosting, in Sammie's words, "It was just as creamy, melty, and amazing as ice cream." I don't think it can get much better than that!

    Cupcake Conspiracy is planning on expanding their flavor variety as time progresses. In fact, they always have 6 flavors out for purchase. However, they will vary monthly, and one of the six will be changed weekly. So whenever you stop in for a cupcake, you should always be able to try something new! Their current hours are 11:30 am-4:30 pm. That's all for now about Cupcake Conspiracy, but I'll definitely be checking in on (And buying from) them often. Be sure to stop in yourself and try one of their fresh, creative flavors!

-The Oaklavore

Tapas, travelin', and tortillas: Ay mi!

A variety of Tapas!
(spain-recipes.com)

    Hola chicos! This next post will definitely be different from the previous foods that we've talked about because we'll be leaving the cupcakeries and cafes behind to travel to one of my favorite places in the world: Espana! For those of you who can barely speak english, let alone spanish, Espana means 'Spain.' This country is known for a variety of things, from its beaches to cathedrals, bull fights to tomato festivals, and even its sexy, robust accent. One thing you may not think of when you hear "Spain" is food. Or even worse, when you do hear this and think of food, you think tacos and enchiladas with salsa and chips. Well, I'm here to stop this terrible, frustrating misconception! Let's get one thing straight before venturing into the vast mundo of Spanish food...It is NOTHING like Mexican food. So stop thinking so! I'm sure now you're wondering, "Jeeze, what's the big rant about? How can they be different?" Excuse me for the rant, but it's one of my biggest pet peeves to ignorantly group one culture, whether it be their people or food, with another. Anyway, I'll stop this mini rant. This is about the food after all!
   To continue, Mexican food, along with other food from Latin cultures, is known for its common staples such as rice and beans, tomatoes, peppers, and many spices usually combined in a flour or corn bread tortilla. Spanish food, en la otra mano, is traditionally not spicy. If you go into a Spanish restaurant you will never find chips and salsa and you'll most likely not be able to order a burrito. Some popular Spanish staples are pork, seafood, rice, and potatoes, with a variety of veggies. And the Spaniards also have their own form of tortilla! However, it's very far from a piece of thin bread! The Spanish use the word tortilla to mean 'omelette.' Tortilla Espanola, my favorite dish I ate while I was in Spain last summer, is a potato omelet with finely chopped onions, eggs, salt and pepper, and olive oil. Just for you, my special readers,  I'll give you a great, even healthier, recipe for tortilla Espanola at the end of writing! This dish is served as an accompaniment to any meal of the day and is especially popular at dinner time as a tapa.That's one little word for a big variety of flavors and ingredients! Many Americans, I'm sure, don't know what a tapa is. Tapas are smaller portions of Spanish foods, served in bars mostly, for a light dinner. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day in Spain, so people don't really want a big dinner because they're already filled up.

Tapeo in Boston (Photo by Greg Neises)

   So where can you find tapas? Sadly, not in my beautiful hometown of Nashville (This might be a good thing because I'd probably be 30 pounds heavier at the end of the summer if there was). They're also not very popular in New England, but this is understandable because this region is made up mostly of mom 'n pop places and chains. Spanish restaurants are more popular in the southwest and big cities, where there is a lot of hispanic and latin influence. Thankfully there are tapas places in Denver and Houston; and I'm even more thankful that I ate some while I was in both cities! The first place I ever had tapas was actually Tapeo in Boston, Massachusetts. It's located on Newbury Street, amidst a variety of pricey boutiques, cafes, and other stores. As you first walk in, the atmosphere transports you from a busy Boston street to a shady Madrid hotspot. After sitting, a speedy masero brings you a hot basket of bread and asks for your drinks while you peruse el menu. Because the portions are small tastings, you should order many of them (My mom and I usually order 4 or 5 each). The food is delicious and quick and I definitely recommend the Queso de Cabra. It's a small pan filled with baked goat cheese and a tomato sauce (Remember- It's NOT spicy and NOT salsa!). It's customary to dip the bread into the mixture for a savory, melty, overwhelming bite of flavor that sings to your taste buds. Not only that, but combined with other sabores from other dishes, like the Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic shrimp in olive oil), and of course, the Tortilla Espanola, which is the best I've had in the 'states so far, your whole mouth will be in ecstasy. If you're ever in Boston, visit Tapeo for comida deliciosa, sabor tradicional, y servicio buenisimo!


   In Denver, my mom (My tapas partner-in-crime) and I went to the 9th Door restaurant, which I also highly suggest for tapas sabrosas. As always, we ordered about 6 plates each. Hers included many with chorizo, a very popular Spanish sausage, and jamon serrano, a very thinly sliced ham, so I couldn't sneak a bite of hers to try. But I ordered plenty of my own! My order included Boquerones (White anchovies smothered in olive oil and rosemary), Patatas Bravas (Baked potato slices with olive oil and spices),  Gambas al Ajillo (Although these didn't compare to the ones at Tapeo), Vierias con azafran (Seared sea scallops with citrus saffron sauce), and my favorite, la Tortilla Espanola. The 9th door had a great selection of different tapas and every day they serve around three specials of the day. Besides tapas, 9th Door also prepares racciones dishes. But be warned- racciones are far from tapas size. These are much larger portions of food, rather than just tastings. Common racciones include paella and fuller meat portions. The best tapa I had at 9th door was definitely la Tortilla. The presentation was extremely modern and it came with three different types of dipping sauces. The romesco sauce (The bright orange sauce on the right) was a bit sweet and acidic at the same time, but not spicy. The modern twist on this classic Spanish dish was its cubey appearance when it's usually sliced like a pie. Todo en todo, I would hit up 9th Door again any time. I give it a 4/5 stars, solely because the gambas were a bit weak on flavor.    
   Being so in love with tapas, I've tried many times to either make my own or try tapas I've had before. If you haven't realized by now, tortilla is my favorite tapa, so of course I've tried my own variations of it. While tortilla is pretty darn healthy for you, I've come up with a way to make it even healthier. Especially for people watching their cholesterol! Normally one tortilla takes about 7 full eggs, 2 potatoes, 1 white onion, and seasonings to taste. But my unique original recipe uses only egg whites and a rutabaga (A healthier potato substitute). I prefer the rutabaga over the potato because of the sweeter taste that it gives to the overall dish. I'll post the recipe bellow so you all can try it at home for a bite into the delicious world of tapas. But be warned, the most important (and challenging) parts of this little omelette are the stick and the flip. I'm sure you're wondering que en el mundo I mean. "The stick" is the stick to the pan that the veggies and the egg have on the skillet. In a normal recipe, olive oil is used to solve this. While olive oil is great for you as opposed to butter, it still adds a lot of fat when used. For anyone watching their fat content, I recommend using olive oil spray which cuts the calories and fat by at least half. The only problem with this is, you have to continually spray the veggies and the pan to keep "the stick" from happening. The other problem is "the flip." You have to flip the tortilla in order to cook both sides evenly. So when you believe the first side of the omelette is cooked, take the pan and place another plate with a larger circumference above the pan. Then flip the tortilla onto the plate and slide the uncooked side back onto the skillet to finish cooking.
     That's all so far on tapas, but trust me, there are so many more than what I described. Although tapas places aren't too popular yet around America, I challenge you to try and find one or even to look up different tapas recipes to make for yourself. Remember, you may not think you can cook, but really it's as simple as "pan comido!"

-The Oaklavore

Cherry on Top's Tortilla Espanola:

12 egg whites
Olive oil spray
1/2 of a rutabaga
1/2 of a white onion
Salt/Pepper to taste
Parsley for garnish

1 medium sized skillet

First, chop the veggies. Chop the onion into very small cubes. They're mainly used for a little flavor and you're not meant to really feel their texture. However, with the rutabaga, slice it into 1 inch rounds or chunks (A food processor helps SO much with this step). They make up the main substance of the tortilla. Once all the chopping is done, spray your skillet with the spray and turn the eye onto medium heat. When the pan is hot, add your vegetables. Spray and stir them periodically to keep from burning and once the rutabaga turns from a light yellow to a brighter yellow (You can pull one out to taste and see if the slice is soft), add your egg whites. Wait about 5-7 minutes, continually checking the underside of the tortilla. It should be similar to an omelette. Once you think the underside is cooked enough, perform the flip mentioned in my blog above. Then let the tortilla cook another 5 minutes so the egg is done throughout. After this step, slide your beautiful tortilla onto another plate, sprinkle it with parsley, and cut it however you'd like to serve. Buen aproveche!

Una Tortilla terminada!

More pictures:

Las Boquerones

Patatas Bravas

Vierias con azafran

Cupcake Update!

    Hello everyone! I'm currently writing this from good ol' Houston, Texas, my favorite city in the US. Not only is the weather here beautiful, but the shops, restaurants, and universities (Rice!) are fantastic as well. But Houston hasn't been my only travel destination this summer. Since early July, I've been staying in my cozy hometown of Nashville, Tennessee with my grandparents. As always, I try to see more and more of Nashville every time I go to not only rediscover places of my childhood, but also to experience new places for my future. This summer, my best chica, Madi, and I have been exploring Nash Vegas together and recording our findings. One place we discovered was Ivy Cake, a series of cupcakeries located in both Franklin, Tennessee and Brentwood, Tennessee.

    

  

 I'm always in the mood for cupcakes (What sane person isn't?!), so after a quick trip to Target, we walked 30 seconds away to the Brentwood Ivy Cake, found in the same Target plaza. As I walked in, I was surprised by the decor of the cupcakery. The walls had a classic flower design and half of the store hosted red velvet booths and tiny tables to sit and chow down. The other half was definitely better than the tables! A giant glass display case covered this side and a wide array of different cupcakes sat perfectly placed and ready to be bought and eaten. I perused the case with anxious eyes, excited about biting into one of the cute morsels. Ivy Cake bakes over 23 different flavors, so you can see how I was overwhelmed! I finally chose the carrot cake (If you cant' tell, carrot cake is a weakness of mine) with a cream cheese frosting. I also chose a mini cupcake called "Two Faced." This itty-bitty cake was a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting, drizzled with chocolate ganache. Madi got the "Big Dreams" cupcake (An entirely pink strawberry cupcake with tinted cream cheese icing), due to her obsession with all things strawberry. She also got a mini "Boss," which reminded me of a ice cream sundae cupcake. It's a custard-filled vanilla cupcake with eclair frosting, dipped in chocolate ganache, with a bright, red cherry on top! The normal cupcakes were three dollars each and the babies were one-seventy-five each; an average price for a cupcakery.


     Ivy Cake cupcakes are actually some of the best I've ever tasted. The cake on both the carrot and chocolate cakes was succulent and moist. Each bite of it was soft and spongey and along with the frosting, the cupcake was definitely a complete package. Both of my cakes, and Madi's also, had a great frosting to cake ratio which adds bonus points for Ivy Cake! Speaking of the frosting, the carrot cake's cream cheese was smooth and literally melted in my mouth after each nibble. The results were the same for the "Two faced" cream cheese. On that one the chocolate drizzle added a deeper, richer flavor to add a balance to the icing. Ivy Cake gets the ginger foodie's #1 spot for best cream cheese icing. Madi devoured her cupcakes and relayed her "Mmmmm"s between bites. Based on her reaction, I'm guessing we both could describe the desserts in one word: Tasty!

     Not only were the cupcakes delicious, but the service at Ivy Cake was kind and welcoming. The two women behind the counter, Sharon and Aubrey (Sorry if the spelling's off, girls!), immediately flashed big smiles and warm 'hello's. Their lovely dose of Southern Hospitality and delightful conversation kept us smiling too. The entire food adventure to Ivy Cake was definitely worthwhile and I'll surely go back. The only wish I have for Ivy Cake is to speak to Ivy Childers, the creator of the cupcakeries. I want to do this for a few reasons...1) To hear about the daily life of owning a cupcakery. I'm sure it's both stressful and rewarding, as most businesses are, but I think her job would also have a fun twist. Who wouldn't want to make and sell cupcakes all day long? I know I would! I'm also curious to her inspiration of starting Ivy Cake. and 2) To interview her about her appearance on Food Network's "Cupcake Wars." This is one of my favorite shows and I'd love to know her reaction to the judges, pressure, and crazy flavor combinations that press the limits of normal cupcakes. She was, sadly, not at the Brentwood location at the same time we were, otherwise I would've been asking questions galore!

Bottom left; Chocolate Vanilla Bean, Top left; Red Velvet
Top right; Chocolate strawberry, Bottom right; Hummingbird

On a side note, while I've been in Houston, I've revisited my favorite cupcakery, Celebrity Cupcakes. Today I bought four little minis to try (Red velvet, chocolate strawberry, chocolate and vanilla bean, and Hummingbird) because I want to try and taste all their flavors over the course of four days. It's a challenge I'm willing to take! Just as I remembered, the cake was ambrosial and dewy. Each time I chewed I tasted a more poignant flavor! And the icing was still creamy and delectable. Out of the four, I think the Red Velvet was my favorite. The lady I bought the minis from was actually the owner's mother and she told me that Red Velvet is their most popular flavor. I can definitely see(And taste!) why! The presentation and flavor of the cupcakes was top notch and, not to mention, adorable.  

I'll be sure to keep ya'll updated on my summer foodie adventures. There's a lot more to come, from tapas to sushi, and of course, more cupcakes. A crepe update is also on its way, so stay tuned for more delicious adventures of a ginger foodie!

-The Oaklavore  

More Pictures: 

   

Mini’s need love too!

         Left: Ivy Carrot Cake, Right: “Two Faced” mini

     

Funny name, serious crepes

      What do you think of when you think of Salem, Massachusetts? Most likely anything to do with pointy hats, flying broomsticks, and witch hunts galore. However, you're missing one key ingredient in this witchy brew: crepes! How does Salem tie into all this? Well, me being the crazy foodie I am, I was craving some delicious crepes besides those in the food court found in Pheasant Lane Mall. So I immediately did what any technology-age teen would do; I browsed the internet to find some scrumptious crepes somewhere in this frozen tundra. I came across very few options, a few located up in northern New Hampshire and a few in eastern Vermont. Well, no way was I going all the way to the Syrup state, and why on earth would I choose to go even more north? I was desperate for that light, fluffy bite of a crepe and I had to find some soon. Finally I stumbled across a website for a pretty silly sounding cafe located in Salem, Massachusetts. The name was "Gulu-Gulu Cafe." I was a little hesitant at first, seeing as this seemed to be as much of a crepery as McDonald's is. But I browsed anyway, hopeful to discover the heavenly delight that Ricky Bobby deemed "Thin pancakes." The crepe gods were apparently smiling on me that night, because after clicking the PDF menu I found the Teasers, Tidbits, and Crepes section where there was a decent selection of interesting, but promising-sounding crepes. Even reading the descriptions I almost started to drool and I knew that this was my next foodie adventure. 
     While calling up my tasteful, hipster pal, we planned a road trip down to Salem to stop my crepe craving in its tracks and also to see the city. I didn't know what to expect because I've hardly ever ventured in Mass, besides a few trips to Boston. But I was excited to not only eat, but to also explore. The next saturday, June 25th, we loaded up his little Saturn and we were off to Witch-town! With the hardly swift guidance of my dinosaur GPS, we arrived about an hour after setting out. As we approached the building, we saw a small cafe in downtown Salem- Basically what we expected. What we didn't expect were the giant dog heads plastered on the windows. The explanation for the dogs is apparently dogs are a symbol of cafes in Europe and the Gulu-Gulu Cafe was originally a cafe there. The owners of the second Gulu-Gulu (The one in good ol' America) met there and fell in love. They then decided to recreate the American Gulu-Gulu right in sleepy, little Salem. But long story short, we weren't there for dogs or Europe. We were there for some crepes!

Cordon Bleu Crepe

We walked into Gulu and I was in shock. In this old, witch-trial town, we had strolled into a chill hotspot for any kind of person. I saw middle-aged women typing on Macbooks, young adults of all colors, and every type of gender represented (Yes, even a transvestite was chowing down)! The music was a mix of classic oldies blaring from the rafters and vintage boardgames were tucked away in a cupboard for their weekly game night. We were seated in a cozy corner and our orders were taken shortly after. My hipster pal ordered the Cordon Bleu Crepe, a classic chicken, ham, swiss cheese mix in a regular crepe with crumbled bacon and  dijon mustard spread all over. I (Not being a pork eater due to my love for little piggies) ordered an a la carte creation of my own: a regular crepe with turkey, spinach, basil, mushrooms, and white cheddar cheese. To top off the meal I also ordered one of their dessert crepes, "The Eden." Normally this sweet crepe includes fresh cut green apples, strawberries, and almonds with a honey drizzle all over the dish. I left the almonds off because my pal happens to have a nut allergy (Remember from the Carrot Cake Cupcake? Same guy). Being the fruit addict I am, I also ordered the largest fruit bowl they had. Our crepes came out very shortly and we immediately dug in!     The Cordon Bleu Crepe was apparently delicious. My friend said it was very hearty and cheesy. Almost every bite that he pulled up with his fork was smothered in melted, gooey swiss cheese. He scarfed down every single bite in around 10 minutes (Darn you fast eaters). I, on the other hand, enjoyed each delicious bite. My crepe was packed with the ambrosial white cheddar, mushroom, and basil mixture, which all melded together to form a delectable blend of savory goodness. The rich slices of turkey also added texture and a smokey flavor to the airy crepe holding it all together. Combined with a sweet bite of fruit from the colorful bowl next to me, I was in Crepe Heaven. And of course, where there's a Crepe Heaven, there must be a Crepe Eden too. Once we both polished off the starter crepes, we shared The Eden crepe that I had also ordered. Now let's get this straight- I had never heard anything about Gulu-Gulu before. I had never heard of their crepes, and especially their Eden crepe. I bit into this crepe completely Gulu-blind. But once I did bite in, I had a flavor revelation. The combination of fresh cut, crisp, tangy green apples with the sweet acidity of the strawberries, all wrapped up in a fluffy, sweet crepe was absolutely DELICIOUS. Not only that, but the thing that made the crepe so exquisite was the many layers of natural, light honey drizzled across the plate. As I cut into each piece and lifted it to my lips, honey dripped from the crepe to my mouth and I tried as hard as I could to catch each drip to my tongue. I name this crepe one of the Top 5 things I have EVER eaten in my entire life. The honey alone I could drink like water. I recommend anyone to travel from near and far to eat this crepe. It is that. good. I could eat it for every meal and always be satisfied. 
     As soon as the meal was over, we tipped and left to explore the city a bit more. Overall, this food adventure was a complete success. The service was quick and friendly, the prices were good, and- Well, I've said enough about the food. I think you get the idea that Gulu-Gulu is a 5/5 Star meal meant for all kinds of people on any occasion. I can't wait to go back and sit down to crepes fit for the gods, and in this town, maybe for the witches. Whatever the case, Gulu-Gulu was definitely fit for a ginger foodie. 






-The Oaklavore




Some more pictures of the Gulu-Gulu Crepe Food Adventure:

My Turkey-Cheddar Crepe

"The Eden"

The Melty Goodness of the Cordon Bleu

Me savoring "The Eden"

Big flavor, little package

     Today, on this gorgeous, sunny, and pretty normal New Hampshire day, I thought I'd officially start my foodie postings with my favorite dessert. They always say "Life's too short, eat dessert first," so that's how I'm going to begin my blog; with the most delicious, cute little sweets ever...Cupcakes!
   I can't name a single person who's ever told me "Ah, not a fan of cupcakes." simply because they are irresistible! Who could turn down the epitome of adorable foods when it is truly the perfect balance of cake and frosting? They come in all different flavors, like the plain, yet scrumptious vanilla bean with vanilla buttercream frosting, to the more daring flavors, such as a salmon cupcake (Yes- With real salmon in it!) with cream cheese frosting. By baking cupcakes, a person can give out a dainty delight to many people without frosting and cake crumbs spilling all over the plate, like when cutting a cake-cake. So with cupcakes, one can avoid the mess when eating, while still hitting the flavor and cuteness head on. 
     If you ask anyone who truly knows me, I'm a Food Network/Top Chef junkie. Included in my beloved line up of food obsessed programing is Food Network's "Cupcake Wars." This show, going on 3 seasons now, challenges four competitors to bake unique, yet delectable, cupcakes for a specified event. There are three rounds: taste, presentation, and the final round, which involves baking a thousand cupcakes and designing a stand for them to sit on. A competitor is sent home after each round so, by the end, one baker will stand tall with a thousand cupcakes, a kick-butt stand, and a free invite to the chosen event. By watching this show I've been inspired to try almost any ingredient in a cupcake. The show has had rose water, peanut and bacon, tequila, and even salmon cupcakes, as mentioned earlier. The amount of creativity is far from the size of the cupcakes. 

     Speaking of size, cupcakes usually come in three different ones, from my experience. The minis (These little bites of love are about the size of a golfball), regulars (Normal cupcake size, about four times a mini), and giant cupcakes, which can be anywhere from 4 inches tall with a 4 inch diameter, to the "Big Top Cupcake" size, as seen on those infomercials. No matter the size though, in order to make a perfect cupcake, it must have what I like to call "The Perfect Frosting to Cake Ratio." If the cake is borderline pancake size with four inches of frosting swiveled on top, there's no way I'm scarfing that thing down. Yeah right. You might as well skip the cake all together and go to the store, buy a tub of Pillsbury frosting, grab a spoon, and dig in. I'll pass. But the same goes for a massive cake with a layer of icing SO thin that you are reminded more of a Krispy Kreme glazed donut than a cupcake. This is totally unacceptable and would get a "no" from the cupcake queen (Aka, myself). 

 As a food explorer, I am constantly searching for new places to try my favorite foods, including cupcakes. Go to any state in the south and you'll be able to find a vast number of what have been deemed "Cupcakeries." You may be asking yourself, "What on earth is a flippin' cupcakery?" Well, I'm gladly here to answer your silly question. A cupcakery is a bakery that only specializes in cupcakes. That way the bakery can focus on elevating their flavors and recipes for their cute, little cakes instead of other pastries. For some reason cupcakeries are much more popular in the south and west, in states like Tennessee, Texas, California, and Arizona, while they are nearly stagnant here in the north. I've visited a variety of cupcakeries in my quest for the best cupcakes, but a few stand out to me to share with you. First off is Celebrity Cupcakes in Houston, Texas. I hope to go to college there next year, and so while visiting a certain amazing college (Go Rice!), I stumbled across this hidden gem after walking back from a delicious tapas dinner in the Rice Village. It looks small and questionable from the outside, as most cupcakeries do, but once my mom and I went in, I was in cupcake heaven. They had a huge variety of flavors, from classic red velvet with a light blue cream cheese frosting, to a creation of their own, the "Hummingbird." This DELICIOUS cupcake was a luscious, soft, moist, banana-pineapple-spice cake with a light, whipped cream cheese frosting. To top off the already glorious cake, a simple pecan was perfectly placed at the tip-top of the icing. After sitting there for 10 minutes trying to pick which one to get, I couldn't help but choose a dark chocolate cake with strawberry buttercream frosting (I'm a sucker for the chocolate and fruit combo). But that was only the first night! The second night in Houston we went back to the Rice Village for some incredible sushi (More on sushi to come, folks- It's my favorite food) and as we walked back to the hotel, we passed Celebrity Cupcakes again. I had no choice; I ran in with my mom, viewed the rainbow of flavors, and was again, in pain of which one to chose. I wanted all of them! After an extremely difficult process of elimination, I chose the Hummingbird and the chocolate strawberry cupcakes (Yes- I had to get two. I ran out of the store quickly after purchase to avoid buying the whole selection). My mom got the Hummingbird and an adorable vanilla bean with pink vanilla frosting and a dainty sugar pearl. 

I could go on and on about this one cupcakery's stunning desserts, but then I couldn't tell you about some other awesome places for kick-butt deliciousness.
     Here in New Hampshire, cupcakes are scarce. Maybe it's the two feet of snow that scares cupcake bakers from the northeast, or maybe it's the questionable success of a cupcakery in the north...Definitely must be the snow. How do I know this? Well right in our own Manchester, New Hampshire, a revelation has blessed us all. Finally, after nearly SEVEN years of living in this frozen tundra, under a constant search for a non-supermarket cupcake, came Queen City Cupcakes (My northern cupcake savior <3 ). This cupcakery is family owned and located on Elm Street in downtown Manchester. But a piece of advise: Get there right when they open at 11:30. Why? Well, remember how I said it must be the snow, not the questionable success of a cupcakery, that keeps the bakers away? This cupcakery is the most successful I've ever seen! Right at 11:30 a.m., my friend and I went to try this food miracle on Elm Street. He had never been to a cupcakery, but I had and thought I knew what to expect; Little store, great selection, yankee-candle-worthy smell, and a few trickling customers in and out. Well, I was wrong about that last part. The minute we arrived there was already a line bursting out the door. Men, women, babies (Thankfully they weren't crying or this might've been a totally different experience...), and even some dogs were standing in line to buy some cupcakes. I was astonished! I had no idea there was such a demand for cupcakes in the little Granite State. We waited patiently for our turn and after about ten minuets, we were at the front of the line. But while waiting, I noticed a little section in the store of hand-crafted cupcake art. I ran over, snagged a cute framed picture of a chocolate cupcake, and went back in line. I ordered three cupcakes because I had been totally dogged the day before (You should know, I attempted going to Queen City the day before but at only 4 p.m. they were already SOLD OUT. The store has no official closing time, it's merely whenever they sell out). So obviously I had to be a fatty and order three to make up from the previous day's losses. I got the chocolate mint cupcake, the carrot cake, and the vanilla bean with vanilla buttercream.

Carrot Cake Cupcake from Queen City Cupcakes

The presentation was pretty and I was excited. There was even a great frosting to cake ratio, which really pumped me up. But after diving into the cakes, I wasn't too thrilled. The carrot cake was great, but had nuts in it. While I prefer it this way, not all of our friends in this big, wide world can have nuts (Example? My buddy who went with me on this cupcake adventure), so they're left out. Boo. But at least I enjoyed it! The second cupcake, the mint one, was very disappointing. The chocolate cake was just that- Chocolate cake. No sparkle. No richness. No lava. Nothing. Just cake. And the mint frosting was missing the punch of that mintyness that you're supposed to taste. You know those York Patty commercials where as soon as they take a bite a wind literally blows them away with minty goodness? I wanted that and was left with a lackluster cupcake and no minty wind. The third cupcake, a classic vanilla cake and frosting, was again pretty dull. Overall, Queen City was a good start to bringing cupcakes up where chowda and lobster reign supreme. But I'm still waiting for a rockin' northern cupcake. So far, the south has won the war- The cupcake war that is. 

A Tasteful Introduction

     We all eat. Some of us eaters merely eat to survive, scarfing an energy bar and a mountain dew for a little kick during the day. Others overeat to the point of a few extra muffins becoming a full-blown muffin top. People eat to celebrate holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, confirmations, you name it; people love to eat. It brings people together through an experience created through deep thought, hard work, a lot of waiting, and sometimes, a bit of stress. But in the end, the refined, scrumptious, beautiful product is almost always worth the wait.
     That's where foodies come in. A foodie, as defined by dictionary.com, is simply a person keenly interested in food, especially in eating or cooking. These people, who are so fascinated by the mere thought of a curious, unique taste from a combination of ingredients, genuinely live for food. Not only do they live for their own enjoyment of every delicious morsel, but a true foodie will spread the word to others so they can venture out and have their own tasty experience.
     I, a feisty, redheaded, foodie, new to the blogging world, will document every worth-while food adventure I go on here in this little blog; whether that be me trying some challenging recipe only Julia Child herself can seem to master, or me trekking out into our vast world, filled with yummy bites around every corner, to discover the ways others have mastered cooking. So attempt the recipes posted, search for a new, diverse flavor that's new to your taste buds, and, most of all, enjoy the time spent getting to know yourself by uncovering the whimsical foodie in us all.