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"