Kara's Take II

I have been back to Kara's Cupcakes in Walnut Creek now a couple of times as well as the one located in Ghiradelli Square, San Francisco.  I thought I should do an updated review too! So here are my new cupcake discoveries.

SF trip cupcakes:

Fleur de Sel (top left), PB&J (top right), and Key Lime Pie (bottom)

My Favorite = The Key Lime Pie one by a longshot!!

The cake was so moist and had a key lime filling which was sweet and tangy. The bottom was a graham cracker crust and it was topped with a cream cheese like frosting and little sprinkles and of course a fondant flower cut-out. It was seasonal, so if you see it in the summertime, GET IT!!

Doesn't that just look like heaven?



Worst Cupcake = PB&J

I like cupcakes, but this one was not a star. I had such high hopes for it too! Like the Key Lime, this flavor was limited-time only (thank god!). It was supposed to have a peanut butter frosting on top and a strawberry (jelly) filling. Unfortunately it was super dry and not very flavorful :(

Boo :(

The one cool thing was the Kara's Cupcake-mobile thing outside of the shop. They had a father's day display in the window :)

Even though I was graced with a dry, unastonishing cupcake, it will not deter me from going back to Kara's. I find their seasonal flavors to be very good, and I still have my filled favorites.  They remain the Banana Caramel and the Key Lime. I also tried the mini versions of the Java Chip and the Raspberry Dazzle. Java Chip = eh. Raspberry = pretty good.

Go find a Kara's if you live in California and pick out your favorites!

Stephanie, WWT

Sweet Treats and More in Chelsea!

So being the food lover that I am, I had to seek out Chelsea Market in NY. After some confusing subway rides and me hoping that I was going in the right direction I finally made it!

When I first walked in I found the food network sponsored James Beard Foundation section where they had free samples of cakes and cookies as well as a restaurant and a schedule of planned activities. I signed up for a raffle and actually won a food network thermos!! I was so excited I never win anything!

So after I won my little green thermos, I was on my way exploring the market. I ended up crashing a food tour (oops). I thought this guy was just giving an informational talk about one of the bakeries so I stopped to listen. After he was done he informed me that "this is a private food tour." I was so embarassed, so I went to seek out some sweets!

The spread of cupcakes at Eleni's

Aren't these NY cookies adorable?

Shoe Cake!

In case you can't find your way

After stopping to look everywhere including some awesome kitchen stores I was off to navigate through the masses of people again.

Sampling different olive oil and balsamic flavors

Try these at the Filling Station

Freshly baked Easter bread baskets

With real eggs inside!

Then, I unexpectedly came across a Prive designer sale! I tried on some clothes and ended up getting a Free People top for only $20! It was so fun and a great experience, although I wasn't used to trying on clothes in a huge dressing room in front of other people, but I quickly got over that.

Overall, I had a great time at the market and hope to go back someday and eat at the restaurant named after its famous iron chef, Morimoto. Foodies will enjoy the market because it has something for everyone, from soups and sandwiches, to gelato and cupcakes, you're sure to find something that will fit your needs.  There is also an impressive kitchen supply store there too. If you're in New York and are in the area, I would say the market is worth checking out, but not a necessity.

And... when I got back from my long day I came home to my hostel to find a nice present from a friend I had met from the Fat Witch Bakery, which has a location in Chelsea Market. They specialize in brownies and bars.

Thank you Chris!

Next stop on my food tour through NY...Eataly! Stay tuned!

Stephanie, WWT

Magnolias, Pistachios, and Bananas, Oh My!

Starting off my reviews of New York is the fabulous Magnolia Bakery!

As you can see, the one I ran into was near Radio City Music Hall.

I had originally hoped to go here as I had heard about their fantastic cupcakes and banana pudding. Fortunately, I just happened upon the Rockefeller location by chance and stopped in when it was nearly empty around 10:30 am. Although they only had about 5 different selections of cupcakes at the time, that didn't bother me because I knew they were being made fresh. Quality over quantity right?

I had to order a pistachio because I am obsessed with anything green and nutty tasting! Ok, well maybe I just really like pistachio flavored things. Anyway, after asking the wonderfully polite lady manning the cupcakes about some of the other flavors, she graciously gave me a pistachio cupcake and a small container of banana pudding. Let me just start by saying the small was not small at all, however that did not deter me from finishing off the container later that night.

Almost gone! = saddest moment of my life! :(

It was fantastic! Best banana pudding I have ever tasted, hands down. No artificial, boxy-jello-pudding container-like taste. The bananas and cookie pieces were just heaven. Where do I start with the cupcake? The frosting wasn't grainy at all, but more like a pillowy, fluffy, airy, blob of goodness atop of a pistachio flavored cupcake. Yes... pistachio flavored cake. That's why I chose this one so I could taste the actual cake. BEST CUPCAKE EVER!! Like, seriously. The nuts on top + the airy frosting + the moist, nutty cupcake = Perfection.

Insider tip: Get a container of pudding to-go and throughout the day while you're exploring the city you have a snack you can whip out and eat on a park bench or something. My pudding lasted a whole day of walking and when I got it home to put it in the fridge it was still fine, like, it hadn't melted or anything like that.

The bakery itself was very fast moving and efficient for so little space and so many people. Although it was nearly deserted when I first walked in, when I had ordered and paid there was barely enough room to walk around. Don't get discouraged! The cupcakes and pudding are definitely worth waiting!

I ate my cupcake at a little counter with barely enough space for my plate, but I didn't care. It was amazing! The atmosphere is really inviting too.

After a long day of walking, it was nice to sit down with my leftover container of banana pudding and write some postcards. Honestly, I was surprised I made it through an entire day without finishing the container. Can you say... ultimate self-control?

Anyway, the moral of this posting is if you are ever in New York, GO TO MAGNOLIA BAKERY!! I also found the location in Grand Central Station underground in the dining concourse. There are various other locations to check out as well.

What is your favorite cupcake?

Stephanie, WWT

Kara's Cupcakes Review

I recently discovered on a trip back home to California that there is a Kara's Cupcakes located only ten minutes away from my house in Walnut Creek, CA!

The first Kara's was founded in San Francisco by executive pastry chef Kara Lind, whose cupcake empire has now grown to six stores across the bay area. The Walnut Creek store is fairly new, but I was so impressed by the simple, yet chic, atmosphere.

Photo from The Cork Board blog

I went with my mom on a weekday for some shopping and browsing and we decided to stop in and get some breakfast cupcakes. We both opted for the filled cupcakes for $3.25 which have an awesome filling inside.I tried the Banana Caramel, which is a filled cupcake with a caramel filling, and a silky cream cheese frosting. It was amazing and reminded me of a sweet banana cake, similar to a carrot cake.

My mom tried the filled Fleur de Sel cupcake, a chocolate cupcake with caramel filling, and ganache frosting topped with Fleur de Sel. Hers was equally delicious, but I personally preferred the spices in the Banana Caramel. Cupcakes and coffee, a perfect way to start out the day. Service was wonderful and we even went back after we had shopped a bit to take one home for my dad. They even have cute little mini cupcakes, which are just smaller versions of all of their regular cupcakes.

I will definitely be back this summer to try the Raspberry Dazzle (a chocolate cupcake with raspberry cream filling) the Passion Fruit (vanilla cupcake with passion fruit) and probably the Java and Kara's Karrot cupcakes.

Photo taken from Amuse Bouche blog

Kara's also makes full size cakes and there are gluten free versions of the Sweet Vanilla, Chocolate Velvet, and Coconut cupcakes. You should definitely travel to the nearest Kara's if you live in the bay area. You will not be disappointed and will be treated to a decadent treat of goodness!

Check out their menu here!

-Stephanie, WWT