Cupcake Capers

Carrot with Cream Cheese Frosting

A tiny customer in cupcake heaven

Just a quick report today folks...our schedules forced us to eat cupcakes for breakfast again this week. My partner in cupcake crime and I chose the Carrot with Cream Cheese Frosting. Jess tasted hers first and said, "This frosting is Ridiculous". She was so right. It was so soft and creamy, with a touch of sprinkled nutmeg and the cake was soft with just the right amount of carrots, walnut pieces and a raisin or two. It was like eating the best carrot cake you've ever had, but it was a cupcake. I'm actually thinking about going and getting another one because you know, carrots are really good for you.

Cupcake Capers

Key Lime Cupcake

Italian Coffee

Write-up in the San Mateo Times

Key Lime Sauce in the center

Cute bicycle owned by my partner in crime

Yesterday evening, Jess and I went to Vanilla Moon Bakery for our new joint project of taste-testing cupcakes once a week. To our dismay, it was closed! (Well they have to get rest sometime don't they). Our dismay was short-lived, as we quickly thought of a plan to go the next morning. Yes, they open bright and early and this would be perfect. Cupcakes for breakfast!

So there we are this morning at 8am, peering through the glass cases and wondering what would be appropriate for breakfast. Of course they have cinnamon buns and freshly baked scones, but we do need to taste cupcakes. The chocolate looked a little heavy, and I had the vanilla last week, so a Key Lime Cupcake it was ~ for both of us it turns out.

It smelled heavenly. I touched the meringue frosting to my lips and it was so soft. I took a bite. Oh did I pick a good one! The cupcake was similar to vanilla but had the essence of key lime zest throughout. The frosting was light and creamy. Then I hear an excited voice from my partner in crime. She has discovered gold in the center. I took one more bite to discover that it's key lime sauce, which has the feel of custard but a very distinct key lime flavor. As we ooh and ahh to the Perego family about this creation (I think they might like us), we hear about the story of their delicious coffee.

It's Doge Rosso coffee, imported directly from Italy. We learned there is a Caffé del Doge in Palo Alto, but it is very rare to find as the company is very strict about who sells their coffee. As Christie Perego is charming and speaks Italian, she was able to convince the company to let her sell their Doge Rosso coffee in her cupcakery. A representative came over to make sure she had the right equipment and spent hours teaching them all how to make it, so it was represented perfectly. Well they did a darned fine job because it is absolutely delicious.

Jess cheerfully rode off on her bicycle to write her review, and I went to work, happily knowing that I was probably the only person in my office who had cupcakes for breakfast. Until next week's capers...

Cupcake Capers

This is the first edition of Cupcake Capers, where I dutifully explore the new cupcake shop in my town and eat the cupcakes, so that you can get some idea as to what they taste like. The irony is not lost on me that this cupcake posting comes directly after one entitled "Healthy".

I'm not alone in this new tasting venture. My dear friend and fellow San Carlosan, Jess Nichols, will be participating as well. We have a standing date to meet at Vanilla Moon Bakery once a week so that we can review a different cupcake each visit. You may remember that I love cupcakes a LOT, so this plan couldn't have been more ingenious (hands rubbing together).

Today's review starts by saying how incredibly nice Christie Perego and her family are. Jess and I met them last Thursday, the day after their official opening. They were so welcoming and genuinely warm to everyone. Next to a good product, that particular quality in a business is what keeps me coming back. The shop is clean and nicely designed with dark furniture, deep purple walls and fresh gerbera daisies on each table.

Vanilla Moon Bakery owner Christie Perego and her brother Aaron Perego

Vanilla with Vanilla Buttercream

Forward to 5:00pm sharp today. My pick was Vanilla with Vanilla Buttercream. The first thing I did was smell it. It smelled good! Next, I took a bite and said, "Mmmmmm". The people at the table next to me were also saying "Mmmmmm".

The vanilla flavor was just right and the cake was light and fluffy. The buttercream frosting was thick but had a lightness to it and just slightly rich. The periwinkle sprinkles added a nice touch.

The last photo in this slideshow - do you see the little boy expressing physical joy? He had just eaten (half of) a red velvet cupcake. His Mom's review is here.

If you're mad - mad because I've taunted you with photos of delicious cupcakes, well I truly understand. Just look away! And the rest of you, stay tuned until next week's Cupcake Capers!

Hostess gift

Going to a party anytime soon? Need an idea for a great hostess gift?

When someone comes to your soirée armed with a fancy package of bacon wrapped in a bacon-colored bow, you know you've done something right in your life.

Happiness is...

...Watching The Hills finale with my buddy Jess, in PJ's, cozy under a blanket. With intelligent discussions such as, "Do you think Lauren will get to go to Paris"? and "I wonder if Spencer and Heidi will break up!" and Jay in the background making wisecracks. ("This show is about nothing"!)

Ah, nothing. Until Paris, Jess!

Working

Tomorrow I am showing my work at the warehouse where I rent space with other artists. I am pretty excited about it! Jess will be there with Rosina Red Designs and Jay will be there with his photos. I have to go hang some little posters at some coffee shops on my lunch break today. My Mom is baking a ton of chocolate chip cookies for it.

Linden Street Warehouse Artists
Holiday Open Studios!
This Saturday, Dec. 1, 10am - 5pm
275B Linden Street, Redwood City
Across the street from Target, behind Sleep Train

Participating Artists:

Adele Seltzer
Annie Ahern
Bonny Novesky
Colleen Sullivan
Jamie Welsh Watson
Jay Watson Photography
Kalani Engles
Lisa Atoji
Rosina Red Designs
Sean Smith
Stephen Browning

Thank you

Thank you, my dear friend Jess. I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Does anyone notice this blog's new banner? Before, it was a sad rectangle with a Courier font. I wondered how one could make beautiful blog banners such as this one, which makes me drool. And then today, Jess, who is really smart and really determined (smart & determined being a lethal combination), has her 4-year old son Jaden call me today at work. A little voice on the other end says, "Jamie? Can my Momma talk to you for a little while and tell you about a gift"? Oh, well of course, I said! And then the excited Jess comes on the line and asks if I can please check my e-mail now for a gift! A gift! And low and behold appeared in my inbox an e-mail, with a subject line of your surprise, containing the jpg of the beautiful banner you see above. She made it herself, she figured out how, and I'm about to cry typing this because she is just so sweet. And by the way, she made herself a beautiful blog banner today as well. That's alliteration! And that's a great blog to check out.