Red Velvet is Everywhere?

Recently, J and I crashed (we happened to be in the mall shopping for new cookware) the renovated Crate and Barrel opening in Natick - and they had cookies and beverages to celebrate. Look what I found! :) A red velvet mini whoopie pie. The flavor was so-so, but isn't it cute?!

Retired Song of the week: Glittering Clouds by Imogen Heap

This should have been retired a while ago but I'm going to try to be better with my weekly song posts now :)

Fall

Fall has always been my favorite season. I find something incredibly romantic about the season and love walking through the crisp fresh air, admiring the changing colors of the leaves, apple picking, bundling up in warm cozy sweaters, sipping hot cocoa or cider and snuggling.

This morning, I stopped by Wilson's Farm in Lexington, MA. It was a foodie's paradise. For an hour, I walked up and down the aisles of fresh produce and breads - daydreaming about what recipes I would be trying with them. The smell of the freshly made apple cider donuts wafted through the air and reminded of high school when my friend Ellen and I would rollerblade to Wilson's farm to enjoy one of their perfect nut covered candy apples.

Apple cider donuts in the fryer and candy coated apples in the background...
Heirloom tomatoes and mixed basil

My Loot!

Wilson's Farm 10 Pleasant St, Lexington, MA. 02421 (781) 862-3900

Hidden Food Gem - Pacific Puffs

While in SF last weekend, I was determined to get a RVC from That Takes the Cake in the Marina District - since I had a pleasant experience with them in May. After we picked up the cupcakes, we drove down Union St. to the next yummy stop - La Boulange (which I will blog about another day). Something caught my eye....

I gasped with delight, and apparently the salesman/ owner of the store saw my expression through his store window and our car window and beckoned me to check it out! I told Jason to pull the car to the side, and ran into the little store where, I guessed correctly, gourmet cream puffs were sold! There were so many varieties, so I got two even though we were stuffed and already equipped with 3 cupcakes. I justified this to Jason - "You only live once!"
OMG. They were incredible. Jason - who is a big connoisseur of cream puffs declared these the best he's ever eaten! I had previously enjoyed the "Bearded Papa" chain of cream puffs, but these really blew the competition out of the water. They were amazing, the puff was light, and really showcased the delightful cool and melt in your mouth cream.

Pacific Puffs, 2201 Union St (Between Fillmore St & Steiner St), San Francisco, CA. 94123 (415) 440-7833. www.pacificpuffs.com

I think I found my favorite Red Velvet!

J and I have been traveling more or less for the last month and we've eaten and seen a lot of amazing things that I plan on sharing, so please keep checking the blog for updates over the next few weeks! But, first things first - I think I found my favorite red velvet cupcake!!!

Who would have guessed that the popular resort town of Truckee, in North Lake Tahoe would host the most delicious red velvet cupcake I've tasted so far?!

As I was strolling through Truckee last Sunday afternoon, a pink cupcake with luscious frosting caught my eye through the store window. I was a bit skeptical about this "Wagon Train Coffee Shop" - their baked goods weren't the most aesthetically pleasing - the cookies were lumpy bumpy or unadorned, the cupcakes simple and humble. So, when I saw that pink cupcake amongst the others, I wondered - is that a strawberry cupcake? or could it be.... RVC? Devoted to my quest to find the "Best RVC" - I had to ask, and to my surprise and glee - it was indeed a Red Velvet Cupcake!

RVC usually contains a considerable amount of red dye (in fact, so much that in the past, it has stained my fingers and teeth). This one looked, natural and it's pink color actually threw me off. But one bite into it, all my doubts were cast aside. It was moist, with a rich buttermilk yet balanced and nuanced flavor. The cream cheese frosting tied it together beautifully. Once I finished eating it, I doubled back and bought another one for Jason. The salesgirl was pleased, and told me this was her "grandma from New Orlean's secret recipe." Jason agreed. This one was a winner.

I do have to give an honorable mention to That takes the cake - in the marina district of SF. I've blogged about the RVC from them before - so if you're curious, please refer to May 2009. :)

Wagon Train Coffee Shop: 10080 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA. 96161 (530) 587-7574