L’Shanah Tovah to all our amazing Jewish friends out there! And for everyone who doesn’t know what that means, it’s “Happy New Year” in Hebrew- it’s Rosh Hashanah! THAT means it’s time for the once a year appearance of our “L’Shanah Tovah” cupcake- an apple cake topped with a honey-vanilla buttercream, roasted apple and drizzled with honey.
Neither Matt and I are remotely Jewish, but I’ve always felt drawn to Jewish cooking for two reasons:
Reason Number One: Jewish food doesn’t just happen. EVERYTHING has a reason or a symbolism- food is an essential form of storytelling, which I absolutely love. You don’t just eat a meal- every single dish, every ingredient has a rich subtext that connects you to your ancestors or some sort of mythology. For this cake, the apples and honey represent the sweetness we hope the new year will bring. Also, in Jewish mysticism, apples are a symbol of “Shekhinah”, or the feminine side of God, who is supposed to look down on everyone at the New Year and judge them for the behavior they had over the past year. In eating apples and honey, it’s thought that Shekinah will look at people more kindly.
See, and you thought it was just a cupcake.
Reason Number Two: I kinda sorta messed up this whole blessing ritual dealie at a bar mitzvah that was my first ever catering gig about ten years ago. I blame this on my Italian Catholic upbringing in South Brooklyn, and not being invited to the bar mitzvah of the one Jewish kid that went to McKinley Junior High School. I have some guilt issues about it.
Anyway, long story short there’s a set of twins from Brooklyn Heights, about 23 years old, that may not technically be men from a religious standpoint. My bad.
Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake also returns today! I’ve never ruined a religious ceremony with that one!
Clockwise from front: The Julia, L’Shanah Tovah, Car Bomb, Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake
L’Shanah Tovah: Apple spice cake, honey vanilla buttercream, roasted apple, honey drizzle
The Julia: Pear brandy cake, brandy buttercream, brandy snap cookie
Car Bomb: Chocolate Guinness stout cake, Jameson whiskey ganache, Bailey’s buttercream
Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake: Pumpkin cake, cheesecake buttercream, chocolate fudge
Available at:
Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: Corner of Flatbush & Willoughby, Downtown Brooklyn
Robicelli’s at Madison Square Eats: Corner of 25th Street & 5th Avenue, Flatiron District
Hom: 88th Street & Third Avenue, Bay Ridge
Blue Apron: Union Street off 7th Avenue, Park Slope
Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry Street off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Radish: North 8th off Bedford Ave, Williamsburg
Joe Columbia University: West 120th btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights
Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island (Available Thursday)
Red Hook Lobster Pound: Roving Food Truck (whoopie pies only)
