Robicelli's

We occasionally bake things for celebrities. I never take pictures or tweet about it or things like that because the way we see it, when you’re enjoying something sweet, it’s a little indulgent moment just for you. I don’t need to be sticking my face up in that, blowing you up to the world, ruining your little pocket of “me time” just because you’re famous! Enjoy whatever it is you’re eating! Cupcakes and such don’t care about what tv show you’re on or how many albums you’ve sold- they just want to make you smile in your tummy.

However, today I’m going to have to blow up someone’s spot and do a bit of bragging, because this is just too. Freaking. Cool.

Ladies and gentlemen - today we have made cupcakes for….

WINNER OF THE 2013 KENTUCKY DERBY ORB!!!

Mind you, this is the first time we’ve ever made anything for a horse, so I don’t know if he gets to eat any cupcakes, or if his handlers get to slowly eat it in front of him, inciting him into a jealous rage and making him want to win more. That could very well be the case.  However what I DO know with absolute certainty is that horseys are the super-duper best, and Orb is apparently King of the Horses! SUCK IT, EVERY HORSE I’VE EVER ACTUALLY PUT MONEY ON! I’M A WINNER NOW!

Know who else is a winner? Your moms. And this weekend is Mother’s Day, meaning you should pick her up some special cupcakes, like our only-four-times-a-year Strawberry Champagne, or two of our Golden Girls cupcakes, or Banana Nutella (what mother doesn’t like Nutella? Aside from the ones with life threatening nut allergies?). You should buy your mom a few of these, load some Dirty Dancing up on Netflix, then slowly back out of the room and keep your freaking mouth shut all day. That’s the gift I’m hoping for.

Strawberry Champagne: Champagne cake, strawberry champagne buttercream and compote, edible gold dust

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Estelle Getty: Amaretto cake, cheesecake buttercream, amaretti cookies

Banana Nutella: Banana cake, Nutella buttercream, banana hazelnut praline

Building on Friday’s post- Rachel isn’t the only one with a new book out. Our good friend (and former employee) Siobhan Wallace of Blondie and Brownie fame has just released the authoritative guide to the NYC street food scene: New York a la Cart.

Siobhan is the one who looks like she’s about to stab someone even though she’s eating chocolate dipped soft serve ice cream. It’s reasons like that one that cause me to fall deeper and deeper in love with her every single day.

I know lots of our readers are living outside of NYC, and you need to get a copy of this just as much as us natives do. Aside from covering some of the better known, “new wave” or fancy well funded food trucks, Siobhan and Alex sought out vendors from all five boroughs — ones that represent the immigrant experience, scrappy entrepreneurs  trucks that have been in families for generations.  And they don’t just get their stores — they get their recipes, too!  There is no food that is more New York that “street meat”, and yes, there’s recipes for that in here. There’s recipes for real NY hot dogs, tacos, dumplings, dosas, shaved ice, ceviche, and tons more.

Our Ultimate Nacho giveaway is still going on this week- remember to tweet us with why you want a free book and tag it #UltimateNachos.  Both books can be found on Amazon, though I like doing my cookbook shopping from a small independent retailer when possible.  

Now go eat cupcakes while I get back to copyedits on our upcoming book.  I swear, this book is going to get finished……….eventually.

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

PB&J: Vanilla cake, peanut butter buttercream, grape jelly, roasted peanuts

S’Mores: Chocolate cake, speculoos pudding, toasted marshmallow buttercream, ganache, graham cracker crumbs

Blueberry Cobbler: Vanilla cake, vanilla buttercream, blueberry compote, brown sugar streusel

Another milestone happens in my life today! Today is the day I get the chaperone my first ever field trip for Atticus’ kindergarten trip to the Staten Island Zoo. And that means I get to see…….

THIS GUY!

I don’t know what this eagle’s name is (I call him Petey), but bald eagle and I are total BFFs. Every time I go to the Staten Island Zoo this guy will fly down from whatever perch he’s on to come look at me like he’s all hard, and I’m all “Awwwww Petey! Who’s a cutie pie? YOU are! Yes you are! Yes you are!”. Then Petey’s like:

….because he’s from Staten Island and all, and he’s got to look like a tough guy. I’m not fooled. This bird freaking loves me.  

So point is, I’m going to hit the zoo today, all the animals will flock around me, and I’m going to win the title of “coolest mom ever”. Or “first mom eaten by a bald eagle on a field trip”. Either or.

Now business stuff- if you’re out of New York City and want us to ship you our flourless Passover brownies, you need to place your order online TODAY for them to ship out 2-day on Wednesday. For those of you in NYC you can contact us directly for them- we’ll be delivering next Monday. And of course- today’s cupcakes!

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Duckwalk: Vanilla cake, blueberry port mascarpone buttercream, port simmered blueberries

Estelle Getty: Amaretto cake, cheesecake buttercream, crushed amaretti cookies

Milk & Cookies: Brown sugar chocolate chip cake, mascarpone buttercream, crushed chocolate chip cookies

The only movie I saw in theaters last year was “Brave”. Last “grown up” movie I saw in theaters was For Your Consideration in 2006. Yet every year I watch the Oscars, and have REALLY STRONG FEELINGS about it.  

This year, biggest feelings in this house was about the Diet Coke commercial. Rrrrrrraaaawwwwwrrrrrr. 

For the young’uns that follow us, these are the commercials Diet Coke used to show when I was a teenager:

YES.

YES YES YES.

WHY WAS IT NOT TOO HOT FOR PANTS.

So last night THIS masterpiece flashes across my television screen mid-Oscar, my jaw drops open and I don’t know what happened for the next couple of minutes because I must of zoned out, but when I came to Matt was PISSED. 

Hmph.

Every day, I see hundreds of women objectified to sell everything from beer to crackers. And one company- ONE- allows me to objectify a man from the comfort of my couch? I say: BRING IT.  I will drink diet soda by the palletful if this continues, regardless if it’s turining into cyanide or other mysterious substances in my digestive tract and slowly dissolving me from within! 

But Matt still has a problem with it. He says its degrading and disrespectful, that it reeks of desperation when a company is willing to stoop so low as to need to trot out a half naked man to sell its product, and that I’m as bad as any sexist man out there when I ogle a Diet Coke guy.

Whatever- I think he’s just jealous. Enjoy your Monday, everyone!

Southern Belle: Banana bourbon cake, vanilla buttercream, brown butter bourbon pecans

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Milk & Cookies: Brown sugar chocolate chip cake, mascarpone buttercream, crushed chocolate chip cookies

Butterbrew: Butterscotch soaked cake, butterscotch buttercream, edible gold dust

I’m super stoked because today we are once again heading to Heritage Radio Network- aka the interweb’s best food-centric radio station. We’ve been on a few times before (here’s my favorite appearance), but this one is going to be extra awesome because we’ve been asked to be the special guests for a PILOT episode of something! Seriously- the success or failure of this project hinges on how interesting we can potentially be today. Y’all want to make fun of my big fat mouth until suddenly you need someone who can keep a discussion going for 30 minutes of airtime- then suddenly EVERYONE loves the Robicelli’s and their inability to have a serious conversation about anything.

And this isn’t just ANY show…..no, this is going to be Heritage’s first every baking/pastry centered show. It’s called “Batter Up” (cute!), and is going to be hosted by none other than the incredible Charlotte Druckman! You may know Charlotte from being one of the best food writers in the game, having the biggest sweet tooth in NYC, cowriting Anita Lo’s masterpiece of a cookbook, and being the sole author of THIS masterpiece:

I love this book, and you should, too.

I’m a big fan of Charlotte’s writing, so I really hope we do good on the pilot and don’t totally f*** this up for her. (but really what’s the worst thing that can happen? It’s the internet so I don’t have to watch my language, AND it’s radio so you guys can’t tell if I’m wearing pants or accidentally start a small fire).

We’ll keep you updated on when this jammie will be available online- in the meantime, check out our mention in Charlotte’s NY Diet for Grub Street , and why not buy her book? It’s super pretty to have lying around even if you can’t read!

And since you get to hear it about Batter Up here first, you ALSO get to hear the theme song first! Like the title, it’s cute!

SUH CYUT! Here’s “Give Me Lots of Sugar” by Bliss Blood and Al Street!

Speaking of lots of sugar, we’ve got lots of it heading to stores today. Brownies, whoopie pies, loaf cakes, hot cocoa- and of course, some very famous cupcakes! They suh cyut tuh!

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel: Chocolate cake, salted caramel buttercream, crushed pretzels, ganache & salted caramel drizzles

Funky Monkey: Banana chocolate chip cake, peanut butter buttercream, banana chip, ganache

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Creamsicle: Orange cake, vanilla buttercream, hand candied citrus

By now, many of you know by now that Matt and I have been actively involved in the relief effort, through either our Twitter or the articles on Serious Eats or Brooklyn Magazine. This past week we’ve made some huge progress with our efforts- co-founding the Bay Ridge Cares kitchen at St. Mary’s with some of our neighbors in Bay Ridge, and working with the member of Occupy Sandy to get the hot food we prepare directly to people in the worst hit, utterly neglected neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Here’s two ways you can help us:

1. We are seeking skilled chefs to work as supervisors in our kitchen. You need to commit to at least one full 9-5 shift a week where you will be in charge of a staff of volunteers, making an undetermined amount of food with no set menu out of whatever ingredients we’ve managed to have donated - AND it has to be nutritious, filling, and not simply baked pasta (everyone’s been saying no more baked zitis- they’re doing a lot of heavy lifting, so heavy food and the carbs make them sluggish).  

It’s just like being on one of those wacky Food Network shows- except that it’s not pointless, and you can’t call yourself a “celebrity chef” once you’re done. Or maybe you can- I’m really not sure who’s dealing out the celebrity chef cards nowadays, but I can probably make some calls.

Also, contestants on Wheel of Fortune are now called “Celebrity Spellers”

If you’re interested, shoot me an email with a little bit about yourself to allison@robicellis.com, subject line “St. Mary’s Chef”, and I’ll put you on the schedule!

2. Our kitchens ingredients will be entirely sourced by donations and contributions. If you’d like to donate food, you can bring bring it to us Monday-Saturday 9-5 at:  St. Mary’s Church, corner of 81st Street & Ridge Boulevard, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

I’ve made a shopping list for donations, only to make sure that we end up with healthy foods we can actually cook large amounts of food with and not just random cans of Spaghetti-O’s and Crab Juice. You can find it posted on our Bay Ridge Cares Facebook page.

If you’d like to donate but can’t deal with the whole shopping and schlepping down to Bay Ridge thing, we’re also asking for donations of Costco and American Express gift cards. Those can be mailed to: Bay Ridge Cares, c/o City Councilman Vincent Gentile, 8703 Third Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209.

And now that we’ve addressed that, we’re going to get back to normal.

It’s been a very rough two weeks for us both emotionally and financially as we recover from Sandy. Matt and I are working our asses off to help the people of our hometown, we are hustling to keep our business not only open but growing, and though right now it feels like things may never be normal again, we need to start acting like everything is fine if we are ever going to heal.

We’re from Brooklyn, damnit. You honestly don’t think we’re going to get kicked in the gut, then just sit around and be scared all the time, did you?

You tell ‘em, sexy dog!

So here’s the deal: as of this very minute, I am going back to being an unrelenting idiot both here and on Twitter. I’ll still send out Sandy info when I feel it’s appropriate  but for the most I’m stepping off my soapbox and going back to being Allison Robicelli, back to talking about baked goods and Full House reruns and whatever other crap you guys are used to me talking about.

We haven’t forgotten. We’re still helping people every day, still worried about our town. But we can’t save Brooklyn unless we all get back to work, and bust our asses to keep small businesses and jobs alive. And a very, VERY important part of my job is making an ass of myself on the internet.

It’s also my job to remind you all that Thanksgiving is now less than two weeks away, so you may want to order some cupcakes and etc. ASAP so you can relax and know that your family will totally like you better than whoever brought something lame like creamed onions. I mean, I love creamed onions just as much as the next guy, but really- Robicelli’s cupcakes, or creamed onions? Who’s winning that one? Everyone is going to be leaving dinner talking about how great you are, while your second cousin can go back home with their half eaten cold onions and sulk about how they lost at Thanksgiving. 

This is normal family behavior during holidays, right? Not just mine?

And in case you’re still on the fence about ordering, maybe you should head out today and find yourself one of these puppies right here. I’m eating one right now, plotting how I can beat my family straight through Christmas. No more locking myself in a bathroom crying THIS year over passive aggressive comments about my appearance! Revenge will be mine, and it will be covered in buttercream and ganache! WHO LOOKS LIKE TOTAL CRAP LIKE THEY HAVEN’T SLEPT IN SIX MONTHS NOW, AUNT SARA?!?!?!

Clockwise from front: Bea Arthur, Pumpkin Pie, The Siobhan, Tarte Bourdaloue

The Siobhan (formerly known as Bourbon Butterscotch): Chocolate cake, bourbon butterscotch buttercream, bourbon butterscotch drizzle, chocolate chips

Pumpkin Pie: Pumpkin cake, vanilla buttercream, crushed all-butter pie dough

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Tarte Bourdalou: Pear cake, almond buttercream, white wine poached pear, roasted almond

L’Shanah Tovah to all our Jewish friends! We wish you all nothing but the sweetest of new years.

Now to talk about shellfish.

I happen to be a member of a little something called Underground Eats, and you should be, too. They specialize in curating and hosting “alternative dining experiences”- think pop-up restaurants, supper clubs, special tasting menus, offbeat chef collaborations- like lots of the stuff we’ve participated in ourselves over that past 4 years or so.  This past weekend they kindly didn’t ask us to work a food event, but rather to actually be guests at a food event. (!!!!!!)

This is a big freaking deal for us! No staying up all night baking, no waking up at dawn to squeeze a giant cooler into the backseat of a 2000 Honda Civic, no serving or putting on a show even though we’re on only 2 hours of sleep. Harris and the rest of the Underground Eats team just told us to come, relax, and stuff ourselves at an authentic New England shrimp boil on Roosevelt Island.

In addition to all the shrimp you can eat- all the beer you can drink. Alas- no one got topless, but there’s always next summer.

I have lived in New York City for all of my 32 years, and have somehow never managed to make it out to Roosevelt Island- even though it’s someplace I’ve always wanted to explore. Within minutes of me tweeting I was there, someone begged me not to let the secret out- and I can see why:

When you can hang out straight on the water on an uncrowded island, watching the ships and clouds amble by, yeah- that’s kinda perfect. It’s like being in a small town right in the middle of the city (except they have a Starbucks).

Right under the bridge we found Pier NYC, where chef David Santos has opened the “Santos Seafood Shack”.  Let’s just go straight to the photo:

THAT is what happened. Three hours of Matt and I shoveling palmfuls of shimp, clams and sausage smothered in jalapeno butter into our mouths. We were home and in bed by 7pm. 

Right now I’m lying in bed over 24 hours later, and I’m pretty sure I’m secreting small amount of Old Bay through my skin (fortunately, I’m married to a man who finds that sexy). Honestly, I have to hand it to all of you. This has given me a brand new appreciation for all you guys to come to these food things we do not to work, but just to eat. And so many of you are tiny little beautiful things who flock to us in sundresses, stuff yourselves with pounds of amazing food, and DON’T pass out on the sidewalk! You guys are freaking amazing! 

AND since you guys are so amazing, I just know you’ll be all over the shops today hunting down our once-a-year L’Shanah Tovah cupcake. Super delicious, super popular- we’ll be keeping it out through the week before it disappears til September 2013. 

Clockwise from front: L’Shanah Tovah, Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake, Bea Arthur, Pecan French Toast

LIMITED EDITION!

L’Shanah Tovah: Apple cake, honey vanilla buttercream, roasted apple, honey drizzle

Pecan French Toast: Maple custard soaked cinnamon cake, maple cinnamon buttercream, maple glazed pecans

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake: Pumpkin cake, cheesecake buttercream, chocolate ganache

I just stayed up WAAAAAY too late to watch the Mars landing. Seriously, I feel like I’m 8 years old right now. I hope that this proves once and for all that Mars totally exists, unlike when I was actually 8 years old and did a book report about the “Brontosaurus”, and then found out years later that there’s no such thing as a brontosaurus and now it’s called something else entirely. 

Apparently some guy dug up a single dinosaur bone ages ago and named it, then years later it was discovered that it was actually a piece of the brontosaurus, and since he had found that toe or rib or whatever years earlier, he totally had “dibsies” on naming it - because that’s how science works. So now all the brontosauruses are called “The Leroyasaurus” or something stupid like that.  Whatever. I’m still calling it brontosaurus.

Then a few months ago I took my kids to the Museum of Natural History and learned - prepare yourself for this crap right here - that apparently THE TRICERATOPS NEVER EXISTED. I don’t even want to hear their stupid “scientific” explanation, because obviously everything I learned in school was totally wrong and a gigantic waste of my time. Like dinosaurs. And “new math”. And the Oxford comma. And double spacing after closing punctuation.

So Godspeed, Curiosity, on your mission to prove that Mars is still a real thing and not just some red Styrofoam ball hung up in the sky by our government to fool the Russians.  May you eventually ferret out their legions of ant people and discover their weaknesses so that we may strike first and assert our dominance. U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!!

And also, Curiosity, bring us lots of facts that support the things I learned in school, because I really don’t want my kids to think I’m some sort of idiot or anything like that.  But I do make some of the best baked goods on earth, so maybe I’ll be able to buy their respect with these things right here:

Clockwise from front: The Duckie, Bea Arthur, Hot Sundae, Funky Monkey

Duckie: Peanut cake, peanut butter pudding, marshmallow buttercream, roasted peanuts

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Hot Sundae: Chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream, maraschino cherry, hot fudge sauce

Funky Monkey: Banana chocolate chip cake, peanut butter buttercream, banana chip, ganache

I haven’t left the East End yet. We didn’t want to hit traffic after our pop-up shop at Borghese Vineyards, so we decided we’d stay til Monday morning. Or maybe afternoon.

You’d think that with an aunt with a house in the Hamptons, we’d be here all the time. But then real life starts getting going and you have a baby, then another, then a business, then you work every single day growing the business and you keep putting yourself last over and over again because that’s what mommies and daddies do, and one day you wake up and realize that the last time you’ve been in this cottage was seven years ago.

So now I’m going to post the flavors, close the computer, go cuddle on the front grass with the love of my life, and watch the stars. 

We are coming back. I promise. (i think)

Note: If you want to follow more of our adventures behind the scenes, at home, and around town, follow me on Instagram: @robicellis

Clockwise from front: Funky Monkey, Bea Arthur, S’Mores, Estelle Getty

Funky Monkey: Banana chocolate chip cake, peanut butter buttercream, ganache, banana chip

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

S’Mores: Chocolate cake, speculoos pudding, toasted marshmallow buttercream, ganache, graham cracker crumbs

Estelle Getty: Amaretto cake, cheesecake buttercream, crushed amaretti cookies

Right on the heels of our historic couch purchase on Wednesday comes yet another monumental day in the Robicelli’s household. Seriously, everything’s just been coming up Allison all week. And with Steve Lawler, Internet Week, Techmunch, Rooftop Films, and Down & Derby Roller Disco all happening in the next seven days, I’m thinking it’s only going to be getting better. Or I’m going to have a nervous breakdown from exhaustion. Luckily for all of you, I’ll probably live-Tweet it, so at least you’ll all be able to point and laugh.

Back to the awesomeness of today: at 12:30, I will be attending my first ever “Muffins with Mommy” tea party at my children’s preschool! Further explaining the magnitude of this event: I’ve been a mom for five years now, meaning that I’ve had five Mother’s Days. But to tell you the truth- none of them really count until your kids understand what it is, and have enough dexterity to make a passable macaroni necklace. And this is that year! Not only that, but they’re actually making the muffins at preschool, which means not only are they finally cooking for me, but that I can probably put them to work once summer vacation starts. 

Speaking of Mother’s Day, while pre-ordering is now closed and we are no longer accepting delivery requests, we will still have LOTS of special Mother’s Day cupcakes all weekend at DeKalb, including the first ever appearance of the Betty White cupcake (more on that tomorrow), and Chicken n’Waffles! And our super duper ultra popular Strawberry Champagne cupcake is back not only at DeKalb but at our retail partners as well. It’s only released four times a year: New Years Eve, Valentine’s Day, our anniversary (October 7th), and Mother’s Day. Grab one before you have to wait another ten months to revel in it’s sexiness!

Clockwise from front: Strawberry Champangne, Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, Banana Nutella

Strawberry Champagne: Champagne cake, strawberry champagne buttercream and compote

Estelle Getty: Amaretto cake, cheesecake buttercream, crushed imported Sicilian amaretti cookies

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Banana Nutella: Banana cake, Nutella buttercream, banana chip and hazelnut praline

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Cupcakes Available at:

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn

Aloha Grinds: 77th & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge

Bagel Schmagel: 76th & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge

Hom: 88th & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge

Crespella: 7th Avenue off 9th Street, Park Slope

Blue Apron Foods: Union Street off 7th Ave, Park Slope

Eastern District: Manhattan Ave off Eagle, Greenpoint

Brooklyn Standard: Nassau Street off Jewel, Greenpoint

Battery Place Market: 240 Murray Street, Financial District

Cake Shop: Ludlow btwn Stanton & Rivington, LES

Bar 5F at Bergdorf Goodman: 5th Avenue & 58th Street, 5th Floor, Manhattan

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

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Whoopie Pies Available At:

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn

Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook, Bklyn Flea, Smorgasbug, and Madison Square Eats

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

_________________________________

Brownies Available At:

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

Oaxaca Tacos: 250 4th Avenue- Park Slope Brooklyn; 251 Smith Street Cobble Hill Brooklyn; 16 Extra Place, LES Manhattan; 48 Greenwich Avenue, West Village, Manhattan

Today is a landmark day in the Robicelli’s household. We are now the proud owners of this (but in blue):

“What’s the big deal!”, you say? “It’s just a couch!”, you say? Well, this isn’t just any old couch! This is the very first grown-up couch that Matt and I have ever bought in seven years of cohabitation! It’s not from a garage sale, we didn’t find it on the street, it doesn’t have holes or stains we think we can conceal with a slipcover, totally ignoring the fact that the mere act of sitting causes slipcovers to slide right off a couch. 

After a 12 hour day, I stuffed myself right into that corner piece, put my feet up, and have not moved for two hours. Partially because it’s so comfy, it’s like laying down on a cloud. And partially because after a 12 hour day, I can’t stand up again.

There’s a good chance I’ll still be stuck here tomorrow, meaning you’ll also be able to find me screwing around on Facebook or Twitter. So keep me company as I do invoices and work on a creating a permanent Allison-shaped groove on this thing!

Not as sexy as this one though.

Or as sexy as these:

Clockwise from front: Bea Arthur, Wild Maine Blueberry Cobbler, Banana Nutella, PB&J

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Wild Maine Blueberry Cobbler: Vanilla cake, blueberry syrup, vanilla buttercream, blueberry compote, cinnamon streusel

Banana Nutella: Banana cake, Nutella buttercream, banana chip and hazelnut praline

PB&J: Vanilla cake, grape jelly, peanut butter buttercream, roasted peanuts

___________________________________

Cupcakes Available at:

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn 

Hom: Third Avenue and 88th Street, Bay Ridge

Crespella: 7th Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope

Blue Apron Foods: Union Street off 7th Avenue, Park Slope

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Battery Place Market: 240 Murray Street, Goldman Sachs Building

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

_______________________

Whoopie Pies Available At:

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn 

Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook AND Madison Square Eats

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry, AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

_____________________

Brownies Available At:

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn 

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

Oaxaca Tacos: 250 4th Avenue- Park Slope Brooklyn; 251 Smith Street Cobble Hill Brooklyn; 16 Extra Place, LES Manhattan; 48 Greenwich Avenue, West Village, Manhattan

It’s May! Already! And we’ve got tons of important stuff that goes along with the May-ness!

1. MOTHER’S DAY ORDERING is now up and ready to go! And Mother’s Day is especially notable as it will be the day where we finally complete our Golden Girls collection by releasing “The Betty White”!  As we had started this silly practice three years ago as a way to cope with Bea Arthur’s death, we planned to only release these tribute cupcakes posthumously in order to help us cope by eating our feelings.  But then we didn’t want to feel like we were waiting for Betty White to die so we could release her cupcake.  So if there was ONE day a year for us to finally release it so we can properly honor our beloved Golden Girls, it’s Mother’s Day.

You’ll be able to order cupcakes for pickup AND special delivery on Mother’s Day in Brooklyn. Ordering closes next Friday, so hurry since I’m sure that absolutely none of us (myself included) realized that Mother’s Day was in less than two weeks.

2. We will NOT be at Madison Square Eats this spring, as we are totally booked with Internet Week, Techmunch, the Brooklyn Food Conference, Morrissey’s birthday at Union Hall, Janeane Garofalo at the Bell House, writing our book, and aaaaallll the events we’ve got going on at DeKalb Market (Steve Lawler on the 12th, Roller Derby the 18th, Bike-In Movie the 24th, etc).

But don’t be sad, Flatiron! Even though we won’t personally be there, you’ll still be able to get our Classic and Nutella Whoopie Pies via the Red Hook Lobster Pound!  And speaking of lobstah…..

3. CINCO DE MAYO LOBSTER FIESTA AT DEKALB MARKET THIS SATURDAY! Thirty bucks gets you a 1 1/2 pound steamed lobster, spicy potato salad, Mexican corn & jicama slaw.  We’ll have LOTS of special Cinco de Mayo cupcake flavors and ice cream sandwiches as well, which we’ll post later in the week. And if you need cupcakes for your own Cinco de Mayo celebration, shoot us an email! In other private order news….

4. Our once a year Mint Julep cupcake is being released this Friday just in time for the Kentucky Derby! We don’t have a fancy preordering form for this one like we do for Mother’s Day, so same deal- if you’re having a Derby party and need the fanciest cupcakes on the block, you should definitely get in touch. 

5. THE BLUTH IS BACK! RIGHT NOW! THIS VERY SECOND! GO GET IT! GO GO GO GO GO!!!

Clockwise from front: The Bluth, Tres Leches, Creamsicle, Bea Arthur

The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache

Tres Leches: Three milk soaked brown butter cake, dulce de leche buttercream, caramel shards

Creamsicle: Orange cake, vanilla buttercream, hand candied orange peel

Bea Arthur: Black coffee brewed chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

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Cupcakes Available at:

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn 

Hom: Third Avenue and 88th Street, Bay Ridge

Blue Apron Foods: Union Street off 7th Avenue, Park Slope

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Battery Place Market: 240 Murray Street, Goldman Sachs Building

Joe Columbia University: West 120th btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

_______________________

Whoopie Pies Available At:

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn 

Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry, AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

_____________________

Brownies Available At:

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn 

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

Oaxaca Tacos: 250 4th Avenue- Park Slope Brooklyn; 251 Smith Street Cobble Hill Brooklyn; 16 Extra Place, LES Manhattan; 48 Greenwich Avenue, West Village, Manhattan

One of the nice things about growing up in New York City is that for us natives, this really is a very small town. I rarely go anywhere without running into someone I went to school or day camp with, or knew from going to underground hardcore/metal shows, or worked with part-time ages ago, or who knows my mother somehow. I can’t avoid it.

On ads all over NYC….

is Billy Eichner, who was a friend of mine back in high school, and also one of my epic teenage crushes (before he was out and obsessed with Meryl Streep. Ok, maybe he was obsessed back then too and I should have known).

On tv…..

My best friend (and 2012 Stuyvesant High School Commencement Speaker) Telly Leung (who also is currently starring in Godspell on Broadway)

Or shopping….

I met Kari, the manager of Williamsburg’s kitchen wundershop Whisk at a food event. And turns out her live-in boyfriend is an old friend from the punk scene I lost touch with 10 years ago.  Also through the food world I met blogger Feisty Foodie, whom I had gone to Stuyvesant with and hadn’t seen since 1996. In reading about the new Brooklyn seafood hotspot Littleneck, I noticed that one of the owners was someone I used to hang out with semi regularly back when he was an editor at Law of Intertia Magazine, and I was writing the long gone webzine Barefoot and Pregnant. 

We met a guy named Mike O’Dea when he was interning at The Meat Hook, and shortly afterwards he was offered a job at MLB.com.  The person who was vacating the job?  Matt’s cousin from Iowa, who unbeknownst to us had been living in NYC.  Our often referenced friend Danny Macaroons was introduced to us at another food event, and it turns out his wife was college roommates with the little sister of my oldest friend (as in “we’ve know each other since we were 3, and his little sister is like my little sister” oldest friend).

In a town of over eight million people, it’s ridiculous how many “chance encounters” you end up having. Or I’m just really really really really popular, which is what I like to think.

Today I was checking out a deal we have on Daily Candy with the aforementioned Danny Macaroons - an exclusive event at Saxon & Parole with the producers of the Food Film Festival that includes short films, a tasting menu prepared by super chef Brad Farmarie, and a gift box provided by Dan & yours truly. And by clicking on Daily Candy I find…….

That my old friend Randall, the guy I was with the moment I met my husband who I managed to lose touch with a few years ago is now apparently in the hottest band ever. EVER. Randall and his band, @#, are the future, and THE FUTURE IS NOW.

Go download the future onto your iPod, then pull on your tightest pants and a scarf, go buy some cupcakes, and make some new friends. You never know how it’s all going to come back around.

Clockwise from front: Root Beer Float, Boston Cream, Bea Arthur, Toasted Almond

Root Beer Float: Root beer cake, root beer custard, vanilla buttercream, maraschino cherry

Boston Cream: Vanilla cake, vanilla custard buttercream, chocolate fudge

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Toasted Almond: Almond cake, vanilla buttercream, roasted almonds

__________________________________________

Cupcakes Available At:

Aloha Grinds: 77th & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge

Crespella: 7th Avenue off 9th Street, Park Slope

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry Street off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Cake Shop: 152 Ludlow St, Lower East Side

Battery Place Markets: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City AND 240 Murray Street, Goldman Sachs Building, Financial District

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

___________________________________

Whoopie Pies Available At

Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry Street off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

___________________________________

Brownies

Oaxaca Tacos: 250 4th Avenue- Park Slope Brooklyn; 251 Smith Street Cobble Hill Brooklyn; 16 Extra Place, LES Manhattan

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

HOLYCRAPHOLYCRAPHOLYCRAP!!!!

In the event you have not yet heard…..

…NONA BROOKLYN GOT NOMINATED FOR A JAMES FREAKING BEARD AWARD FOR BEST GROUP BLOG!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

And as I’m a columnist for Nona, by proxy I got nominated for a James Beard award myself! 

Honestly, there is no way I could be any happier for Nona creator/editor Peter Hobbs.  Peter is one of the biggest cheerleaders of local food, one of the nicest guys ever, and a saint all around. He’s also the man who reached out to me and convinced me that I could actually write, and was the one who pushed me into believing that I could write a funny cookbook.  He has given everything he could for the past two years into this, and I personally and professionally can not think of anyone more deserving.  Congrats, Peter. And thank you for bringing me along for the ride.

Now back to me. 

As a popular contributor to Nona, I’ve determined that about 7% of this nomination is mine. So here’s what 7% of me has to say.

And this is precisely why the only way I’m ever getting nominated for a Beard is by squeaking in with someone else. Fooled you, Beardy!

Clockwise from front: Banana Cream Pie, Tiramisu, Bea Arthur, Duckwalk 

Banana Cream Pie:  Banana cake, vanilla custard, custard buttercream, banana chip, graham cracker crumbs

Tiramisu: Espresso soaked cake, espresso ganache, mascarpone buttercream, cocoa powder

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Duckwalk: Blueberry port soaked cake, blueberry port mascarpone buttercream, port simmered blueberries

___________________________________

Cupcakes Available at:

Hom: Third Avenue and 88th Street, Bay Ridge

Cafe at Sam’s Bakery:  94th off 3rd, Bay Ridge

Battery Place Market: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City AND 200 West Street, Goldman Sachs Building

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

_______________________

Whoopie Pies Available At:

Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

_____________________

Brownies Available At:

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

Oaxaca Tacos: 250 4th Avenue- Park Slope Brooklyn; 251 Smith Street Cobble Hill Brooklyn; 16 Extra Place, LES Manhattan

Friday afternoon with my dad at his house in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Dad: So this book, when’s this happening?

Me: It’s coming out next fall, Dad. Next year.

Dad: You gotta write it?

Me: Yes dad. That’s usually how it works when you get a book deal.

Dad: You gotta write a whole freaking book? You know how to do that?

Me: Why do you think I got a deal in the first place?

Dad: I don’t know how this works! So you wrote it already?

Me: No, I wrote the proposal. Remember all that stuff I was talking about nonstop for the past six months?

Dad: Eh, I don’t pay attention to everything you’re talking about.

Me: Ok. So I wrote pretty much a really long book report on the book.

Dad: But the book doesn’t exist.

Me: It doesn’t exist YET. I’m writing it.

Dad: Heh heh heh- so you conned these people into giving you a check for a book that doesn’t exist.

Me: No, dad. You tell them what the books going to be about, why you think it will sell, how you promote and market it etc etc, then they decide whether to take the risk on it. That’s how it works. I didn’t con anyone.

Dad: So now you gotta write it.

Me: Yup! I’ve got the rest of the year to write the book. I’ve got the outline all done and a few small chapters, and I just need to fill the whole thing in.

Dad: Uh-huh. So now what happens if you don’t finish? They sue you or what?

Me: Ummm….I’m writing the book.

Dad: Yeah, I know, I know. But what if you f*** it up and don’t finish, then what? 

Me: I’m not going to f*** it up. 

Dad: But what if you do? You’e never written a book before. 

Me: Dad, I got this.

Dad: Yeah, well, you f***ing better. You don’t want to piss these people off. You don’t want them suing you or some crap.

Me: (facepalm) Dad. I know. I have worked really hard on this. Now can you just be happy for me.

Dad: I’m happy for you! I really am! Just you better have a plan in case you f*** up and can’t write a book. And watch your ass with these people. 

~FIN~

Happy Monday everyone! Hope your weekend was just as awesome!

Clockwise from front: Bea Arthur, Duckwalk, Milk & Cookies, Butterbeer

Bea Arthur: Black coffee chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache

Duckwalk: Blueberry port soaked cake, blueberry port mascarpone buttercream, port simmered blueberries

Milk & Cookies: Brown sugar chocolate chip cake, mascarpone buttercream, crushed chocolate chip cookies

Butterbeer: Butterscotch soaked cake, butterscotch buttercream, edible gold dust

__________________________________________

Cupcakes Available At:

Cafe at Sam’s Bakery:  94th Street off 3rd Avenue, Bay Ridge

Aloha Grinds: 77th & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge

Crespella: 7th Avenue off 9th Street, Park Slope

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry Street off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Cake Shop: 152 Ludlow St, Lower East Side

Battery Place Markets: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City AND 240 Murray Street, Goldman Sachs Building, Financial District

Joe: Columbia University: West 120th Street btwn Broadway & Amsterdam. Morningside Heights

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

___________________________________

Whoopie Pies Available At

Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry Street off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

___________________________________

Brownies

Oaxaca Tacos: 250 4th Avenue- Park Slope Brooklyn; 251 Smith Street Cobble Hill Brooklyn; 16 Extra Place, LES Manhattan

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island