to move up and down
Flavors: Friday, May 4th
It’s a super exciting DOUBLE holiday weekend made up of third string holidays! It’s Kentucky Derby day AND Cinco de Mayo! WHO’S ALREADY DRUNK?
First let’s talk about the Derby. All I knows about the ponies is that I’m almost 32 years old and I still don’t have one. So there’s that. Also at the Derby….
Lots of stupid hats! I don’t have any of those either. This is not my day.
Fortunately, what I DO have is our super duper special one-time-a-year-so-get-it-now-because-you-won’t-see-it-again-until-next-year-no-matter-how-much-you-beg cupcake- THE MINT JULEP! It’s a bourbon-mint cake and buttercream with a hand candied mint leaf on top. We designed this one about two years ago when we only needed to make maybe 60 cupcakes a week, and 60 hand candied mint leaves didn’t seem like all that much. Fast forward to last night where Matt needed to make several hundred hand candied mint leaves, and you can understand not only why this will remain a once a year treat, but also why Matt isn’t speaking to me today.
Also this weekend is the 5th most important holiday of the year (after Christmas, New Years Eve, St. Patty’s Day and the night before Thanksgiving when all the college kids come home and get loaded)..
CINCO DE MAYO!!! Cinco de Mayo is the day where Americans from all over come together to remember en masse the marketing campaign Corona ran in the mid-nineties to get people to drink more Mexican beer. And boy did that one ever work!
MEXXXXIIICCCOOOOO!!!!!
Every year, I ask my friends who are going out what exactly they’re celebrating on Cinco de Mayo. And every year, I need to broadcast the single greatest response that I have ever heard in my life: “Cinco de Mayo is the day that New Mexico got it’s freedom from Regular Mexico”.
We’re celebrating the, ahem, independence and tremendous bravery of the people of New Mexico, by making- ok, you know what, I need to stop. I can’t even get through that in a joking manner. Everyone, sit your children down tonight and properly educate them about Cinco de Mayo, before it’s too late. If our kids are one day going to be dancing on a bar somewhere doing tequila shooters, at least we can be at home with the peace of mind of knowing they are at least informed about history and not embarrassing themselves.
Back to cupcakes.
We’ve got three special Mexican inspired flavors today! Returning is the incredible Abuelita, a sexy little number made with chocolate, cinnamon and cajeta. We’ve got the Tres Leches, which is a contender for being our most popular cupcake ever (and also one of our oldest- the 3rd cupcake we ever made). And finally, The Bluth, which commemorates one of Mexico’s greatest culinary traditions- the Cornballer. Ok, maybe I’m stretching it on that last one, but it sure is tasty.
We’ll have lots of other flavors of cupcakes, whoopie pies, and ice cream sandwiches headed to DeKalb Market on Saturday, but these particular flavors are heading out RIGHT NOW. Go get them before they’re all gone!
Clockwise from front: Abuelita, Tres Leches, Bluth, Mint Julep
LIMITED EDITION! Mint Julep: Mint-bourbon cake and buttercream, hand candied mint leaf
Abuelita: Mexican chocolate cake, cajeta buttercream, ground Abuelita chocolate
Tres Leches: Three milk soaked brown butter cake, dulce de leche buttercream, caramel shards
Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
___________________________
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
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
________________________________
Whoopie Pies Available At:
Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn
Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook
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
Flavors: Wednesday, May 2nd
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
___________________________________
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
Flavors: Friday, March 9th
If you haven’t heard the news over on Facebook or Twitter or Grub Street…..
WE ARE THE FINAL PEOPLE IN BROOKLYN TO GET A COOKBOOK DEAL!!!!
You got THAT right, Macaulay Culkin!
As of this week, Matt and I are officially the legal property of Penguin/Viking Studio! I have had all sorts of crazy stuff going on about this behind the scenes for weeks, and I couldn’t tell you guys a single thing about it. Now that it’s totally, 100% official, I can finally start answering some of the questions I’ve been posed about it.
Question #1: So, is this book just about cupcakes or what? I mean, cupcakes have been over since 1997.
Well, of course it’s going to be about cupcakes. BUT there’s going to be a lot more to it. There’s going to be a lot of attention paid to the “extras” we put on cupcakes. Things like jams, candies, custards, puddings, gastriques, homemade speculoos, pate a choux, marshmallows, etc. In doing this, we’re going to be explaining a ton of technique, and touching on the science behind pastry.
The driving force behind the book, just like it is with our company as a whole, is to use the ubiquitous cupcake to convince people to try something new. This is going to be a really fun book to read, and I’m hoping to inspire some people who would never attempt to make dessert to get into their kitchens and try!
#2: Cookbooks aren’t fun! YOU’RE A FILTHY LIAR!
I’m not lying! The awesome thing about the people at Penguin is that they’re fans of the blog, and believe in the idea of the book being an extension of this haphazard crapshow. That means lots of me being a smartass, comics, and of course, funny essays on such riviting topics as
-The night we fell in love
-Running a business together as a married couple and not getting a divorce.
-How we come up with our flavors
-The traditions we kept from our childhoods growing up in Brooklyn
-How I went into a month long period of mourning after Bea Arthur died
-This one time when Matt got hit in the balls so hard he started throwing up, and it was the funniest goddamn thing I have ever seen in my entire life
#3: What recipes will you be sharing?
Teeeheehee…..um…what was that? I’m sorry. I was thinking about that time Matt got hit in the balls. (teeheehee). Um…yeah, there’s, um…..oh jeez, you don’t understand!!! He was all like “AAAAAHHHHH! MY BALLS!”. IT WAS AMAZING.
#4: I see a major book deal hasn’t helped the level of professionalism go up around here.
What are we talking about again?
#5: Cupcakes.
That’s right. Don’t worry, the Chicken n’Waffles one will be in there. I know that’s the only one you really care about.
#6: When will it be released?
Fall 2013! And you’ll be hearing lots about the process of writing the book right here on the Robicelli’s blog. OR I’ll be so exhausted from writing every day that I’ll just post cat pictures for the next 18 months. Really could go either way.
#7: You guys have a title?
We’ve got a title AND a cover!
And what does seeing an image like that do for you? Does it make you hungry? OF COURSE IT DOES! CUPCAKETIME!
Clockwise from front: Tres Leches, Chocolate Caramel Pretzel, Oatmeal Cream Pie, Bluth
Tres Leches: Three milk soaked brown butter cake, dulce de leche buttercream, caramel shards
Chocolate Caramel Pretzel: Chocolate cake, salted caramel buttercream, crushed pretzels, caramel & ganache drizzles
Oatmeal Cream Pie: Brown sugar oat cake, vanilla marshmallow buttercream, oat crisp
The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
___________________________
Cupcakes Available at:
Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off 3rd Avenue, Bay Ridge
Aloha Grinds: 77th & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
Bagel Schmagel: 76th & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
Blue Apron Foods: Union Street off 7th Ave, Park Slope
Tazza: Clark St off Henry AND Henry St off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Eastern District: Manhattan Ave off Eagle, Greenpoint
Brooklyn Standard: Nassau Street off Jewel, Greenpoint
Cake Shop: Ludlow btwn Stanton & Rivington, LES
Brooklyneer: 220 West Houston Street, West Village
Bar 5F at Bergdorf Goodman: 5th Avenue & 58th Street, 5th Floor, Manhattan
Queen City Cupcakes: Patchogue, Long Island
________________________________
Whoopie Pies Available At:
Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook
Tazza: Clark St off Henry AND Henry St off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
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
Flavors: Wednesday, February 8th
Ok, Super Bowl over. Now back to the real world, guys. Time to nag you about buying your special lady something sexy for Valentine’s Day. Something like…..cupcakes. (or Chambord brownies- they’re sexy too!)
Yes, there is a “Sexy Cupcake” Halloween costume. Because really, why the hell wouldn’t there be. I mean, I pulled off “Sexy Pepperoni Pizza” so well and all.
For only $50, you get:
One Dozen Cupcakes or Brownies: Choose from either our classic cupcake pack (Creme Brulee, Strawberry Champagne, The Eve & The Ebinger), our nut-free pack, or 12 rich Chocolate Chambord Brownies with a raspberry jam swirl
A Handwritten Personalized Card: I will write whatever filthy, depraved message you want in my fanciest script, and won’t judge you at all for it. (Unless it’s, like, really weird. I’ll still write it, but I won’t be able to help the silent judgement.)
Delivery: Brought straight to the home or office of your darling in Brooklyn or Manhatttan!
Tax: I’ve got nothing sexy to say about tax.
In contrast, you can get:
One dozen red roses for $39.99, plus a charge for the vase, plus a card, plus tax, plus delivery
A bear in a Forever Lazy for $69.99, plus card, plus tax, plus delivery.
A giant inflatable giraffe for $39.99, plus card, tax and delivery
A pair of Christian Louboutin Exagona Platform Sandals for $1,095, plus card, tax and delivery (you know that I’m a jeans, t-shirts and sneakers girl, and even I get tingly all over when I see these).
Order now, and you don’t have to worry about this crap again til next year! And you know what else? Provided the Mayan don’t kill us all we’ll have cupcakes in 2013 too, so once you win their heart with them this year, you’ll never have to worry again! An investment in a Robicelli’s gift box isn’t just an investment in your relationship, it’s an investment in your sanity in the future.
If you’re looking to get on anyone’s good side today, or you’re just looking to treat yourself to something pretty, grab one of these cupcakes you see below. You’re having a rough week- you deserve one.
Clockwise from front: Funky Monkey, Butterbeer, Bluth, Tres Leches
Funky Monkey: Banana chocolate chip cake, peanut butter buttercream, banana chip, ganache
Butterbeer: Butterscotch soaked cake, butterscotch buttercream, edible gold dust
Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
Tres Leches: Three milk soaked brown butter cake, dulce de leche buttercream, caramel shards
__________________________________
Cupcakes Available at:
Hom: Third Avenue and 88th Street, Bay Ridge
Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th off 3rd, Bay Ridge
Tazza Cafes: Clark off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Battery Place Market: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City
Joe Columbia University: W. 120th Street btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights
Brooklyneer: 220 West Houston Street, West Village
Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island
_______________________
Whoopie Pies Available At:
Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook
Tazza Cafes: Clark off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island
_____________________
Brownies Available At:
Crespella: 7th Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope
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
Flavors: Monday, February 6th
Watching Super Bowl. Tumblr later. Go eat cupcakes, yes, good.
(And that whole cheating thing too. Let’s not forget that crap.)
Clockwise from front: PB&J, Pecan Potato Chip, Butterbeer, Bluth
PB&J: Vanilla cake, grape jelly, peanut butter buttercream, roasted peanuts
Pecan Potato Chip: Potato chip cake, pecans, vanilla buttercream, salted butterscotch, roasted peanuts, potato chips
Butterbeer: Butterscotch soaked cake, butterscotch buttercream, edible gold dust
The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
______________________________
Cupcakes Available at:
Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th off 3rd, Bay Ridge
Aloha Grinds: 77th and 3rd, Bay Ridge
Crespella: 7th Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope
Tazza Cafes: Clark off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Cake Shop: Ludlow btwn Stanton & Rivington, LES
Joe Columbia University: West 120th btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights
Battery Place Market: 77 Batter Place, Battery Park City
Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island
Whoopie Pies Available At:
Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook
Tazza Cafes: Clark off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island
Brownies Available At:
Crespella: 7th Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope
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
Flavors: Friday, January 6th
This week was all about catching up on the paperwork I got behind on during the holidays, and I went so hardcore that it feels like my brain is about to shoot out of my eyeballs.
Ugh.
This is bad for funny Tumblr posts. And my eyeballs. I’m going to ask Matt for a joke.
Matt: Did you hear about the new corduroy pillows?!?!? They’re making HEADLINES!
Ugh.
Sorry. That was worse. Let’s just get to flavors so we can all pretend that didn’t just happen.
Clockwise from front: The Bluth, Bea Arthur, Tres Leches, Chai Latte
The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
Bea Arthur: Black coffee infused chocolate cake, cheesecake buttercream, espresso ganache
Tres Leches: Three milk soaked brown butter cake, dulce de leche buttercream, caramel shards
Chai Latte: Chai cake, mascarpone buttercream, toasted chai spices
Available at:
Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off 3rd Avenue, Bay Ridge
Aloha Grinds: 77th & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
Bagel Schmagel: 76th & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
Crespella: 7th Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope
Tazza Cafes: Clark St off Henry AND Henry St off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Court Street Grocers: Court St off Luquer, Carroll Gardens
Eastern District: Manhattan Ave off Eagle, Greenpoint
Brooklyn Standard: Nassau Street off Jewel, Greenpoint
Cake Shop: Ludlow btwn Stanton & Rivington, LES
Battery Place Market: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City
Brooklyneer: 220 West Houston Street, West Village
Queen City Cupcakes: Patchogue, Long Island
Flavors: Wednesday, January 4th
Happy New Year everyone! You know what my resolution is?
BE MORE AWESOME.
It’s National Meat On Top of Cupcakes But They Taste Really Good I Promise Month!!!!
Is that true? Probably not. I don’t know who the hell doles out these National Food months- probably some advisory boards or something (how do you get on those anyway?). As an inventor of the Chicken n’Waffles & Buffalo Chicken cupcakes, and being one of the people who put the whole “bacon on a cupcake” thing on the map three years ago, I am grabbing destiny by the horns and using my gravitas to commandeer an entire month in the name of dessert! Why the hell not!
-Chicken n’Waffles Cupcakes!!!
-Buffalo Chicken & Blue Cheese Cupcakes!!!!
-Elvis Cupcakes with Peanut Butter, Banana & Bacon!!!!
-Yes, They’re Really Delicious! I Swear!!!!
So WHY is it National Meat on Top of Cupcakes But They Taste Really Good I Promise Month? Because it’s time for football playoffs. And when a bunch of people get in a room to drink beer and watch football, you will need food. And there’s only so many bowls of chili and nachos you can consume before your wife makes you start sleeping out on the fire escape.
As you may know, our Chicken n’Waffles cupcakes is rarely released, our Buffalo Chicken one even rarer, and when we do make them they sell out ridiculously quick. Reason being? Well, for one thing our retail locations won’t sell them. Another, if they were available all the time, they’d stop being special and you wouldn’t want to jump all over them when they finally did come out! And most of all, frying hundreds of pieces of chicken in a teensy tiny pot takes foorrreeevvverrr.
But for the last days of football season? Well by golly, we are more than happy to slave over that pot day in and day out, from dusk until dawn, because if there’s one thing that both meat cupcakes and football scream, it’s that WE LOVE AMERICA.
I will never pass up an opportunity to link to Neil Diamond.
Normally, you need to order 4 dozen of these cupcakes to have us deliver them to you. But since they’ll technically be “rotation” for the weekends, you’ll be able to order them with a one dozen minimum to Brooklyn, 2 dozen to Manhattan! (And you’ll be able to pick-up any quantities you want in Manhattan starting next weekend!). This NEVER happens!
So if you’re having people over to watch the games, want to make yourself the most popular guy/girl at the bar, or are just one of those people who’s always wanted to try them, place your order for football playoff cupcakes and brownies ASAP! And if you’re a bar owner who wants to order some for a promotion, email me at Allison at robicellis.com- we have discount rates for businesses ordering in bulk!
Now for the cupcakes heading to stores as we speak- they may not have chicken or bacon on them, or be loaded with 18 types of booze, but they are insanely delicious and will help you stop being bummed that the holidays are over and you had to go back to work this week. We’re there, too. Thank Jebus I have a bunch of Bluths to get me through the ritual of taking down the Christmas tree- it’s so sad!
Clockwise from front: Tres Leches, Chocolate Strawberry, The Bluth, Cinnamon Bun
Tres Leches: Three milk soaked brown butter cake, dulce de leche buttercream, caramel shards
Chocolate Strawberry: Chocolate cake filled with strawberry jam, mascarpone buttercream, jam drizzle
The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
Cinnamon Bun: Cinnamon sugar spotted cake, cream cheese buttercream, cinnamon butterscotch, cinnamon streusel
Available at:
Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off Third Avenue, Bay Ridge
Hom: 88th Street and Third Avenue, Bay Ridge
Crespella: 7th Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope
Tazza Cafes: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic
Queen City Cupcakes: Patchogue, Long Island
Red Hook Lobster Pound: Roving food truck, Brooklyn Flea and Van Brunt Street, Red Hook Whoopie Pies Only
Flavors: Wednesday, November 30th
Last day of November, and I’ve already reaching my threshold for tolerating Christmas songs. This is especially sad as I’m one of those people who LOVES Christmas music. Like, listens to it in July loves it. And for this, I blame the fact that we as a society are insistent in playing the SAME TEN SONGS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR SIX FREAKING WEEKS.
Nothing can hold up in that rotation. Nothing. Except Nat King Cole’s “Christmas Song”, which is technically perfect.
In the event that you’re in the same boat, here’s a few songs that I’m actually loving to death right now that are getting me in the Christmas mood- regardless of our 70 degree weather.
Alan Jackson & Alison Krauss- “The Angels Cried”
Probably the most beautiful Christmas song I’ve ever heard. Pay no attention to the fact that the lighting director of this video attempted to make Alison Krauss look like a demon from a Japanese horror film. Also don’t remember what we were all thinking regarding hairstyles back in 1993. It’s like we had learned nothing from the 80s.
Sting: “Gabriels Message”
Sting’s a total effing pretentious weirdo, which lends itself perfectly to traditional Christmas music. Plus he looks kinda hot with that beard. Yes, I hate myself for thinking that.
Weezer: “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”
Did you know Weezer cut an entire Christmas EP? I had no idea! There’s something incredibly exciting about learning a band you love cut a holiday album, like…..
HALFORD!!!! Lead singer of Judas Priest, heavy metal GOD Rob Halford apparently has a Christmas album. So that means it’s TOTALLY OK…..
……to now declare Slayer to be the official band of Christmas. Take that, Bing Crosby!
Now for the most metal thing of all- CUPCAKES!!!! The ridiculously popular Creme Brulee is back, and the Chocolate Merlot has returned after an absence of over two years. Let us know if you’d like to see it return for good!
Clockwise from front: Pear Mascarpone, Chocolate Merlot, The Bluth, Creme Brulee
Pear Mascarpone: Pear cake, mascarpone buttercream, pear chip
Chocolate Merlot: Chocolate merlot cake and buttercream, chocolate shavings, black pepper, merlot reduction
The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
Creme Brulee: Vanilla cake, vanilla custard buttercream, caramelized sugar
Available at:
Robicelli’s at the Union Square Holiday Market: South row closest to 14th Street, towards the east side, booth C34
Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn
Hom: 88th Street & 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
Blue Apron Foods: Union St off 7th Ave, Park Slope
Tazza Cafes: Henry Street off Atlantic AND Clark off Henry, Brooklyn Heights
Radish: Bedford Ave off N8th, Williamsburg
Joe at Columbia University: West 120th Street btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights
Battery Place Market: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City
Queen City Cupcakes: Patchogue, Long Island
Flavors: Monday, November 28th
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we are already over a week into the Union Square Holiday Market. As awesome as it is to see all of you (and trust me I LOVE seeing you), the fact that I barely get to see my kids at all wears on my pretty badly.
Matt and I insist that we take one day a week, Wednesdays, to do nothing but concentrate on our family (and if you are a small business owner with a family, I really feel it is absolutely mandatory that you do this as well). You may remember saying that during Madison Square Eats we’d spend one great day with the boys, I’d tuck them into bed and say “I’ll see you next week!”, and they’d each give me six kisses for every day that I would be leaving before they woke up and coming home after they went to bed. It was tough, and they hated it, but I promised them it would only be for a few weeks, and then they’d have more time with Mommy until the holidays started.
Like all of us, my kids weren’t thinking the holidays were going to show up so fast.
Atticus has not been happy with me at all. He doesn’t understand why Matt and I have to work all the time instead of going to the Children’s Museum or the zoo or any of the fun places we’re constantly taking them to overcompensate for our ridiculous work schedules. He told me he didn’t want me to go back to work all the time, and then when I told him I didn’t have a choice, he told me he didn’t love me anymore. Fortunately, Toby slid in with a “Don’t worry, Mommy- I still love you!”. So at least I have a 50% approval rating, which is nice.
Now that they’re 3 and 4 and rapidly maturing preschool students, I thought it was about time I sat them down and really explained things to them, hoping they’ll finally understand. It’s Economics 101- surely young kids can get that, right?
“Atticus, Toby- let me ask you a question. Do you like toys?”. Immediately their eyes light up-“YES!”. Good, I’ve hooked them. ”Do you like cupcakes and brownies?”, I continue. “YES!” they scream. Now they’re precisely where I want them.
“Well, it’s Mommy & Daddy’s job to make sure that there’s enough cupcakes and stuff for people to eat. If it wasn’t for us, the world might run out of cupcakes! (side note: HAHAHAHAHAHA!) And when we make cupcakes, people give us money for them, so we can take that money and buy you more toys. So you see, if we don’t go to work, you don’t get any toys!”.
This is pretty cut and dry, no? But yet they sit there and stare at me in befuddled silence, looking at me like I have six heads. And then finally, Toby speaks:
“But Mommy, that’s silly! We can just ask SANTA for toys! Now you can stay home with us!”.
Children: 4,212. Allison: 0
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again- there’s very few feelings worse than being outsmarted by your children. And mine do it about 10 times a week.
Damn you, Santa.
Clockwise from front: Pear Mascarpone, Tiramisu, Tres Leches, The Bluth
Pear Mascarpone: Pear cake, mascarpone buttercream, homemade pear chip
Tiramisu: Espresso soaked cake, mascarpone buttercream, espresso ganache, cocoa powder
Tres Leches: Three milk soaked brown butter cake, dulce de leche buttercream, caramel shards
The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
Available at:
Robicelli’s at Union Square Holiday Market
Robicelli’s: DeKalb Market- 138 Willoughby, Downtown Brooklyn
Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off Third Avenue, Bay Ridge
Aloha Grinds: 77th Street and 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
Bagel Schmagel: 76th Street and 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
Crespella: 9th Street & 7th Ave, Park Slope
Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry Street off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Cake Shop: Ludlow Street btwn Stanton & Rivington, LES
Joe at Columbia University: W120th Street btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights
Queen City Cupcakes: Patchogue, Long Island
Red Hook Lobster Pound Whoopie Pies Only
Flavors: Friday, October 28th
You know how we said we’d never, ever participate in one of those group buying sites?
We lied.
How does something like this even happen? What made us change our minds? Well, Juice is a “mom-driven site”- it not only generates deals for families, but it provides commission based employment opportunities to moms as well. I remember Atticus’ first year and how I was going absolutely nuts trying to figure out a way to bring money in but still stay home with my son since we couldn’t afford daycare (Plus being cooped up in the house with an infant as your constant companion is a very stark departure from the hustle of a commercial kitchen- believe me when I say as much as I loved my son and being home with him, I really missed working a lot). Point is, any company that’s helping moms from that angle is A-OK in my book!
Also, a very good friend of mine happens to be the district manager. That helps, too.
So here’s the deal: AN ENTIRE DOZEN CUPCAKES FOR $18. That ain’t too shabby!
Of course, there’s deal points. I could be that schmuck that hides them in fine print, then springs them on you at the last minute when you’re at the shop and disappoints you. I HATE it when people do that to me, and have way too much respect for all of you to do that, so I’m going to lay just about everything I think you need to know up front:
-The deal can only be redeemed at our store at DeKalb Market. We cannot legally accept them at Union Square, for any delivery orders, holiday pop-ups, or at any of our retail partners- only DeKalb. If you’ve been meaning to visit, this is a great excuse! We’re 2 blocks off the Manhattan Bridge on Flatbush Avenue Extension, or right off the DeKalb Avenue subway station on the R,Q, B line!
-This deal is not valid for the week of Thanskgiving or Christmas. We are already at such high volume those weeks, due to space constraints we could not possibly accommodate any more production (speaking of which, Thanksgiving orders have already started coming in, so get them in sooner rather than later!). This deal IS valid for every other holiday weekend and most of December- meaning if you have a holiday party, an office potluck, or a gift to your kids teachers- this is perfect!
-You need to use the entire voucher in one go- it doesn’t split. If you’re buying the whole dozen for yourself, they freeze beautifully! Put whatever you’re not eating in an airtight container and into the freezer for up to 6 weeks. When you want one, just put it on the counter or in the fridge to come to room temp. If you’ve ever met me in person, you know how I’m a big proponent of having “emergency cake” in my freezer at all times, just for those times when it’s 4am, I can’t sleep because I’m really stressed out, and all I need is a big piece of cake to stuff in my face while I’m curled up in a ball on the kitchen floor (I can’t be the only one who does this, am I?). Anyway- 12 cupcakes? 12 pieces of emergency cake. Think about the holiday season. What are the odds you will at some point need emergency cake?
-These things don’t include tax, so you’re going to have to pay that when you redeem the coupon. It’s about $3. Uncle Sam thanks you!
And I think that’s just about all- CLICK HERE to grab the deal! And take a look at these sexy sexy cupcakes we made last night, because 12 of those could be in your belly on the cheap real soon!
Clockwise from front: Pecan Pie, The Bluth, Pumpkin Caramel, Pear Mascarpone
NEW! Pear Mascarpone: Pear cake, mascarpone buttercream, pear chip
NEW! Pecan Pie: Pecan molasses cake, vanilla buttercream, butter molasses glazed pecans
The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
Pumpkin Caramel: Pumpkin cake, salted caramel buttercream, candied pumpkin seeds.
Available at:
Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: Corner of Flatbush & Willoughby, Downtown Brooklyn
Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off Third Avenue, Bay Ridge
Aloha Grinds: 76th and Third Ave, Bay Ridge
Bagel Schmagel: 76th and Third Ave, Bay Ridge
Crespella: 7th Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope
Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Blue Apron Foods: Union Street off 7th Avenue, Park Slope
Court Street Grocers: Court Street off Luquer, Carroll Gardens
Eastern District: Manhattan Ave off Eagle Street, Greenpoint
Brooklyn Standard: Nassau & Jewel, Greenpoint
Cake Shop: Ludlow St btwn Standon & Rivington, LES
Joe Columbia University: West 120th btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights
Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island
Red Hook Lobster Pound: Van Brunt Street, Red Hook; Brooklyn Flea; Smorgasburg; Roving Food Truck (Whoopie Pies Only)
Flavors: Wednesday, August 17th
These last few days have been nothing short of incredible. It’s amazing to think that this all started two days ago with a simple blog post, and in no time we’ve seen Mikey’s story go near viral on the internet, receive attention from television & newspapers, and solicited an outpouring of support from total strangers across the globe. Seriously, I’m just blown away.
This has made me think a lot about this Tumblr, about the people who read it, the power of social networking and the ability of people to come together when the world needs them the most. And I thought, there are so many issues we can all tackle if we all come together and just make it happen! So I began to think of what we should all do next, and it came to me immediately.
Each December, ABC Family puts on a little something called “25 Days of Christmas”, and every year it turns more and more into a gigantic Suckfest. What originally began as a festival of beloved Christmas movies and specials began to innocently be invaded first by Harry Potter, then by Pixar movies, and then slowly turned into “25 Days of Non-Christmas Movies and Extended Marathons of that Goddamn Crap-Ass ‘Cars’ Flick”.
Listen, I LOVE Harry Potter. I love The Incredibles, Ratatouille and ALL of that jazz (except Cars). But they have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, and there’s only a few weeks a year we get to watch timeless classics like Rudolph, Frosty, and Holiday In Handcuffs starring Mario Lopez & Melissa Joan Hart.
Something I’ve learned about the media business is that all their programming decisions happen months in advance, meaning that the schedule for 25 Days of Christmas could happen at any minute. That is why it’s IMPERATIVE that each and every one of you sign this petition and do your part to ensure that Nestor the Long Eared Donkey doesn’t get scrapped again this year for a buck toothed tow truck.
The future is in our hands, America. Let’s make this happen.
Oh, FYI we’ve already raised a few hundred bucks for Mikey, & the DeKalb Market merchants have signed on to raise even more money for the Hope is in the (h)Air Fundraiser. If you don’t feel like getting involved in saving basic cable Christmas, then maybe making a donation to cure childhood cancer is more your speed.
Here’s the flavors- and there’s a new one! Hoo Boy!
Clockwise from front: Lemon Blueberry Ricotta, Dom DeLuise, Peach Cobbler, Bluth
NEW! Lemon Blueberry Ricotta: Italian lemon cake, ricotta buttercream, blueberries & lemon zest
Dom DeLuise: Pistachio cake, ricotta buttercream, chopped citron, miniature chocolate chips and roasted pistachios
Peach Cobbler: Peach cake, vanilla buttercream, peach compote, streusel topping
Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
Available at:
Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: Flatbush & Willoughby, Downtown Brooklyn
Bagel Schmagel: Third Avenue btwn 75th and 76th, Bay Ridge
Hom: 88th and Third Avenue, Bay Ridge
Tazza Cafes: Clark St off Henry AND Henry Street off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights
Court Street Grocers: 485 Court Street, Carroll Gardens
Blue Apron: Union Street off 7th Avenue, Park Slope
Red Hook Lobster Pound: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook and Roving Food Truck *Classic Whoopie Pies only*
AVAILABLE AT ROBICELLI’S AT DEKALB:
Cupcakes: The Breucklen, Tres Leches, Bananas Foster, McFadden (Today’s Cupcake for Mikey), Hazelnut Kiss, Estelle Getty, Creamsicle, All Rotation Flavors
Whoopie Pies: Bourbon Pecan Butterscotch, Classic
Brownies: Maltz, Moverley, L’Orange Noir, Classic Sea Salt
Marshmallows: Cookies & Cream
Flavors: Monday, August 15th
This is Mikey. He’s the son of an old friend of Matt’s and the nephew of a friend of mine from high school. He is five years old, loves Sesame Street, the color orange, and football.
Mikey has cancer. He was diagnosed with an unidentifiable form that causes tumors to grow on his brain and spine, and although they’ve sent the pathology to everywhere from Memorial Sloan Kettering to Johns Hopkins, no one can figure out what the tumors are, or how to cure them.
Sorry for bumming you out so early on a Monday morning. There’s really, REALLY important stuff coming up, I promise. Just stick with me for a bit.
Anyway, Mikey’s family has been very active in a charity called St. Baldrick’s, which helps communities and volunteers create local fundraisers to benefit kids with cancer. Recently they’ve been working on a fundraising drive to raise $20,000, culminating in a head-shaving event near their home in Rockaway on September 17th.
Now you’re about to go from being sad to being really, REALLY angry. Like, desk punching, screaming out loud angry. Warn your coworkers.
Matt saw a post on Facebook about someone stealing some of the money raised for St. Baldrick’s. He reached out to Mikey’s mom, Christine, to find out what happened, and this is part of what she emailed us back:
“Natalie, our Hope is in the (h)Air treasurer, was on the other line. Her dad was doing a great thing today. He was standing outside (in Donagan Hills, SI) collecting donations in a jug for our event, he had bags of stuffed animals and was manning a ‘Take a Toy, Make a Donation’ table! The jug was labeled & had Mikey’s picture on it so everyone knew where the money was going.
He went in the backyard to grab something for a minute and as he was coming out a woman in a car was stuffing both the bags of toys and the donation jug in her car! He started running but she pulled away too quickly! Then she had the nerve to, not only keep the toys and money but to throw the jug with Mikey’s picture and story and our event information out the window like it’s garbage.”
Let’s recap! This woman:
A) SAW that this was a fundraiser for a kid with cancer
B) Stole all the money from said kid with cancer
C) Stole all the merchandise to ensure that there would be no more raising money for those greedy kids with cancer that day!
D) Felt the need to discard the fundraising information AND the picture of the poor kid who’s dying from incurable cancer because it was obviously taking up WAY too much room in her car, room that could eventually be filled with fur coats made from kittens or black market kidneys. PLUS the woman discarded these things by
E) Littering.
NOW you guys can punch something! And once you get done with your emotional issues, this is what we’re all going to do:
PHASE #1: This entire week, Matt and I are donating 50 cents of every cupcake sold at DeKalb Market and 25 cents of every cupcake sold wholesale to the Lograno family’s Hope Is In The (h)Air fundraiser benefiting Mikey and two other local kids who are fighting cancer.
PHASE #2: Every day from now until September 17th, we’ll feature one cupcake at DeKalb that will have 100% of its profits donated to Mikey.
PHASE #3: I’m going to be making calls and asking lots of friends to either contribute a portion of their sales or make a donation to Mikey. So far, Nachos NY has agreed to contribute a portion of their internet sales to the cause. When I can convince more, I’ll let you know either via Twitter or Facebook, or in my weekly blog posts.
***UPDATE*** Pastry chef extraordinaire Fany Gerson of La Newyorkina will be donated a portion of all her August profits to St. Baldrick’s & Mikey! Go visit her on the Highline or at Hester Street Fair!
***UPDATE*** Granola Lab will be donating bags of their amazing granola for us to sell at DeKalb this weekend, with 100% of the profits going to Mikey’s St. Baldrick’s fundraiser!
PHASE #4: GET INVOLVED. St. Baldrick’s is a volunteer driven charity, meaning they not only will they help you organize a bake sale/supper club/head shavathon/dance-off/fundraiser, but they NEED you to. Click here to see where the money you can raise will go.
PHASE #5: Help us get the word out about this! Learn more about Mikey here, here and here. Mikey and his family need our support, and the entire world needs to know that it’s NOT COOL to steal money and stuffed animals from children with cancer! Boundaries, people!!!!
I never ask for retweets, reblogs, or anything like that. But today, I am begging you all. Help us make this go viral. It is way more important that most of the stuff you’ll be mindlessly clicking through all day.
Today’s special “Cupcake for Mikey” at DeKalb is Chocolate Cashew- chocolate cake with cashew buttercream, roasted cashews and ganache. Below are the cupcakes that are going to our retail partners. Please shop, contribute, or do whatever small bit you can from your corner of the world.
And please, the next moment you have, hug your kids or loved ones as tight as you possibly can, and never forget for a single moment just how lucky you really are.
Clockwise from front: The Bluth, Peach Cobbler, Hazelnut Kiss, Estelle Getty
The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
Peach Cobbler: Peach cake, vanilla buttercream, peach compote, streusel topping
Hazelnut Kiss: Chocolate hazelnut cake, Nutella buttercream, roasted hazelnuts, chocolate chips
Estelle Getty: Almond cake, cheesecake buttercream, crushed Amaretti cookies
AVAILABLE AT:
ROBICELLI’S AT DEKALB MARKET: Flatbush Ave Extension & Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn
CAFE AT SAM’S BAKERY- 94th Street off 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
BAGEL SCHMAGEL: Third Avenue btwn Bay Ridge Pkway & 76th Street, Bay Ridge
ALOHA GRINDS: Third Avenue and 77th Street, Bay Ridge
THE CUPCAKE STAND: Fifth Avenue between 60th and 61st, Sunset Park
CRESPELLA CREPE & ESPRESSO BAR- 321 7th Avenue at 9th Street, Park Slope
TAZZA CAFES- Henry off Atlantic and Clark off Henry, Brooklyn Heights
RADISH- Bedford Ave off N8th, Williamsburg
RED HOOK LOBSTER POUND: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook and Roving Food Truck *Whoopie Pies only*
CAKESHOP- Ludlow btwn Stanton & Rivington, Lower East Side
BATTERY PLACE MARKET: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City
JOE: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: West 120th btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights
Also Available At DeKalb Market:
Cupcakes: Chocolate Cashew (cupcake for Mikey), Bananas Foster, McFadden, Breucklen, Dom DeLuise, All Rotation Flavors
Whoopie Pies: Classic, Pecan Bourbon Butterscotch
Brownies: Classic Sea Salt, Maltz (bourbon-bacon), Moverley (Scotch whiskey espresso walnut), L’Orange Noir (Grand Mariner)
Flavors: Wednesday, June 29th
Last week I was introducing my children to the infinite brilliance of The Cosby Show on Netflix, when the most horrible thing occurred to me.
One day, Bill Cosby is going to die. Cliff Huxtable, the dad we all wanted when we were kids, will die. And Bill Cosby is OLD. Not Dick Van Dyke old (who I really don’t want to die), but old.
A few days later, Peter Falk died, and hearing about it ruined my entire freaking day. It’s silly that we can get so sad over the passing of someone whom we never met, and honestly really know nothing about. For all I know, Peter Falk could have been an psychotic abusive alcoholic just like Bing Crosby was, and still I would have been completely bummed. God, every time a Golden Girl dies, I’m in bed crying for a week.
Now I want you guys to brace yourselves for an idea so brilliant, it most certainly will rock you to your core. And journalists or other media folks who are reading this- please take special note. You may want to read this part twice and EXTRA hard, just so it sinks in.
When a beloved celebrity dies: just don’t tell us. Seriously, how the hell were any of us supposed to know Bea Arthur was dead? Did knowing make my life better in any way? NO! IT MADE IT SO MUCH WORSE!!!! For all I know, Bea Arthur could be living in a retirement community in Boca, and I would have no need for any proof of that fact. This could be a typical converstion:
ME: You know who was great? Bea Arthur! I wonder how she’s doing?
MATT: According to Wikipedia, she’s living out of the spotlight in a luxury private community for seniors. No wonder- she’s 146!
ME: 146! Wow- that’s great! Good for her! I bet she drank a lot of juice!
See how that went? No need for either of us to actually confirm any of this as true- just accepting it and moving on. This can work, America.
Unfortunately, the stupid American media has informed us that most of the Golden Girls are dead, and you know our whole thing about making them a tribute flavor once they die (which is why there is no Betty While- and hopefully never will be). Since Estelle Getty died before we began making cupcakes, we said we’d hold on to her flavor until we could release it one her birthday. And this year, not only are we delivering cupcakes on her birthday, BUT it’s also the first day gays can marry in NY! And you know what Sophia says about that……
In only a few weeks, we’ll be having our first ever “Golden Girls Day”, with the Estelle, Bea and Rue all happening the same day! And I’m hoping that Betty White doesn’t die that week, because I’ll feel totally responsible.
If you’re wondering what other cupcakes are coming up this month, just click on July’s Cupcake Schedule that we just posted: we’ve got lots of great summer flavors, and a few new ones as well.
Speaking of new ones: TWO today! Go eat!
Clockwise from front: The Bluth, Bellini, S’Mores, Horchata
NEW! HORCHATA: Horchata cake, buttercream and pudding, brown butter and cinnamon rice crispies
NEW! BELLINI: Peach champagne cake & buttercream, champagne simmered New Jersey peaches
THE BLUTH: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
S’MORES: Chocolate cake, speculoos pudding, toasted marshmallow buttercream, ganache, graham cracker crumbs
AVAILABLE AT:
CAFE AT SAM’S BAKERY- 94th Street off 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
HOM- Third Avenue and 88th Street, Bay Ridge
BLUE APRON FOODS- Union Street off 7th Avenue, Park Slope
COURT STREET GROCERS: 485 Court Street, Carroll Gardens
THE CUPCAKE STAND: Fifth Avenue between 60th and 61st, Sunset Park
CRESPELLA CREPE & ESPRESSO BAR- 321 7th Avenue at 9th Street, Park Slope
TAZZA CAFES- Henry off Atlantic and Clark off Henry, Brooklyn Heights
BATTERY PLACE MARKET: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City
JOE: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY- W. 120th btwn Broadway & Amsterdam Avenue
RED HOOK LOBSTER POUND: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook and Roving Food Truck *Whoopie Pies only*
Flavors: Monday, June 27th
Of all the people I have loved in my life, one of the greatest was my Aunt Marie. She was not my biological aunt, but rather my Aunt Rosemarie’s partner of over 20 years.
Growing up, I knew Aunt Ro & Aunt Marie lived together, but I was not allowed to know that they were gay. My family accepted the relationship, but being the devout Catholics we were, homosexuality was still something sinful that needed to be hidden, especially from the children. Still, without knowing the exact nature of their relationship, I absolutely adored them both. There was very little as wonderful to me as the possibility of getting to see them, having them take me to the zoo or aquarium or for a walk around Park Slope (back in the 80s when it was, well, really different than it is now).
Eventually I figured out they were gay, and I didn’t care at all. They had been gay the whole time, and my knowing didn’t suddenly change anything. They may not have been married in the eyes of the church or the law, but Aunt Marie WAS my aunt, and I loved her madly. My whole family did, until the day she died from cancer nearly ten years ago. And there has not been a day of my life where I don’t think about her, or talk to her up in heaven or wherever all the good souls go.
When the first rumblings happened a few months ago that gay marriage in New York might be a possibility, we were asked by an activist friend if we could leverage our social network and business contacts into supporting the cause. I want to say it was something we jumped at, but it wasn’t. Matt and I worried that coming out for what we believed in would end up hurting business, in just the same way it hurt when our bigoted state senator proposed anti-gay legislation a few weeks ago and customers vocally complained to us knowing that we were a Bay Ridge based business. As strong as we felt about our convictions, we thought it might be best to stay out of the whole situation.
Then I started to think about my Aunt Marie a lot. I thought about her kindness and generosity, how her heart was so big to forgive so much, and how much she loved not just my Aunt Ro, but my grandmother and my aunts and all of us. I thought about her parents, the cutest little Italian immigrants you’d ever meet, and how they were present at every single one of my birthday parties and holidays. I thought how even though my family disapproved of them being gay and felt the need to shelter me from it, there was never a single thing about my family that ever felt wrong.
I will never think my Aunt Marie was “wrong”. In my eyes, Aunt Marie was just about as perfect as a human being will ever be. Yet her entire life, she wasn’t good enough to be counted with everyone else, just because was in love with my Aunt Ro, and loved all the nutjobs that came along with her. And that will never, ever sit right with me.
Matt and I finally decided we were brave enough to come out publicly for marriage equality, and tried to rally our supporters. We asked people to call their senators and to help us spread the word that equality was becoming less and less of a dream, even though so many said not to get our hopes up. We DID lose followers, but it was still worth it to us. I know in my heart that if Aunt Marie was still alive she’d would have been fighting to see this happen- and if she couldn’t be here to do it, I would so no one would ever forget how amazing she really was, and no one like her would ever be treated as less than human again.
Atticus and I at the rally against Senator Marty Golden, who tried to not only ban gay marriage in NYS, but also attempted to strip the LGBT community of civil rights they already have. He’s up for reelection next year, everyone. Remember that.
I know what we did was microscopic in the grand scheme of the whole process, especially when you remember that there are brave men and women who have made this legislation their entire lives work. But aside from being a victory for New York, this was a victory for this little Italian-American family down here in South Brooklyn. I don’t want my Aunt Ro to have to hide herself from my children for any reason. She is my aunt, and I will always love her for EVERYTHING she is. My kids adore her and her new wife, Sara. They are as married as Matt and I are, and this new generation of children will be taught that being gay is nothing to be ashamed of. Ro and Sara might not be normal (and that has nothing to do with being gay), but to us they are our family, and they’re perfect.
To all our LGBT friends, family and neighbors- we love you, and will always support you no matter what.
We promised that when the first gay couple marries in NY, we’d do their wedding cupcakes for free. Well, that offer still stands (and coincidentally, I believe the first day where weddings can take place is Estelle Getty’s birthday, aka Robicelli’s first ever Golden Girls Day).
AND if you’re a gay or lesbian couple getting married before October, we’ll take 10% off your entire wedding cupcake order, plus donate an additional 10% to the Ali Forney Center for Homeless LGBT youth. That sound like a good way to celebrate making history to you? :)
Aunt Marie, I wish you could have been here to see this. I love and miss you so much.
Now onto flavors- what better way to celebrate than with a cupcake? I’ve been told on good authority it’s the gayest of all the desserts- WAY gayer than pie!
Clockwise from front: Apricot Chardonnay, S’Mores, Rue McClanahan, The Bluth
Apricot Chardonnay: Apricot chardonnay cake and buttercream, chardonnay poached Turkish apricot
S’Mores: Chocolate cake, speculoos pudding, toasted marshmallow buttercream, ganache, graham cracker crumbs
Rue McClanahan: Peach cake, cheesecake buttercream, peach compote
The Bluth: Chocolate banana cake, chocolate buttercream, roasted walnuts, ganache
Available at:
CAFE AT SAM’S BAKERY- 94th Street off 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
BAGEL SCHMAGEL: Third Avenue btwn Bay Ridge Pkway & 76th Street, Bay Ridge
THE CUPCAKE STAND: Fifth Avenue between 60th and 61st, Sunset Park
CRESPELLA CREPE & ESPRESSO BAR- 321 7th Avenue at 9th Street, Park Slope
TAZZA CAFES- Henry off Atlantic and Clark off Henry, Brooklyn Heights
RADISH- Bedford Ave off N8th, Williamsburg
RED HOOK LOBSTER POUND: 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook and Roving Food Truck *Whoopie Pies only*
CAKESHOP- Ludlow btwn Stanton & Rivington, Lower East Side
BATTERY PLACE MARKET: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City
