to move up and down
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)
