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Browsing Category Food

Paris Cupcake Wars: Sugar Daze

October 9, 2012 · by Nikki

The moment has finally arrived. The moment when I review the cupcake shop to end all cupcake shops in Paris. The one everyone told me about, from a comment on of of my earlier cupcake posts, here, to an article written by MammaExpat over at HJ Underway, here, to recommendations I received via twitter: Sugar Daze was the must-try bakery on my list. Now it’s time to reveal whether or not the shop is worth all the buzz…

At first glance: The first few times I walked past Sugar Daze I actually didn’t notice it. It was only when I was on a mission to find the shop that I realized I had walked down that same street several times, since my doctor was located around the corner. “How could I have missed a cupcake shop?” I had asked myself as Frog Prince and I turned onto the familiar street. It even has a colorful awning and a lovely glass window displaying some delectable treats that looked more than tempting.

At second glance: Once I finally stepped inside, the overly-commercial decor of the other shops I’ve visited yielded to a simple, relatively white-walled setting… which didn’t hold my attention for more than two seconds in light of the cupcakes on display.

Look at these beauties! Don’t they just make your mouth water?

At first bite: As with Daisy Miller’s, I knew before taking a bite what the experience would be like. Except in this case, I was expecting, and experienced, opposite results. I went immediately for I Love Rock N’ Roll, with it’s hand-crafted sugar guitar sitting atop the perfect amount of frosting. The frosting was sublime, and the cake was perfectly moist and well-flavored (which says a lot since they had been refrigerated after buying them the day before). At Sugar Daze, Cat makes full-sized cupcakes (not those little mini ones the Parisians try to pass off as cupcakes), so we each selected a different cupcake, cut it in quarters, and shared. I can say that the second, third and fourth bites were also exquisite.

Amazing cake, perfect frosting, and a hidden surprise?! A trifecta of tastiness!

Overall: Again, I don’t pay much attention to pricing, but I can say that Sugar Daze has the best-tasting cupcakes so far (and perhaps in all of Paris), and they offer full-sized cupcakes, so the price is probably higher per cupcake but not by weight, and for good reason. Not only is the size and taste enough to make these cupcakes worth the money, but the time spent on making each one look uniquely perfect is a rare thing in the cupcake world, rendering each one worth its weight in gold. Oh, and did I mention how fresh they were? Yeah, the list keeps going…

It’s almost like I don’t even need to say this last part, but for the sake of consistency: DEFINITELY GO to Sugar Daze if you’re in Paris and craving a cupcake. You won’t be disappointed! 🙂

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Paris Cupcake Wars: Daisy Miller American Bakery & Restaurant

September 17, 2012 · by Nikki

I bet you thought I had taken a break from my mission to discover cupcakes in Paris, hmm? Well you’re wrong–I haven’t!

Frog Prince’s big sis clued me in to a potentially dangerous thing: a cupcake shop in my neighborhood. This sounded like trouble, and I needed to investigate. Enter: Daisy Miller American Bakery & Restaurant.

At First Glance: Technically the first glance I had of this place was the website, and I liked what I saw. They have some really great photos of some delicious-looking cupcakes, and I felt both excited and worried about the prospect of having such yummy desserts nearby.

See how yummy these look?

At Second Glance: The shop seemed pretty bare, which I tried to overlook considering that they are newly installed into their little corner of the 12th arrondissement. But as soon as I took a look at their cupcake shelf, my heart dropped and I knew that my initial reaction of disdain for the wannabe-American bakery was an accurate one. We actually called before coming, since it was August and so many shops close for summer holiday, and we wanted to make sure they were open. They told us that they were, in fact, open for business, but asked us to delay our visit by just a bit so they could put out more fresh cupcakes. We obliged, but when we got there, I’d say their selection was extremely limited, and looking far from fresh.

At first bite: I didn’t need to take a bite, actually, to know that these cupcakes wouldn’t measure up to the previous two shops I’ve visited. Each cake looked exactly the same (no differentiation in flavor), and the frosting looked like whipped cream mixed with flavoring and/or food coloring, topped with cheap candy. Nevertheless, the first bite confirmed–these were not what an American would consider a cupcake.

Overall: I can honestly say that we felt bad serving these cupcakes to our dinner guests that night. Fortunately they were up for the experiment, and didn’t hold it against us, but this isn’t a bakery that I plan to return to anytime soon. Obviously, my verdict for this one is DON’T GO to Dasiy Miller.

As a side note, I was particularly put-off by two other things: First–the name indicates that this bakery is aiming to resemble something American, either in look, feel, or food offering. Not only were the cupcakes not at all up to American cupcake standards, but the decor in the shop centered around imagery from… London. Second–the one American thing they did have on their menu that looked appealing was beer. I was especially excited to see Sam Adams Boston Lager on the menu (for obvious reasons), and we tried to order one… at which point we were notified that, uh, they were out (or do they even carry them??). But we could have Heineken! No thanks, Daisy Miller. And maybe you should revisit the American theme you have going on…

Image credit: http://www.daisymiller-cupcakes.com/

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Paris Cupcake Wars: Berko’s Bakery

July 27, 2012 · by Nikki

For the latest installment of my cleverly devised scheme to allow me to binge on cupcakes while in Paris, I bring you the full report of my experience with Berko’s Bakery.

The setting: We had plans to host some of of the Prince’s Royal Family for dinner, and we thought it would be a great idea to introduce some other Froggies to cupcakes and to get their valuable feedback. So on the day of our dinner I ventured over to the Berko’s location in the 18th arrondissement, just a short walk from the Moulin Rouge, to sample their wares.

At first glance: Both the website and the storefront were promising. The website lists a huge variety of both cupcakes and frostings, sorted by type (buttercream, cream cheese, mascarpone, mousse and ganache), which sufficiently wet my appetite. Once inside, their selection of cupcakes vastly outnumbered that at Scarlett’s Bakery, and I was eager to make my selection. The shop was very nicely decorated, evoking a feeling of vintage-esque Parisian sweetness. They also offer wedding cakes (among other things), which is typically a good indicator of a bakery that knows how to make a cupcake!

Berko’s storefront – in French 😉

At second glance: Although the selection was large, I was double-disappointed with it! Not only were they not carrying the classic flavors I seem to be always hunting for, but the selection of buttercream cupcakes was so much smaller than any other type, and buttercream is my favorite. The cupcakes here are also minis, and the box they offer is designed well and holds your goodies in place like a trusty sports bra.

Keepin’ everything nice and snug

At first bite: The disappointment continued. The frosting was moderately tasty, but the cupcakes themselves were average. At Scarlett’s, you get cupcakes that are either the same or a corresponding flavor as the frosting, giving you a really flavorful experience for each bite. With Berko’s, you’re typically getting a plain cake with fancy frosting (if you can call it that). In some cases, the cupcakes had some sort of filling inside that, while yummy, doesn’t exactly make up for the lack of attention paid to the cake itself. Our guests reflected my sentiments by saying that the cakes were a bit dry and plain, and Frog Prince has asked me not to go back.

So much promise, so little flavor

Overall: Their prices are higher than Scarlett’s for a lower quality product. The best thing about Berko’s is the box, and that’s obviously not enough to make it worth your time or money. My recommendation is to save yourself the hassle, and DON’T GO to Berko’s.

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Paris Cupcake Wars: Scarlett’s Bakery

July 18, 2012 · by Nikki

Recently, I decided to explore the Parisian world of cupcakes. As a first step, I spent some time browsing the web to see what our old friend Google had to say in terms of where to start. I got the standard map listing of places with the word “cupcake” in the name, and then another outdated website or two pointing me the direction of a few bakeries.

Last weekend, the Frog Prince and I had plans to go out for lunch at a restaurant we really dig in a neighborhood not too far from ours (posts about this place will follow, at some point, too. There is no shortage of good food in Paris, but the trifecta of good food, great service/ambiance and good pricing can be quite the rarity). Fortunately, one of the bakeries whose name came up in my search was located conveniently in between our place and the restaurant.

To start what I hope to be a long and delicious journey, I took the liberty of stopping in at a bakery that is touted for its cupcakes (and it’s tea) in the 11th arrondissement: Scarlett’s Bakery. Here’s my rundown of what Scarlett brings to, and puts on, the table:

At first glance – I was excited by the cute, clean shop. I didn’t take any pictures of the inside because it was small, we were the only ones there (when we arrived), and I didn’t want to be rude. But the décor of the bakery is colorful, warm, welcoming, and a little quirkier than most of the neutral-colored, traditional bakeries I find myself in in Paris.

Scarlett’s Bakery on the outside. Image courtesy of http://www.scarlettsbakery-cupcakes.com

At second glance – I was a bit disappointed. Scarlett seems to focus her cupcake energy on minis, which–although they are delicious and turned out to be the perfect size for splitting and sharing–wasn’t what I was looking for, or expecting. Additionally, although the flavors she had were amazing (wait for it), and typical of those you can find among French desserts (pistachio, tiramisu, etc.), some of the classic cupcake flavors were missing: namely chocolate, vanilla and red velvet.

The box being a bit small and semi-poorly designed caused the minis to mush a bit, but they still looked nice!

At first bite – The first cupcake I went for first was cookies and cream, being that it was the closest I could get to the classic chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting, which also happens to be my favorite. The cupcake was sublime. The texture of the cake was not too dense but full of flavor, and the frosting was smooth and creamy. Frog Prince went for tiramisu and told me that “it was amazing,” and a friend went for pistache and was also impressed. Other flavors in our batch included pistache fraise (pistachio cake with strawberry cream), spéculoos (a French cookie of sorts) and caramel au beurre salé (caramel with salted butter). All were top-notch.

Toasting to the tastiness!

Tiramisu and cookies and cream… clearly I can’t handle the flavor

Overall – the shop is sweet, the selection was a bit limited, but the desserts themselves are to die for. I can’t comment on pricing just yet, as I need to try other bakeries to get a feel for the value in this category, but her minis ring up at 1.80 € a piece, with deals if you buy larger quantities.

Keeping my recommendations to a basic “GO” or “DON’T GO” level, I can give the green light to definitely GO to Scarlett’s Bakery!

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Exploring Paris: One Cupcake at a Time

July 17, 2012 · by Nikki

The French do many things well, not the least of which are their desserts. And one of the things that makes their desserts so universally well-liked is the uncanny ability to find the perfect balance of sweetness. Rarely is a French pastry ever too sweet, or not sweet enough.

Delicious, no doubt. Copyright: wikipedia

But if you have a sweet tooth anything like mine, you may often find your cravings go unsatisfied in the realm of the perfect pastry. Although I can certainly appreciate and enjoy the macarons, tarts, gâteaux and other delights to be found in France, sometimes I feel the urge to dive head-first into a sea of sugar. And in those moments, cupcakes can often be just what the doctor ordered.

Cupcakes have enjoyed a State-side spotlight in the past few years, with several reality TV series focusing on cake creation and boosting the popularity of cakes and cupcakes alike. While living in Boston, I took the time to explore several cupcake shops, and was often impressed with the creative flavor combinations I was able to find. Not only are cupcakes just a little sweeter than typical French pastries, but the effort put into the carefully crafted frostings, which are often flavorful experiences all by themselves, is apparent.

To put France’s reputation for pastry-making to the test, I decided that I would not simply settle for trying out the things we already know the French are good at, but instead set out to discover what the world of cupcakes looks like when it is created with a Parisian perspective. Although I’m no expert, I do know a good cupcake when I have one (for example, in London, you simply must stop in at Sweet Couture–best cupcakes I’ve ever had! So far…), and I plan to see if cupcakes made in Paris can compete with those from the rest of the world.

The most amazing red velvet cupcake I’ve ever consumed… and there have been many

My first venture into cupcake escapades was Scarlett’s Bakery. I’ll post a review with thoughts and pictures shortly. Bon appétit!!

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Home Sweet Box of Home

May 4, 2012 · by Nikki

Dorothy went through some pretty badass trials and tribulations in order to learn that “there’s no place like home.” Fortunately for me, there was no Wicked Witch to drench, no poppies to overcome, no flying monkeys in pursuit, and certainly no egomaniacal old man trying to masquerade as some omnipotent being with an over-sized green head. All I did was open a box. Well, technically two boxes.

Apparently, to my delight, two of my best friends from home decided to get together and send me some of my favorite things (not surprisingly, most of the items were food). As soon as I opened the package, it was as if I had clicked my heels three times. I was immediately transported away from the City of Lights, away from the Eiffel Tower, away from the Seine, and back to a familiar place filled with the faces of people I know.

Click, click, click…

It’s true that since I moved abroad I often feel like my home is somewhere in between here and there (and sometimes I feel like it’s nowhere). But, there’s nothing like a few little things put together with care to make you remember what “home” is supposed to feel like. I love my friends, I love my family, and it’s thanks to them that I can continue being a Perpetual Passenger and maintain any trace of sanity. Thanks to everyone who plays a part, large or small. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

Image copyright: FIDM museum shop

Three Holidays, Three Countries

January 12, 2012 · by Nikki

For me, the “holiday season” has always consisted of three important holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve/Day. 2011 marked an interesting year for me, in which I spent these very special holidays in very different locations.

Of course there’s no where in the world to celebrate American Thanksgiving than in the United States, so that’s where I went! This trip was in conjunction with the surprise 50th birthday party we threw for my dad (which you can read about here), and my 10 year high school reunion. Take a look at our Thanksgiving table as we prepared for the big feast:

Tigger (who occasionally travels with me) is eyeing the turkey!

For Christmas, Santa brought family to me and delivered my Father on Christmas Eve! We spent 4 days walking all around Paris (and I mean ALL around), and I acted as a poor excuse for a tour guide to my guest, who was also a first-time visitor to The City of Lights.

A chilly, grey day in front of the Tour Eiffel

And lastly, to ring in the New Year, my wonderful Frog Prince invited me to join him and his friends in beautiful Cadaqués, Spain — about an hour north of Barcelona. The sites were beautiful, the running was difficult (so much wind!), and the company was great. How could I ask for more?

Not a postcard - a snapshot by the sea!

Hoping everyone had a great holiday season and is having an equally excellent start to the new year… as for me, I’ve got big plans for 2012. Watch out, world! 😉

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Six Month Check-Up

December 1, 2011 · by Nikki

Here’s some irony for you: I arrived in Paris on May 19 of this year. On the date of my six-month anniversary of living in Paris–November 19–I spent my day traveling… to the US (more about that later).

I thought I’d take a minute to put together a little recap of the things I’ve accomplished so far, as well as the things I have yet to do. In no particular order, I present to you, dear readers, my…

List of Amazing and Not-So-Amazing Accomplishments:

I have made some friends.
I have tried many wines.
I have tried some cheeses.
I have gotten my own apartment.
I have learned the places to go (and not to go) in my neighborhood for most of my needs.
I rented a bicycle and rode it across the city. Twice. (I also fell off of said bicycle-once.)
I have visited four new countries (with at least two more on the horizon before the year’s end).
I have, from afar, thrown my Dad a surprise 50th birthday party (with the help of some awesome friends and family!).
I have conducted my first international interviews as a moderator.
I have watched my first full rugby game.
I have gotten closer to some of my best friends.
I have reconnected with some old friends.
I have found a really great guy who makes me really happy and want to be a better person.
I have hosted one surprise birthday party, and one dinner/sports party.
I have put together several pieces of furniture.

Although I am proud of myself for what I’ve been able to do so far, I also have another list containing the things I have yet to do that I hope to:

SPEAK FRENCH!
Figure out where to get a decent pedicure in Paris (ladies – this is harder than you think!).
Moderate more interviews.
Keep in better touch with a few friends and family members that I haven’t been able to connect with.
Start actually learning about wine, instead of just enjoying it.
Take more pictures using my digital SLR.
Post more pictures on my blog.
Get back into tennis.
Spend some time looking at art.
Visit more new countries.
Become a better writer.
Finish making my apartment a home.
Successfully encourage more friends from home to come for a visit.
Take a vacation somewhere other than the US.
Make more friends.

All do-able, right? Now I get to look forward to May when I can see exactly how many things from this new list I will be able to cross off. 😉

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Ten Things I Miss

October 28, 2011 · by Nikki

In an attempt to mix-up the Things I Learned lists that I bring you so often, I present you with this glorious attempt to recount the elements of my American lifestyle that I occasionally pine for.

But please don’t misinterpret this list as a secondary form of saying “I don’t like French food,” or some attempt to cling to American comforts when I should be enjoying everything that French life has to offer. Simply put, this is a list of things that I occasionally think about having or doing, and then am promptly slapped in the face by the reality that I cannot due to the lack of availability here in Paris. Here they are:

Peanut butter. YES there is peanut butter here in France (though scarcely). I have some in my kitchen at this very moment. Skippy, actually. But in the US you can find virtually any food item with peanut butter. This actually creates several sub-list items:

Peanut butter M&Ms
Peanut butter Dove squares
Reese’s peanut butter cups (what?!)
Okay, peanut butter and chocolate ANYTHING…

Smartfood Popcorn. Go ahead and judge me, but it’s the guilty pleasure that has been bringing me comfort since high school. And I miss it.
Refried beans. Ever had a breakfast burrito? No? Well let me tell you… it’s a kick-ass day-starting perfectly-portioned burrito filled with egg, salsa, a cream cheese/sour cream concoction, shredded cheese and yes–lots of refried beany-goodness. Also, I enjoy a good seven-layer dip any day of the week. Someone ship me some cans, STAT.
Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese. You know what food grosses a lot of French people out? American-style mac and cheese. Especially the Kraft or Velveeta varieties. But I challenge ANYONE to be grossed out by Annie’s. That’s some good stuff, right there.
Clam chowder. I wouldn’t be a New England girl if I didn’t miss this Northeastern specialty. But please: don’t bother trying to ship me any. I prefer it fresh, and served in one of the six New England states (make that five – no thanks, Connecticut.)
No-bake cookies. Recently I’ve been cursing my mother (in my own mind) for making these delicious cookies when I was a child, and then sharing her recipe with me a few years back. These are now far and away my favorite cookies, and I have yet to find all the necessary ingredients here in Paris.
Netflix. Woohoo! A non-food item! (Maybe I’m not such a little piggie afterall.) Okay to be honest: in the US I didn’t have my own personal Netflix account, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy streaming TV shows and the occasional movie (thanks Adam!). But I didn’t realize how much I would miss having access to series I was getting into or movies that I miss but don’t own until coming to Europe. Come on, Netflix–come to France!
Tennis. People in France LOVE tennis. Half of the people I meet play themselves, and the other half know someone who does. The sport is wildly popular here, especially among Parisians. But I cannot for the life of me nail down a tennis partner, find a new racket, or locate what I’m told are numerous tennis courts around the city. Someone help me before I get lazy!
Friends and family. Duh.
All things Autumn. Apples and pumpkins and costumes, oh my! And brightly colored leaves, that crisp air, the smell of your neighbors lighting their first fire of the season, the opportunity to bring out your cute fall boots, FOOTBALL… Oh I could go on for days.

Friends living abroad… what are the things you miss most?!

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Home is Where the Food is

August 15, 2011 · by Nikki

While living in France I have definitely enjoyed trying new foods and exploring the Parisian culture through its cuisine. And although I certainly am not at a point where I think any one region’s food is better than another’s on the whole, there is definitely an element of comfort surrounding some of the favorite foods I grew up with.

As such, during my stay in the US, I made sure to try and get my hands on the foods I’ve been missing most. Being a New England native, there’s definitely a theme to the foods I’ve been seeking. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the must-eat foods for those visiting the Northeast:

Portsmouth:

Fried Haddock sandwich (with cheese) from River House on Bow Street
Seafood chowder, also from River House
Japanese Wrap (accompanied by a soy shake) from The Juicery on Hanover Street
Anything on the menu at Shio on Lafayette street (near Big Lots), especially the miso soup 😉
Tuna Melt (substitute cheddar for Swiss and hold the tomato) from The Works Bakery Cafe on Congress Street

Boston:

Malai Kofta (preceded by the vegetarian platter as an appetizer) from Kashmir Indian Restaurant on Newbury Street
Tuna Burger from Cafeteria Boston, also on Newbury Street
Crab Cakes from Ned Devines in Faneuil Hall (surprising, but so good!)
A large, original frozen yogurt with strawberries and chocolate chips (though toppings may vary) from Pinkberry, again on Newbury Street
Clam Chowder from Union Oyster House on Union Street (but be warned: you will have the slowest service at this place, regardless of whether it’s dead or packed!)
Lobster Quesadillas from Game On! Boston (another surprise, but these quesadillas could hold their own at any tex-mex establishment!)

Hopefully in a few months I’ll be able to post a similar entry about my favorite French foods. In the meantime, perhaps this can serve as a fish-filled, vegetarian-friendly guide to food some of the best food in Portsmouth and Boston.

Ciao! (literally)

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