London cupcakeries

The world just cant seem to get enough of cupcakes. All the latest rage in London, cupcakes are the new fairy cakes-but spare the icing please and on with the fluffy globs of frosting!

Heres a look at some of the sweetest treats in London



bake-a-boo

An afternoon tea shop specializing in cooking and design workshops as well as parties.  Baking gluten, dairy, and sugar free indulgences gives bake-a-boo a market advantage as many consumers are looking for healthier dessert options.

Specialty flavors include: Baileys, passionfruit, plum and blueberry, banana and peanut butter, raspberry, and chocolate all topped with buttercream frosting

Hummingbird Bakery

The first London cupcake store, Hummingbird Bakery has four locations offering mini cupcakes, cakes, whoopie pies, and brownies.  Specialized decorations are available upon request.


Some flavors are carrot, red velvet, gingerbread, eggnog, raspberry, and white chocolate.  Also, check out the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook for 60 of their favorite recipes.

Buttercup Cake Shop

Buttercup rotates their flavors daily.  Several flavors are vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, banana, coconut, and lemon.  Their specialties are sticky toffee, carrot, and chocolate zucchini. 

Each cupcake is topped with a sugar decoration, to match any occasion you desire!

Buttercup’s Sweet Charity Program is dedicated to corporate social responsibility, as they give back to community organizations.  They will donate 15% of cupcake sales to a registered and approved charity.

Café Bonaparte

While in Washington D.C. over Thanksgiving. I visited one of my favorite Georgetown restaurants, Café Bonaparte.  This small French restaurant located in the heart of Georgetown, on Wisconsin Street, instantly invites you to experience the tastes and feel of Paris.  The dark wood and rosy glow transports you to the set of Audrey Hepburn's An American in Paris.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Café Bonaparte offers a wide variety of entrees as well as sweet and savory crêpes.  


My personal favorites...


Wine: a bottle of Malbec
Appetizer: pomme frites, traditional French Fries, crispy on the outside and soft inside. 
Les "Savory" Crêpes: Santorini, fresh spinach, caramelized red onions, ricotta, and feta 
Les "Sweet" Crêpes: Last Tango, Nutella chocolate, strawberries, whip cream, and berry melba sauce

Next time you are wandering the bustling streets of Georgetown stop in the cozy Café Bonaparte for a delightful experience.

A Lake Weekend

A friend and I escaped school for a relaxing lake weekend at Petoskey on the Northern Michigan shore.  As a southern California transplant, I have come to appreciate the peaceful, remote country lifestyle.  There is something rejuvenating about the country.  Gone is the hustle and bustle of the city, the constant roar of car motors, and the absence of superficial distractions.  You can hear the whistle of the trees and the tickle of the stream.  You can hear your breath against the crunch of leaves.  

The houses in the Petoskey Bay Harbor are painted in hues of green, yellow, and blue with bright white porches and surrounding lawn chairs. I love these cottage houses. They are truely American! I would love to visit in the summer!

Scrumptious Winter Squash

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching and the Fall season in full swing, there is nothing better than some warm winter squash to spice up your meal.  Winter squash differs from summer squash in that winter squash is allowed to mature before harvesting. Summer squash, such as zucchini, is harvested while still tender and developing.

At any local farmers' market unique types of squash are widely available.  Winter squash such as pumpkin, acorn, buttercup, and spaghetti is best when the skin is dull and thick.  Smooth shiny skin indicates that the squash is not yet ripe.  Squash is delicious, nutritious, and full of buttery flavor.

Butternut squash makes a great soup. Flavor it with cinnamon, cloves, maple syrup, and a dash of cream.  I also love butternut squash stuffed raviolis drizzled with a cream sauce and sprinkled with fresh sage.  Spaghetti squash has recently become one of my favorite dishes. Its a great vegetable alternative to pasta as it cooks up to have the same consistency.  Cook it for an hour then sauté it with garlic and basil pesto. Top it off with some grated gouda and crispy prosciutto!

Stay tuned for my next blog post with delicious squash recipes!

Twice baked butternut squash topped with grated parmesan and sage

Individual butternut squash soup dishes. Great for a fall party!

The Green Door

La Porte Verte, the French translation of The Green Door

There is something cheerful, something soothing about the color green. It represents life, growth, and prosperity.  As a senior in college, I dream of the day I will get to design my own house.  It will be surrounded by whistling trees and blooming flowers with children playing on the front porch, and of course a green door will invite all to enter.  Here are some photographs to spark your interest. Enjoy!