March 2009 Archives

Can someone please put this kid in commercials? I swear, I'd buy anything from him. Even a Sham-Wow!

If you're in the food industry, you probably have a little fear tucked away for that annual surprise inspection from the Department of Health. It seems like every restaurant I see gets shut down temporarily after that visit, even the real fancy ones! Abiding by all the codes and keeping things squeaky clean is all it takes, but it's something that requires daily maintenance to pull off. Once you let one thing go, it's a slippery slope, but don't get me started...

This Saturday amidst the packed stream of customers, our Health Inspector cut in line, flashed his badge and a smile. NOT exactly something you like thrown in the mix of an already hectic day, but what can you do? With the mantra: "keep calm and carry on" repeating through my head I tried to ignore the inspector as he made his way around the bakery: hawk-like, red pen poised.

After 30 minutes or so he approached me with a big smile. "I like it here," he said. "This place is very clean". I almost fell over. A compliment from the health inspector? I didn't think they were allowed to! I quickly hugged Sabrina (seen in the pic) because she is the reason this place is so impeccably clean and organized. Thank you Sabrina!

So join us for a (tea) toast to another clean year! Mazel-tov!

Friday was the official first day of Spring, right? Those of us living in NY were anointed into the new season with cold, cold snow. Not exactly bikini weather yet, but I'm still honoring my Spring duties which include my first ever (GASP!) juice cleanse. I know, I know. I was so bummed all weekend just thinking about it. Fearful thoughts that I'd lose it overwhelmed me. How could I pass by those flaky biscuits, rich gooey brownies, melt in your mouth cookies and the cupcakes (those sweet tender morsels of delight) without shoving them into in my mouth, all at the same time?

I did get some comfort knowing I chose the Blue Print Cleanse, which seems to be the perfect match for those of us who like to eat. A LOT. This cleanse seemed to be the right match for me, cause it doesn't starve you or promise that you will lose 80 pound (the very reason I shied away from them in the first place). You get 6 juices to get you through the day.The big purpose here is to give your liver and other organs a much needed break so they can get rid of all the junk you may have given it-knowingly or unknowingly..

So, I'm on day one. Feeling good, but fantasizing about the cornbread. I won't bore everyone with daily updates but will post results after this is over. I'm going to feel great right? Right???? Oh lord, keep me away from those biscuits...

Get ready everybody! St. Patrick's Day is just a few days away. For New Yorkers, joining the festivities is kinda like attending the SuperBowl with all the painted faces, drunkards full of spirit and no parking anywhere. You're either on "Team Irish" or "Team Get Out of My Face". Being of Irish decent, I'm totally on Team Irish. I even took (read: was forced into) Irish dancing lessons despite the fact that I practically grew up on the boarder of Mexico and desperately wanted to blend in with my classmates (thanks, dad!). Now that baking has taken the front seat to any jigging around come March 17th, I've created a few specials to get us in the spirit. Here it is:

Jameson Soaked Vanilla Cupcakes wih a Shamrock Reduction Vanilla Frosting.

Pretty straight forward. Our famous vanilla cupcake drunked in Jameson. Oh and the "Shamrock Reduction" just means green. Available in the non-drunk variety for those who can't hold the drink (like myself).

Shamrock Cookies

Cookies shaped like shamrocks

For the smarties out there who know that whiskey is distilled from wheat, fear not! It is naturally gluten-free. Just ask Gluten Free Girl! Party!!!!

OH. MG. We are fainting from adorability. One of our customers received an apple pie from her good friend for Thanksgiving and she made this journal for that good friend's birthday out of the bakery box. Do you love it?! We do!

We are so inspired that we are proposing a challenge: recycle your BabyCakes NYC boxes into something awesome and send us a photo. We will award a gift card good for a dozen cupcakes to the first place winner. The 3 runners up will get honorable mentions along with photos featuring their art. Cut off date for submissions is April 15th so get to crafting!

I think it was about 2 days after the opening of BabyCakes NYC that Jason Schwartzman walked into the bakery and bought a cupcake. Back in those days, there were no lines and I was actually sitting at the counter reading a book (and not even a good one). Jason said he heard about the bakery from a friend and because he was vegan AND a super healthy young man he really appreciated that we used agave nectar and was well versed on the benefits of coconut oil-I might even say he was coconut obsessed (he named his band Coconut Records. Loco). He took my suggestion on the carrot cupcake (it's my fav) and off he went on a plane to another country or something (Paris? India?). He returned from his trip and headed to the bakery with about 900 friends. They had an eating contest. They mowed so much. I couldn't frost fast enough. Dang.

Anyhow-we've gotten to know each other over the years and I've become as big of a fan of his as he is of the bakery (look for his testimonial in the BabyCakes NYC cookbook out in May). I mean, did you know that between movies he has put out 2 albums? On his own record label, Young Baby Records? And that he composed and played all the music on them on top of singing? AND. It's really really good. It's like,

"WHOA. What??? Really?!?! "

Just like that. We started playing it at the bakery because the girls thought it had some good jams to frost cupcakes to, and then had so many inquiries about it from customers that we've started selling his album, Davy, at the counter. For all of you who can't make it in, we're also making it available on our website. If you are too lazy to call us, you can always download it on iTunes too. Get ready for your newest favorite!