Hello Cupcake!

Cupcakes are the it thing.  Yes, some people think other desserts are getting more popular and maybe the cupcake is slipping away, but no.  Just no.  Cupcakes are where it's at.  And as much as I LOVE to bake my own cupcakes (probably because I LOVE to eat them) I also enjoy checking out bakeries and their yummy cakes.  Fortunately SF has an abundance of cupcakeries (word?)  Some are good, some a bad and some are AMAZING!  Since I do consider myself a pretty good baker (sorry if that makes me sound full of myself) I hate to go out and buy something that I could totally make myself and better.

Here is a sampling of ones I've tried so far.  (note: I've made a Google doc for myself of places I need to try in the city.  This is seriously, spread sheet worthy business!)

First up is Cupkates.  And before I go any further I must say: I wish my name was Kate so I could use this cool nickname.  They only sell their cupcakes out of their truck so you gotta catch 'em wherever they are.  I first had them at Off The Grid which is a giant convergence of food trucks in a big parking lot.  SF does one near me on Friday nights and it's definitely something I need to take advantage of more often.  There will be more on food trucks later because are truly the it thing right now!  Back to the cupcake: I had a delicious churro cupcake and I really wish I'd take a picture of it...next time!

Next up is Sift.  Now this place is a new find and boy am I glad I found it!  They have many awesome flavors there (and I've tried a lot of them) but one of the top ones is All for the Cookie - choco cake with cookies and cream frosting.  We tried this one a few months back because it was Chocolate Cupcake Day.  Awesome day.

Kara's is a very well known cupcake bakery here in the bay area.  Not only are the cupcakes tasty but they are so pretty too (something that I am sometimes lacking at as a home cook.)  Of course my favorite is red velvet.  I just love the bright red color and cream cheese frosting.  Mmmmmm

This next one is a tried and true love of my sister's and mine: Susie Cakes!  This place is pretty close to the two apartments we've lived in together in SF but even if it's not on the way we somehow seem to find a way to walk or drive past it and then HAVE to buy something!  Her fav is the red velvet cake and my fav is the red velvet cupcake (although they once had a blueberry pancake cupcake the knocked my socks off!  sadly it was seasonal and I'm just waiting for it to come back.)  Susie Cakes makes RED velvet cake - notice that color!  I love their cupcakes because they hollow out a lil of the cake and put extra frosting in there - genius!

This is just a short list of ones that I have pictures of.  I need to remember not to gobble down my cupcake before properly documenting it!

Oh and here's a few bonus from my trip to Boston.  Kickass Cupcakes.  I think the name says it all.  I read about them on a blog and when I went to go visit my bestie I knew I had to make the stop (especially because it was about 4 blocks away form here apartment.  Fate, I tell you.)  I got 4: cookie dough, s'mores, red velvet and the Green Monstah.  A few notes: while their red velvet was tasty it wasn't very red.  At all.  A lil disappointing but I still finished it.  And their Green Monstah one is a tribute to Boston and the outfield fence at Fenway.  It was beer flavored and actually very tasty!