Road Tested: Frosting Bake Shop

Home for the Holidays always provides a nice chance to check out any new foodie delights that have popped up since my last trip to the Bay Area... and this time I stumbled upon a gem.

It's no secret the a good cupcake is 50% of the way to steal my heart (the other 50% belongs to a cute Jewish boy). Frosting Bake Shop in cozy downtown Mill Valley is beyond adorable from the moment you step in the door. The whimsical paint - brown polka dots and bright pink and orange stripes - brings a smile to your face upon entry. And then, there's the cupcakes...

Adorably lining the counter in individual glass display cases, the flavors range from classic Black & White to Peanut Butter Bliss and Juliana Banana. Karen, the baker and owner, also creates seasonal cupcakes, which she often samples in the store. I was able to taste Gingerbread, and although I'm not a fan, that cupcake alone inspired me to buy two to take home and share with the family: Black & White and Oreo.

Okay, I'll be honest, I had full intention of sharing the cupcakes with my parents, but upon entering my car, I happened to take a bite of the moist and rich Black & White cupcake, and neither treat made it home.

Now I just have to make sure Frosting doesn't become a Bar Mitzvah, or my boyfriend will have some stiff competition.

Frosting Bake Shop

7 E Blithedale Avenue

Mill Valley, CA 94941

415.888.8027

$

Road Tested: Manhattan

Okay, okay. So it's only taken me a couple months to add some of my food highlights from my trip to New York. Let me just tell you, New York in June is wonderful. I'm going to blame my tardiness on the sadness that has filled the void that reading in Bryant Park or shopping in SoHo once filled. But, the depression has ceased, and now I am ready to share with you three of my favorite eateries in NY.

Belgium Fry Heaven

It's probably safe to say that Pommes Frites was one of the most "looked-forward-to" attractions in all of beauteous NYC. Let me just say, it completely lived up to my expectations. Real Belgium fries with a plethora of dipping sauces (mostly mayonnaise based which is awesome). Some of my favorites included the sweet mango chutney, and the parmesan peppercorn dipping sauce. Fries are served in paper cones which fit perfectly into the precut holes in all the counters. This is perfect after-bar stop, and if you're lucky like I was, a little flirting will get you a round on the deep fryer.

Pommes Frites
123 2nd Ave. (between 7th & 8th St.)
NYC, 10003
(212) 674-1234
$

Spring in Your Step

Spring Street Natural Restaurant was the perfect place to center myself with good, healthy food after all the dirty dirty money I spent in my favorite part of the city: SoHo. Their ingredients are mostly organic, and their philosophy is to serve natural food at a reasonable price. I think you can tell a lot about a restaurant by the type of bread they place before you. Spring Street offers you fresh baked pumpkin bread: nuff said. I recommend the Spring Street Natural Taco Salad ($11.50) with fresh guacamole, salsa and brown rice. Or, the Southwestern Grilled Organic Chicken Salad ($12.75) with grilled corn, cranberries and tamari roasted almonds. The layers of flavor are unbeatable. Trust me, you'll leave feeling full and energized and ready to take on the city!

Spring Street Natural Restaurant
62 Spring Street (corner of Lafayette)
NYC, 10012
(212) 966-0290
$$

So Sweet

Coffee Sweet Heart is a hidden gem of NYC. With no sign on the door, you'll just have to follow your nose to this little coffee shop/bakery. What makes CSH so special, you say? Most of their baked goods are fat free and/or sugar free - and you wouldn't even know it! On a busy morning, this was the perfect place to grab a iced soy latte and a fat free and sugar free carrot muffin. So moist and delicious! A guilt free muffin makes Jaimey a happy girl.



Coffee Sweet Heart
69 8th Ave
NYC, 10014
Phone: (212) 807-1125
<$

Road Tested: San Diego

Although this blog is first and foremost about Los Angeles dining, I ocassionally hit the road and would like to share some not-to-miss spots in areas outside of the city. This week, San Diego, and more specifically, the adorable town of Hillcrest. Here are two breakfast spots and a sushi restaurant that you must try if you're in the area.

CREST CAFE
A popular local haunt, Crest Cafe is a great eggs place - and you have plenty of options. I'm a fan of Mexican, so if I can get my "A.M. Ole" (as the menu section is so cleverly called), then I am a happy girl. Carolenas Corn Tortilla consists of 4 lightly fried corn tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, fresh salsa, jalapeno jack cheese, and avocado with a side of chopped mangos (which I sprinkled on top of the individual tortillas). This dish was a great mix of sweet and savory and didn't weigh me down. The salsa was fresh and chunky, as it should be (no Pace in sight) and the cheese was perfectly melted and gooey good!


You also can't go wrong with Cafe Eggs, which are scrambled with cheddar cheese, scallions, and bacon, served on a croissant. You have to be ready to make a mess with this flakey sandwich. Crest lets you choose between house potatoes or fresh (and they mean it!) fruit as a side.


Another great b-fast sandwich is the Morning Scrambled, taking the Cafe Eggs up a notch. Scrambled eggs are mixed with avocado, mushrooms, jack and cheddar (because two cheeses are always better than one), bacon, scallions and tomatoes. Now you're in the driver seat with the bread, choosing from wheat to a croissant and almost all that's in between.


Crest Cafe
425 Robinson Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 295-2510
$

THE MISSION*
You can smell the baker racks filled with freshly baked rosemary bread as soon as walk in the door. Prepare for at least a 20 minute wait, and they definitely won't seat you if your whole party isn't present. But trust me, the wait is well worth it. Unlike Crest, The Mission specializes in items fresh off the griddle. The Mission French Toast is as light and fluffy as French Toast can get. Not overpowered with an eggy taste, the cinnamon bread really shines in this dish. Every plate at Mission is a work of art, almost too pretty to eat. The restaurants signature berry puree dances against the white plate - and it tastes pretty darn good too.


The Cornmeal Blueberry Pancakes are moist and good to last bite. Served with two eggs and bacon, you better come hungry.


If you're feeling a little feisty, try the Plato Verde con Huevos. I'm not going to lie, these just barely missed the mark, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. The one thing that brought this dish down were the slightly dried out sweet corn tamales. The tamales are served with black beans and two eggs over medium with a tangy roasted tomatillo sauces coating the eggs. Even with the slightly overcooked tamales, I managed to make this dish disappear pretty fast.


Other notable treats: $3 Cinnamon Roll or $2.50 Pecan Banana Bread

The Mission
2801 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 220-8992
$

*technically located in North Park, about a 5 minute drive from Hillcrest


SUSHI DELI ONE
You know the saying, "you get what you pay for" - well, at Sushi Deli, you get a lot more. The most reasonably priced and great-tasting sushi I've had in a long time. Whether you're in the mood for a $2.95 California Roll, or one of their specialty rolls (most between the $5 and $9 mark and all unique), you really can't go wrong. Their creative menu includes tempura sweet potato rolls and Mexican inspired, cilantro infused, sushi. Delicious and worth every penny and then some. Get your Japanese fix without breaking the budget.

Sushi Deli One

228 West Washington

San Diego, CA 92103

(619) 231-9597

$