Parked - Food Vendors at Bklyn Yard Tomorrow

Via The City Sweet Tooth.

















Tomorrow, May 31st is Parked's opening weekend! From 12-7PM, at 388-400 Carroll St.

And there's lots of sweet stuff being offered!
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
Dessert Truck
Steve’s Key Lime Pie
Robicelli Cupcakes

Lee, Lee's Bakery is Closing

Via Harlem Condo Life.

Lee, Lee's Bakery located on 283 W 118th Street is closing May 31st. According to commenters on the above post, you can still get baked goods through the weekend!

This Weeks Sweet Reviews

Eating in Translation: Four & Twenty Blackbirds

Food in Mouth: L'Arte del Gelato

Serious Eats: Cinnamon Buns at Fairway

NYC Food Guy: First Prize Pies S’Mores Pie at Fatty Cue (plus the full recipe)

Cake Spy: Donut Pub

Fork in the Road: Boomtown Bakery's Mint Oreo Cookie

Bushwick BK: Circo’s: A Sweet Vestige of Sicilian Bushwick

Serious Eats: Ice Cream Eclairs and Sandwiches at ChikaLicious

Eat to Blog: Lunch at The Grocery, Dessert at Provence en Boite

Midtown Lunch: Street Sweets Adds Gelato Sandwiches (And Real Sandwiches) To Menu

Serious Eats: Nutella Pizza at Luzzo's

Serious Eats: Popbar, Ice Cream on a Stick in the West Village

Cupcakes Take the Cake: Remedy Diner Chocolate Cupcake

Eatery Row: Dessert at Lavagna

Fork in the Road: Jacques Torres Ice Cream Sandwich

Always Hungry NY: Pop Bar & Peoples Pops

Always Hungry NY: Dessert at Bobo

Life with Food & Drink: NYC Icy: Freakin' far away, but still good!

NYC Foodie: Dessert at Locanda Verde

Cherry Patter: Four & Twenty Black Birds; Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory; Taipan bakery

Serious Eats: Otto's Rhubarb Coppetta

Ulterior Epicure: Dessert at Eleven Madison Park

Fork in the Road: Ice Cream at Lucas Fine Foods

Fork in the Road: NYC Icy's Lemon and Coconut Ice

Eat It: Dessert at the Vanderbilt

The Feisty Foodie: La Maison du Chocolat

Serious Eats: Cake Truffles at Momofuku Milk Bar

Review: Revisiting Little Cakes in Whitestone

Little Cakes
14-33 150st
Whitestone, NY 11357
(718) 746-1020










Hours:
Monday & Tuesday-closed
Wednesday - Friday 12PM-8PM
Saturday & Sunday- 10AM-4PM

Overall rating out of 5:



I was surprised and flattered when Christina, owner of the new-ish cupcakery in Whitestone Queens commented on my blog to tell me she revised her recipes based on my opinions! So two weeks ago I made my way out there once again to taste her revamped creations, and to actually introduce myself. I'm quite shy unless I'm angry about something, so I had to work up the courage to say hi. But Christina is super friendly and we ended up chatting about how much Queens kicks ass (oh yes it does, all you naysayers).

I did get these cupcakes for FREE (the first time I've ever gotten free baked goods as a result of my food blogger status!), and as I've seen other bloggers do, I'll take this moment to state that my review and opinion was in no way effected by the freeness of said cupcakes ;)

First up: vanilla!














The vanilla cupcakes are definitely way less corn muffin-like than they were the first time I tried them. They now have the consistency and taste of a traditional cupcake. What I like about Christina's cupcakes are that they're more dense than your usual cupcake. Don't get me wrong, light and fluffy has its place, but a heavier cake helps balance out the sweet frosting. A good cupcake!

The lemon cupcake:














Oh my, lemon is not my flavor. It feels like I'm eating cake soaked in Pine Sol, and its no reflection on this specific cupcake (which I swear practically squished with freshness from my first bite). This is my first lemon flavored pastry ever, I've avoided them up until this point because I'm not a fan of lemon flavored things. The cake has more of a hint of lemon, the icing is what packs the punch.

The coffee cake cupcake:














I really wanted to like this cupcake, but its seems to be difficult to put together. So I still think this cupcake needs a little more work. The crumb is more evenly distributed, but it falls off the cupcake when you bite into it. Its also less like the top of a crumb cake and more like pure brown sugar grouped into clumps. I liked the taste of the first version better, the crumb part just needed to cover the entire top of the cake instead of one side. I don't doubt that this is more difficult than it sounds, but I think its worth pursuing, because I don't think I've seen a coffee cake cupcake being offered anywhere else!

The red velvet cupcake:














The cake is too heavy and dense and still has too much cocoa powder for my taste. I completely avoided the frosting cuz, you know, cream cheese! One day I will convince the rest of the world that cream cheese icing doesn't do red velvet cakes justice ;)

The chocolate cupcake:














There are walnuts in this cupcake! I love walnuts and chocolate together. Very dense cake. I usually don't eat chocolate on chocolate. I...have issues with chocolate. Our relationship has been on the rocks for many years now. The chocolate flavor isn't too intense, which I prefer. An overall enjoyable cupcake.

The bedrock cupcake:














I find that Fruity Pebbles and cake usually go well together, and this cupcake is no exception. I love the candy like taste the bits of cereal give.

The rainbow cookie cupcake:














I've saved the best for last! The frosting is so much better since its been changed! The frosting is now more fudge like, with a deeper, more rich chocolate taste. You can see the difference in color when compared to the old frosting right away. I feel like the flavors work in harmony now. And as always, the cake itself is delicious, filled with almondy goodness. I pretty much inhaled this. If you go to Little Cakes, this is the cupcake you must try.

I hope Christina isn't upset with my (totally untrained and non-professional) opinions >_< A 3/5 means I definitely enjoyed the items I ate, and that I think other people should go and enjoy them too!


Related posts:
Review: Little Cakes in Whitestone
Cupcake Shop Opens in Whitestone

Free Ice Cream at Tamba Indian Grill & Bar

Tamba Indian Grill & Bar
103 Lexington Ave
(between 27th St & 28th St)
NY, NY
(212) 481-9100

This Saturday, Sunday and Monday, stop by Tamba Indian Grill & Bar for free samples of their ice cream.

20% Off Coldstone Creamery Through June

Via Pulse JFK.

Through June 30th, use this coupon to get 20% off any item at Coldstone Creamery, at any of their locations.

Bill’s Bar and Burger Now Serves Cupcakes

Via Grub Street NY.

Bill’s Bar & Burger
22 Ninth Ave. (nr. 13th St)
New York, NY 10014
212-414-3003

They now serve cupcakes! This weeks flavor is red velvet with cream cheese icing and chocolate sprinkles. Follow them on Twitter to get more updates on the current flavors being offered.

NYC Cupcake Crawl

Via Pulse JFK.

What: NYC Cupcake Crawl

When: June 6th, 11:30AM-1:30PM

Where: BabyCakes NYC
248 Broome Street
(212) 677-5047

Cost: $10, purchase of food is additional.
Tickets can be purchased here, or you can pay in cash at Babycakes when you arrive.

From the site:
The four locations we will visit on this tour are:
* Dessert Club, 2 of their best-selling cupcakes are red velvet, and s’mores.
* Butter Lane, voted most popular, chocolate cupcake w/ vanilla French butter cream.
* Sugar Sweet Sunshine, highly-rated favorite for best of category title.
* BabyCakes, try the Carrot with creamy vanilla frosting, a vegan bakery.

NYC Cupcake Crawl is a new dessert tour every month for only $10. This food tour will go to a different neighborhood to explore it's food and sights, or a theme tour, pairing one or two desserts. Purchase of foods are additional. Visit all the food shops and purchase only the items you want. Tour is 2 hours, and is a little over 1 mile.

Stuffed Artisan Cannoli's Cart is Open Again

Stuffed Artisan Cannolis.

Their cart is now open on the corner of Mulberry and Hester Streets, and will be there every weekend. And of course, you can always visit them at their permanent store, located at 176 Stanton Street.

Cake and Shake Dessert Cart Opens in Washington Square Park

Via The Daily News.

Cake & Shake
Northeast corner of Washington Square Park
Open 9AM- 9PM, seven days a week

This is that famous cart that was in the news a little while back, getting tons of press before it even launched for planning to open in front of The Met (and they'll pay only $108,000 a year for that space!). One thing I already love about them- they're from Long Island City Queens!

They specialize in gourmet cupcakes, milkshakes and coffee, and use high-end and/or organic ingredients housed in eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging. Cupcakes are $3 each.

Eventually, they hope to have 8 carts throughout Manhattan.

Sex and the City Tour No Longer Visiting Magnolias

Original photo can be found here.

Via The Wall Street Journal.












A spokeswoman for On Location Tours (the company that runs those extremely annoying Sex and the City tours), says Magnolia's couldn't fulfill the needs of the tour, and that their removal from the tour route was an issue of supply and demand.

Now tour goers will be offered cupcakes from Billy's Bakery in Chelsea on the bus itself, but they can still walk along Bleecker Street and have the chance to visit Magnolia's.

Mr. Softee Sues Rival Vendors

Original photo can be found here.

Via The New York Post.











From the article:
A Brooklyn-based franchise of the ice-cream vendor...complained that three rivals are ripping off Mr. Softee's trademark products, according to a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court.

The company griped that everything from the sugary "Coneheads" to the "Watch For Our Children SLOW!" caution signs on the back of all its trucks are being aped by the rival vendors.

The rogue ice-cream pushers are even shilling their counterfeit cones in trucks emblazoned with Mr. Softee's signature blue and white colors, according to the suit.
....
The company wants the offending vendors -- Boula Vending, Stravos Sergiadis and Mehmet and Sinan Sumbultepe -- to stop using its trademarks and to pay unspecified damages for infringing on its copyright, the suit says.

Pies N' Thighs Launches Nighttime Delivery

Original photo can be found here.

Via Fork in the Road.












Pies N' Thighs
166 S 4th St (between Bedford Ave & Driggs Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(347) 529-6090

If you live in the area, Pies N' Thighs will now deliver any item from its regular menu between the hours of 5-11PM.

Cupcake Craft Night at Etsy Labs in DUMBO

What: Cupcake Craft Night at Etsy Labs in DUMBO

When: Monday July 19th, at 4-8PM

Where: Etsy Labs DUMBO
55 Washington St, Suite 512
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Cost: FREE

RSVP here.

From the site:
Cupcakes + Crafts = Fun! On July, 19th . We're doing arts and crafts at Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Think of it as summer camp! Come and make cupcake cards, buttons, and other cupcake crafts. Let your mind run wild and create cupcake creations of any kind! Supplies are provided, though you are welcome to bring any special papers or fabrics to incorporate into your projects.
Cupcakes Take The Cake will be providing cupcakes to EAT as inspiration.
Craft night starts at 4PM but goes to 8PM, so feel free to come after work.

TECHmunch Food Blogger Workshop with Robicellis Cupcakes

What: TECHmunch

When: June 10th, 9AM-5PM

Where: Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Cost: Tickets range from $50-$200

Register for tickets here.

From the site:
BakeSpace.com is proud to present the TECHmunch workshop for food bloggers on Thursday, June 10th in NYC.

If you're a food blogger, this intensive one day event will bring you up-to-speed on all the latest tools and tactics for building buzz, improving SEO, growing your audience and making money from your hard work.

The 8-hour intensive workshop will be followed by a networking mixer. Throughout there day there will be giveaway prizes including KitchenAid appliances, cookbooks, etc. and each attendee will receive a nifty gift bag.

Event co-produced by Nichelle Stephens of Cupcakes Take the Cake.

And there will be Robicellis cupcakes!

This Weeks Sweet Reviews

Its been an unusually slow week for sweet reviews, at least as of 6AM this morning. So I've fattened this post up with a couple of stories I wouldn't usually link to because their not NYC-specific.
More reviews to come (from Whitestone, Queens!) when I have a stable internet connection. Enjoy!


Serious Eats: Spot's Condensed Milk Ice Cream

Serious Eats: First Prize Pies and Four and Twenty Blackbirds: Will NYC Get the Pie It Deserves? (The answer is yes)

Foodista: reBar's butterscotch pudding & chocolate/orange fudge tarte

Always Hungry: Cake Bonbons Now at Milk Bar

Always Hungry: The Smith’wich is Back

Eat Me Daily: 3-D cookies

Chow: The 26-Page Pentagon Brownie Recipe (seriously)

Little Buddy Biscuit Company Ice Cream Deals

Original photo can be found here.


Via The City Sweet Tooth.









Little Buddy Biscuit Company
635 5th Avenue (bet 17th & 18th Sts)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 369-6355

This weekend, May 22-23, LBBC will be offering some sweet deals!

Buy 1 scoop, get the 2nd for 99¢
Get 2 ice cream cookie sandwiches for $8
10% off ice cream drinks (milk shakes, sorbet blended drinks, espresso and ice cream frappé, etc.).

Ben and Jerry's New Ice Cream Truck

Via Grub Street NY.

Ben & Jerry's is launching an ice cream truck that will be open from May 28th to the first week of July (and possibly later). For more info, follow the truck on Twitter.

The truck will be giving out 50,000 FREE samples during that time too!

NYC Icy Re-opens in the East Village

Via Grub Street, Fork in the Road, & The Feed.

NYC Icy
100 Avenue A between 6th and 7th Streets

After a 5 year absence, NYC Icy has opened up a new pop-up location, and will tease us all by staying open for only 6 months. But if business is good, expect to see them elsewhere.

There will be 200 rotating flavors, with 20 being offered at any given time. Some flavors listed by The Feed include macha green tea, chocolate-bacon, cilantro-lime and Thai iced tea. Prices start at a very reasonable $2.50

The store should be open now.

22 Happy Cups Closed

Via Eater NY.

The bakery/frogurt shop 22 Happy Cups has closed.