cravings: june 4, 2007

this weekend i threw a surprise baby shower for one of my dearest girlfriends who also happens to be one of the most wonderful women i know. seeing her mother-to-be glow and the slight belly-bump she was developing, it got me thinking about . . . food cravings (yes, sorry to disappoint, mom: it did not get me thinking about a baby of my own!). aside from the fact that i can still see my feet, don't need to pee every hour and well, don't have something growing inside of me, i can't imagine that i'm that different from a pregnant woman. hardly a day goes by where i'm not obsessively craving something. after all, there are so many treats which have left a lingering memory on my taste buds that i can't help but want more. here are my top three cravings of the moment:

number one: sprinkles cupcakes in beverly hills.

buttercream frosting does not get any better than this (setting my east coast loyalty aside, i say it definitely beats out crumbs and magnolia in nyc for the cupcake tiara). with over twenty flavors to choose from (including originals such as cinnamon sugar and lemon ginger), this is a cupcake lover's paradise. i constantly crave their red velvet. while they now offer cupcake mixes for sale and shipping, a retail shop might be coming soon to your neighborhood. with gas prices as high as they are, i'm thankful that i won't have to drive down to southern california to satisfy this craving anymore.

number two: the olive oil coppetta at mario batali's pizzeria e enoteca "otto" in nyc
this dessert is what dreams are made of, seriously. batali combines olive oil gelato with seasonal flavors (right now it's blood oranges and kumquats) with olive oil and maldon sea salt to create probably the best thing i've ever tasted.  i know you're thinking, "olive oil as the core ingredient to a sweet?" don't doubt. just eat. you'll never know what hit you. i scour tickets on kayak.com weekly to see if i can find an affordable ticket to get me to new york for the day (and remember, i live in northern california) just so i can re-experience this taste-gasm.

number three: the squid and aioli pizza at pizzaiolo in oakland
i have been on an epic quest to try the best pizza places in the bay area. i've checked off a16, pizzeria delfina, little star, patxi's, zachary's, pizzetta 211 pizzaiolo and all that's left on my list is the cheeseboard in berkeley (unless one of you readers has another to add to my list) and the pizza that has stood out the most was the squid and aioli pizza at pizzaiolo. an innovative combination with a perfectly thin, crisp and blistered crust, i still think about this pizza often with fond, fond memories.  sigh. it must have been love.

so, you know my most recent cravings. what are yours? i'm sure you can convince me to eat something new.

Comments

[C-Neezy]

Chipotle Burritos!! I'm not naming names, but a certain person I know has always been the queen of such exquisite cuisine. And not only do they taste remarkable, but the build-up of desire as your assigned burrito maker spoons the rice, onions, and bell pepper (or black beans) onto the tortilla, adds the chicken or steak to the mix, and then slyly drizzles your choice of salsa and sour cream over the beautiful concoction before throwing in the cheese, lettuce, and guacamole to finish off...it's just too much build-up to contain! Inevitably, you end up ripping the foil wrapping off ASAP and enjoying the greatness contained within that blessed burrito pouch at a passionate rate that would make Kobayashi jealous! All before slumping in your chair in sheer satisfaction after downing that last piece of tortilla-bound heaven. A truly foodgasmic experience that one must experience to truly understand. Chipotle Burritos: Just another beautiful reason to wake up every morning and keep on striving and surviving.

[jenjen]

Wow those cupcakes look incredible. They are possibly the most perfect looking cupcakes ever made.
We have yet to have a full blown cupcake craze going on down here like you guys have in the US. But this is defnitely wants me to make a visit over there!