www.Mappetite.com

AND, AN UNQUESTIONABLE CUPCAKE

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:08:46 +0000

All cupcakes are not crated equal. Without question, there is at least one cupcake that stands out from the legions of the overly frosted and sweet nostalgia minded bakes. The dozen plus varieties of cupcakes (regular and premium) from CHICKALICIOUS DESSERT CLUB are lessons of exaction in baking perfection. With moist and flavorful cake topped with just the right amount of frosting (we estimate a 5 to 1 ratio), this is the don’t-overwhelm-but-satisfy-me sweet treat. Don’t confuse this shop with the cupcake stands and bakeries that abound - no amateurish Easy Bake home-economic endeavour here. The contemporary decor may be a bit off but, this sibling to the across the street ChikaLicious Dessert Bar uses top-line ingredients and a scientific diligence in creating cupcakes, puddings and its Signature Desserts. It is an affordable and unassuming indulgence without risk of an artificially induced sugar rush. CHIKALICIOUS DESSERT CLUB. 204 East 10th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues. Tel. 212-475-0929.

QUESTIONALBE CUPCAKES

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:22:12 +0000

Frosting reaches new heights with overly broad swirls at the Cupcake STOP. Sorry guys but these refrigerated cakes are worrisome reminders of how far we’ve gone with the over abundance of nostalgia of cupcake bakes. Nothing you’d want to melt in your mouth here – dry cake and way too much frosting. And, about that frosting, maybe you were inspired in that truck – these visuals are more reminiscent of a curbside find rather than a delectable after school treat. Cupcake STOP, mobile trucks on city streets or fixed for display at the Limelight Market Place, 19th Street & 6th Avenue.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CLOSES BIRDBATH BAKERY

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:19:48 +0000

BIRDBATH is one dirty green bakery.

Its parent and provider of all the goods for sale is no other than CITY BAKERY, famed purveyor of hot cocoa, rustic bakes and salad bar eats.

No surprise here – City Bakery is not clean about being green. Just feet away from the salad bars are malodorous and unhygienic latrines better suited to a down-and-out gas station rather than a bustling New York Eatery. There’s the same slicked over surface in the kitchen. The filth is most apparent on the light switch just outside the kitchen doors – check out the the illuminating picture below.

From Birdbath’s website we know about organically sourced ingredients and the recycled components of store elements down to the employees uniforms. That’s all eco-fine-and-dandy but does little if cleanliness is not factored into the game. You ought to know where those baked goods come from – rustic charm yes, pig sty no.

Just cause you’re green don’t mean your clean.

CITY BAKERY, 3 West 18th Street, BIRDBATH BAKERY, 223 First Avenue and 145 Seventh Avenue.

SHAME ON YOU AT BENU….

admin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:36:52 +0000

Daily Candy San Francisco reports that BENU, Corey Lee’s new venture in SOMA is serving up shark fin soup. Mr. Lee’s culinary polish as an alum of Napa Valley’s French Laundry only heightens our eco-dismay with this cruelly sourced dish. A sumptuous meal, maybe. But, In the most conscious of American food cities this is a no-go. Shame on you at BENU. 22 Hawthorne Street, between Howard and Folsom Streets. Tel. 415-685-4860. www.benusf.com.

Shark Fins In SoMa

VONGERICHTEN’S IN THE KITCHEN……

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:18:25 +0000

Sam Sifton of the New York Times has got his ABCs right. He may have hammered the Hamptons angle hard but he was on target – the crowd at ABC KITCHEN was as much the materialistically clad Hamptons gathering as the East End’s Nick & Toni’s draws on a weekend summer night. Don’t let that stop you though – the food is too darn good and the restaurant, a white ton sur ton industrial-meets-rural design aesthetic, is exceptionally pretty.

I love that the restauranteur Jean Georges Vongerichten has gone green. The locally sourced ingredients along with the jumble of vintage mix-and-match flatware were right up my eco-sustainable alley. This cutesy idea was all the more heartfelt when my theatrical barman placed down my setting with a fork from my Mother’s pattern – a difficult find even on replacements.com. She died almost two years ago and It was a welcome sign of the meal that was yet to be…..

An appetizer of hazelnut crusted soft shell crab distinguished itself wonderfully on a bed of tangy dressed salad of spring watercress, young cucumbers and pickled ramps. I purposely kept the fork on my bread plate and it stayed with me through the main course of arctic char adorned with sweet garlic crumbs and accompanied with the welcome bite of fresh broccoli rabe.

It was a delicious meal and, by way of that fork comforting and reassuring. Now, if only there was a way to soften the frenzied energy of the materialistically clad clientele forcing themselves upon the hostesses and overflowing into the bar area. ABC KITCHEN 35 E. 18th St., at Broadway; 212-475-5829