Citizen Cake

Ever get that antsy feeling of trying a new restaurant...especially one you've never heard of before and Yelp only gave it 3 stars?  Well I've got that feeling and a whole lot of others about Citizen Cake in San Francisco.


The only reason I've heard about it now...and will be trying it tomorrow...is because of a friend.  I usually take the wheel when it comes to dining and choosing where to chow -- I'm a stickler when it comes to good food -- but I have surrendered the power to my friend for her birthday and Citizen Cake is what she chose.


Normally I whole-heartedly follow Yelp.  I trust my fellow food connoisseurs and would only go to restaurants that has AT THE VERY LEAST 3.5 stars.  Anything lower I consider garbage...yes, I am THAT picky!  But this time, I'm giving Citizen Cake a chance...only because their old location on Grove St. closed down and opened a new one on Fillmore St.


I'm also giving Citizen Cake a chance because of Chef Elizabeth Falkner.  According to her bio, "Elizabeth Falkner has become one of the most recognizable faces of the Bay Area culinary world on Bravo, Food Network and beyond. She has been a frequent contestant, judge, and guest on Top Chef Masters, Top Chef, Iron Chef America, Sugar Rush, Tyler's Ultimate with Tyler Florence, Rachael Ray's $40 a Day, Martha Stewart Living, and more."

If this lady has been on Top Chef, Iron Chef America, not to mention, Martha Stewart (!), she MUST be good right?  We'll see!


Tomorrow is the big day...and I'm more than a little anxious to try this place.  With all the "rave" reviews posted on the website, I'm trying really hard not to have any high expectations.  Then again, with that kind notoriety, maybe I should!  If any of you guys have been here (preferably the new location)..please share your experiences and/or recommendations!  I would love to hear them :)


I'll let you know what happens and what the food connoisseur in me thinks.  Until then.....


ps.  I think I'm gonna go a mission to try everything on this list.  Who's in?!

The Superbowl: Wings, beer, and....cheesecake?

Now that the confetti has settled and sweat-soaked jerseys are hung up to dry, I can finally sit down, relax, and share with you my not-so-typical Superbowl Sunday.


Normally, my Superbowl parties consists of the usual -- fried chicken, wings, pizza, chips & dip, and lots and lots of ice cold Blue Moon beer with wedges of oranges -- with the guys huddled around and screaming at my 70-inch flat screen while the girlfriends are in the back complaining about how they don't understand what the big deal is about football while NIBBLING on a chip.  For most of them, they only watch along to see buff men in tights bend over.  Despite the differences, there is only one thing that brings us all together -- the commercials.  However, after coming across this blog from the New York Times, Crumpets and Marmalade on Superbowl Sunday, I was determined to change that...food wise that is.


This year, I kept the wings, pizza and beer for the guys, but made a few healthier substitutions that both the girls and guys would enjoy.  For starters, I bought some good ole Thatcher's air-popped popcorn in Tiramisu/Cappuccino flavor...which everyone couldn't get their hands off of as they were waiting for the kickoff.  


Next I made baked some sliced french bread with a splash of extra virgin olive oil.  After 5 minutes or so in the oven, I added on some pesto sauce and sliced cherry tomatoes and broiled it in the oven for another 5 minutes.  When they were done, golden and crispy, I sprinkled half the batch with bacon pieces.  Let's just say, those were wayyy gone before the first quarter was up.


As half time came around, I whipped out my homemade bite-size strawberry cheesecakes.  I was amazed how fast these were being devoured.  Most of it was gone by the time Usher jumped over Will.I.Am and landed with splits...I had to whip up another batch.


For the first time, both the guys and girls were huddled around the T.V. ...together!  Some of the girlfriends were even asking about what a down is.  Of course, their boyfriends were too busy watching to be explaining the game...so I stepped in and did the best I could.  By the end of the fourth quarter, the girls were rooting on with the boys and their respective teams.  Not to mention, they were chowing down the cheesecake like water.  Who knew these almost-grown men would be so willing to stuff their faces with these dainty, girly-looking cheesecakes.


I must say, with the Packers winning, my boyfriend winning $200 and my mission to unite the boys and girls accomplished...it was, indeed, a successful night!


I'll leave you now with a quick and easy recipe of the cheesecake from last night.  Enjoy! :)

This recipe makes about 12 full size cupcake cheesecakes or about 30 mini cheesecakes.
What You'll Need:
2 Packages of 8oz Fat-Free Soft Cream Cheese
1/3 Cup Splenda
1/4 Cup Sugar
Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1 Egg beaten
1/4 Cup Egg Substitute
12 Mini Vanilla Wafers (I like Nilla)
Fruit Cake/Pastry Filling of your choice


The Fun Part!
1. Beat cream cheese until smooth
2. Gradually beat in sugar and sugar substitute
3. Add Vanilla
4. Add egg and egg substitute.  Beat till blended.
5. Place a vanilla wafer, flat side down, in a foil-lined muffin cup or mini muffin cup.
6. Fill right below edge with cream cheese mix. 
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.  (The mixture will puff so don't freak out)
8. Cool for about an hour.  The centers will sink in a little.
9. Fill the centers of cheesecakes with the fruit filling.
10. Store in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.


Storage:
Store leftover cheesecake in a sealed container in the fridge. 


P.S.
Since this blog is dedicated to all things sweet...here is a pretty sweet commercial from last year's Superbowl 44

And So It Begins...

For the next couple months, and hopefully even longer, I will be putting myself through hours of sugar-covered sweat every week to brave on a new baking challenge.  And every once in a while, I'll let my readers live vicariously through me as I encounter new findings of sugary sweetness and hidden gems.  In return, I hope it will inspire you to go on your own sweet adventure and let me live vicariously through you.


Baking and designing is no easy task.  I hope this blog will help me learn something, not only about baking and designing events, but help me learn something about myself.  If and when that day comes, that I sign off on this blog, I hope that I have grown to be a better baker, designer, and even writer.  But that's not gonna happen unless you guys help me.  So don't be afraid to share your own stories, experiences, and even your brutally honest thoughts ;)


I'll now leave you with a picture of the very first table centerpiece I've ever made for a Christmas party.

What you need:

- about a dozen cleaned and polished apples...similar in size and shape

- about 10 limes

- a dozen tea light candles

- skewers and toothpicks

- fake holiday plants from your local dollar store (i bought about 4 bunches)

- bag of pine cones also from your local dollar store.  (real ones smell great too if you can find them)

- cake stand or a nice large plate

- a plastic bowl (i used a gold one, so if it shows, it still looks nice)

The fun part!

1. on your large plate or cake stand, glue or tape your plastic bowl upside down in the middle.

2. skewer the limes together to form a little lime tree.  It's ok if you can see the skewers, you will be covering them with holly berries later.

3. Place and secure your skewered lime tree onto the plastic bowl.  Put aside.

4. Trace the tea light candles onto the tops of the apples and knife it out.  Make sure you don't cut in too deep or the candle with sink in.

5. Place your apple candles around the base of your lime tree.

6. With the bunches of holiday plants, start cutting off the leaves and whatnots from its stem.

7. Take your holly berries and fill in the spaces between the limes and cover any showing skewers.

8.  Now use your creativity and decorate the leaves and pine cones how you see fit :)