Sweetness by the Bay: 50 Sweet Moments from a California Adventure

Well, well, well. Did you know that a couple weekends ago I went to a totally sweet and magical land called San Francisco? The adventures didn't take place solely within the city limits: I ventured out of the city to Oakland and Santa Cruz as well, and well, I would love to share some of the sweetest moments from my travels with you, because if they made me smile, surely they'll make you smile too.

Ready? Set? Let's go:

1. First off: finding my artwork at Fireworks in Seatac on my way out! Way to start the journey feeling like a big deal.
2. First stop after arriving in San Francisco? Oakland! I ventured over to visit CakeSpy customers (and buddies!) Jane and Rick, owners of Good Chemistry Baking, which specializes in baked goods which are devoid of gluten, but full of delicious.
3. First item tried: chocolate cookie
4. And a cupcake
5. ...aaaand, a Lemon bar
6. The reaction of Anya, who does follow a gluten-free diet, to said baked goods.
7. Happiness: Dorie Greenspan was reading at Omnivore Books while I was there!
8. BTW, I would like to mention that while this place (Hometown Donuts) may seem like it has it all--liquor, beer, Chinese food, and (though not visible in this pic) psychic readings--the fact is, when I walked in, they did not have any donuts.
   
9. A sweet walk with coffee and an SF-themed Cuppie postcard.
10. Dessert at Magnolia: chocolate chess pie a la mode. Ohhh yeeeah.
11. The baked good case at Reverie, where we went for breakfast the next morning.
12. OMG! NY Style crumb cake, at a hippie health food store on Haight Street!
13. A visit to the always lovely Miette Patisserie.
14. Sadly, Paulette was not open when we visited, but we did get to peek in the window.
15. OMG! We drove by the Its-It Headquarters!
16. Whale City Bakery!
17. Chocolate covered potato chip, anyone? From Marinis on the Beach, Santa Cruz.
18. ...no, clearly the choice is chocolate covered bacon! Also from Marinis. You can tell that Phil is taking his duties as Cake Gumshoe very seriously.
19. A delicious cookie, from Cafe Delmarette.
20. This cupcake, also from Cafe Delmarette.
21. What is it? Not a cannoli. From Hoffman's, Santa Cruz.
22. A Russian Teacake from Original Sin Desserts, Santa Cruz.
23. Spied in Santa Cruz: my artwork, at Bookshop Santa Cruz!
24. A chocolate mint cookie from Pacific Cookie Co, with vibrant green chips.
25. Pies made from beads, outside of a bead store.
26. Discovering The Penny Ice Creamery, Santa Cruz.
27. Bonbons from Penny Ice Creamery
28. Philip got the fennel ice cream.
29. Yam (!) ice cream, enjoyed by my incredibly good looking sister, Bridget
30. Another Russian Teacake from The Buttery
31. This cake, from The Buttery
32. Finding my totally sweet buddy Erin in Santa Cruz! (Yes, she's really, really tall. AND I'm really short)
33. Delicious beverages at 515, Santa Cruz.
34. The "Goodfellow" from Kelly's French Bakery
35. This little tart (Olallieberry?) from Kelly's French Bakery
36. Anjalena roll, Kelly's French Bakery
37. Pinching deer from a distance in Santa Cruz
38. From Gayle's Bakery in Capitola: the Christopher Bun.
39. From Gayle's in Capitola: Potato Chip Cookies
40. This sign brought me joy.
41. Finally, I met my Maker.
42. Cool street art!
43. California Suncakes! Made for hippies, but enjoyed by CakeSpy.
44. At the Ferry building, savory macarons (with mushrooms!)
45. Discovering the California Coffee Cake Company.
46. Um...getting to visit the Twitter offices!
47. Cuppie came too.
48. This sign, which I suspect was put in place when they saw me coming.
49. Bathroom Cake Graffiti!
50. General observation: the houses in San Francisco kind of resemble petits fours. Yay!

 For more pictures of pastry adventures past and present in San Francisco, visit my Flickr page!

Comments

[Rachel]

#48:

This is my FAVORITE late night spot. Chocolate chip banana pancakes here are so good (also sausage/bacon in a waflle wutttttt)

[Kylie]

You came to Santa Cruz! It would have been crazy to run into you. I frequent those bakeries quite often, especially the Buttery. You definitely found all the hotspots and goodies! Especially the new Penny ice creamery. Sounds like you had a blast.

[Courtney]

YES! You went to Gayle's! Gayle's is one of my most absolute favorite bakeries. Anytime someone from my family is in the area of Capitola (like within 45 minutes), a stop has to be made and a to go order placed. My favorite, the raspberry napoleon. YUM!

[cupcakeOdoom]

mmm! i hope you got a morning bun from tartine (i saw some tartine photos on your flickr). i can't wait to get back to san francisco, mostly for that one reason :)