The United Sweets of America - Part 3

Way too comfortable to be a tourist…

That’s how I felt during my time in San Francisco. Each day rolled into the next, and I very quickly stepped into the rhythm of the city. I spent my free time wandering about. I was in and out of stores and cafes in the Mission, jumping on and off the trains and buses, and taking in the chilly weather while sipping coffee out of a blue paper cup.

So it must be said, I did walk into an obscene number of bakeries. This much is obvious. Though I was keen on finding out what the local favourites were, I didn’t sample cakes unless I genuinely had a hankering for something sweet. For me, thats usually at about 3 pm, or just after dinner time. If my belly was a bottomless pit, this would be a bottomless blog, but hey! -I still have a couple definitely worth writing about

Mission Minis

When I walked into Mission Minis, I decided that I definitely needed to sample something, after all, it was 3pm. I decided to purchase 2 items off the menu, the Ruby Red Velvet, and the vegan option, Banana Maple (yep! I'm all about vegan options). So I took my little paper plate and parked myself on the gorgeous pink park bench out front of the store. I tried the banana maple first. Moist and fluffy, everything I love about a banana cupcake. This was definitely one of the most impressive vegan cakes I have ever tasted... that is, no milk, eggs, butter or cream- ingredients paramount to a good cupcake. Well, not anymore! When I took a bite out of the Ruby Red Velvet cupcake, I realised just how much I love this cake flavour, coupled with their gorgeous cream cheese frosting. In Australia, red velvet cake is not often an option, so I do like to indulge whenever I'm in an American bakery. A worthy choice, and one worth going back for.

When I finished my little morsels of Mission Mini goodness, I went back into the bakery and asked permission to take photos for the purpose of this blog. I was graciously offered the opportunity to go into the kitchen and take a look at the production process, and to photograph it as well. I was in cupcake kitchen heaven!

Mission Minis 3168 22nd Street between Mission and Capp, San Francisco, California 94110 missionminis.com

Loving Cup

One night while out with friends on Polk St, we stumbled across this charming little dessert spot. I was so excited by the whole concept of this place, with its main focus on one of my all time favourites, the humble rice pudding. The lead up to the holidays is a very exciting time to be traveling through the states. It's season of wonderful cinnamon, spice and pumpkiny flavours. I took my time absorbing the old time feel of this lovely store. I also took my time deciding which flavour to try! Of course, I tried the pumpkin pie flavour. I only wish I had more time to go back and try the nutella flavour! Rice pudding and nutella... Seriously.

Of course, it was a Saturday night, and we were on our way to hang out at a bar, so I took my rice pudding along in a little white cup, and held onto it to enjoy at home as a midnight sweet treat. and what a delightful treat it was! I just can't wait to go back to Loving Cup. Everything about it was warm and homely ... I was taken back to childhood memories, of my mother cooking up her Lebanese style rice pudding with orange blossom water, sugar and lemon rind. Cheeky memories of how I would impatiently dip my spoon into the little red printed cocktail dessert cups, before they had adequately chilled.