Treats: Cava, Cupcakes, and Fellow Foodbloggers

When I travel for work, I operate under the rule that I deserve "treats" on the road. Instead of my regular cup o' coffee, I get a latte in the mornings. Going out for dinner? Gotta try the appetizer featuring pork, or maybe cheese. And desserts? Don't get me started. Remember my glee about the $1 ice cream bars?

However, having been on the road nearly every week this month, I realized guiltly that I've had many more treat-days than non-treat-days--which defeats the purpose, ya know? So--this report on a glass of cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and a cupcake represent a last hurrah and a transition into August ascetism.

For the weary tourist or business traveller, I'd recommend a stop at Citizen Cupcake's outpost in the Virgin Megastore in San Francisco's Union Square area. Perched in a corner of the third floor, the floor to ceiling windows provide a great view to enjoy along with your sugar rush. The cafe serves wine and beer, baked goods and a couple paninis. Compared to many of the offerings in the immediate vicinity, the prices are low and quality's high. My mint chocolate cupcake came with a surprising burst of chocolate-mint squodgy frosting in the middle, and, refreshingly, was charmingly normal-sized, not a ridiculous hunk of butter n' sugar. A treat, indeed.

Citizen Cupcake Cafe
2 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
@ Market (in Virgin Megastore)
Tel. 415.399.156

Another treat: I spent the weekend in San Jose at BlogHer '06 (pictures here) and was delighted to meet some lovely fellow foodbloggers: Chockylit of Cupcake Bakeshop, Elise of Simply Recipes, Nic of LA's own Baking Sheet, Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen, Fatimah of Gastronomie, Meg of Megnut, Shuna of Eggbeater and Pim of ChezPim. Charming women all, and I highly recommend checking out their work.