Unveiling the NEW "Biggins" Cupcake at The Cupcake Stop

Just looking at these amazing cupcake monsters makes me swoon.  That's right folks...the above pics showcase a scene from last week's unveiling of the "Biggins" cupcake at The Cupcake Stop. 

I initially heard about the "Biggins" through Cupcake Stop's e-newsletter and also found out that the flavor was masterminded by Chef Robert Hesse of Hell's Kitchen.  It was cool to see Robert at the big (pun intended) reveal, and Bo and I got to chat with him about how the "Biggins" came about.  Since I confessed to him that I don't typically watch the show, he explained that "Biggins" is an ode to his nickname on Hell's Kitchen. Makes sense.  And the cupcake definitely lived up to its name.

At exactly 1 p.m., Chef Robert huddled the crowd of hungry cupcake lovers and gave a brief overview about this cupcake and its creative origins.  (Watch the video here).  People seemed intrigued and their eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when Chef Robert held out the above pictured tray with "Biggins" cupcakes.  They were true beauties and in just a few seconds, the first tray was nearly empty.  Here's why...

The Biggins Cupcake - So what exactly is in a Biggins cupcake? Well it's a bit complex, for this is no ordinary treat.  Its base is expertly crafted with a rich, dark chocolate dough, stuffed with caramel and crushed walnuts.  What a nice surprise that was, giving the cake a wonderful ooey-gooey texture.  The cupcake is then topped with fluffy peanut butter mousse that is not too sweet and has a pleasing peanuty flavor, which isn't as intense as pure peanut butter.  I much rather prefer that, since I'm far from a PB freak, but aside from the taste, the light texture was just a priviledge to eat.  And I'm not done yet...for on top of that heavenly mousse, there was a chewy, chocolatey, black-out cookie that was oh so wonderful to take off and dip into the peanut butter mousse.  Bliss!

Availability and Cost:
The Biggins is now available as a regular Cupcake Stop flavor and is priced the same as all the other specialty cupcakes - around $3.

I highly, highly recommend it for all you chocolate and peanut butter heads.

3 Rich, Chocolatey and Peanut Buttery Mmmmms

The Cupcake Stop Truck - Manhattan locations vary
718.702.2825
www.cupcakestop.com

Sweet Melissa Patisserie - Oh How Sweet and Sinful...

Sweet Melissa Patisserie - 175 7th Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11215
718.788.2700
Q/B Train to 7th Avenue

www.sweetmelissapatisserie.com

My brother and his girlfriend recently made the move to Park Slope, Brooklyn and I couldn't be happier.  Not only am I excited about their new, quaint apartment, I'm also selfishly happy to sample the amazing restaurants, cafes and bakeries in their vicinity (and take my word for it...there are many).

While helping my brother unpack last week, my mom and I took a walk down the busy 7th Avenue only to discover an awesome bakery called Sweet Melissa. The minute I saw its endearing storefront, I recognized the name, as this place is well known amongst serious dessert heads (me being one of them).

Atmosphere:
I love French country bakeries, not only for their amazingly decadent goodies but also for the rustic and charming ambiance, which has a way of making me feel comfortable.

Although the actual space inside is quite small, it feels very quaint and lived in.  The front has a counter with a pretty sweets display, which includes all their baked goods including beautiful tiered cakes.  And the back offers a sit-down area, where you can sip your coffee and eat your cake on simple but pretty white plates.

Sweets:
During our visit, my mom got herself a strong coffee, which she really enjoyed and we treated my brother and his girlfriend to the Caramel Apple Bread Pudding, served with a side of rum raisin sauce.  Unfortunately I didn't have the pleasure of tasting it because we had a huge lunch that day and I just couldn't fit more in my tummy, but I'll take Peter and Fiana's word for it that it was "unbelievably good."

But aside from my visit last week, this weekend I was lucky enough to actually enjoy Sweet Melissa's goodies, as Peter and Fiana brought over a large box of their Chocolate Peanut Butter Indulgence (pictured above).

Well what can I say...if you read my blog on a regular basis, you'll know that initially, the sound of this dessert probably didn't impress me.  Loaded with peanut butter, which I don't care for, I couldn't understand why they chose this as the filling to these gorgeous cookies.  But...I naturally couldn't refuse a chocolate anything (despite the peanut butter) and dug right in.  Oh, oh, oh my, how good it was!  The cookie, dusted with confectioner's sugar was soft, chewy and ultra chocolatey.  But what enhanced it even more was the light-as-air, delicate peanut butter mousse inside.  That's right...even for a peanut butter hater like me, I thought it was absolutely delicious.  The peanut flavor was soft and gentle, not in-your-face aggressive and thick, which I find to be the case with peanuty desserts.  And even though I was full from a delicious meal that we just had together, I made room for this gargantuan yet unforgettable dessert. 

Service and Cost:
The easy-going, pleasant servers at Sweet Melissa match its vibe perfectly.  They're a bit boho-chic, which isn't a bad thing, fitting in with the overall Park Slopeishness of the nabe.

Prices are steep but so worth every penny:

Pie by the slice....$6
Coffee...$3.50 - $4.50
Cookies....$2 - $5 each

They also serve brunch, lunch and afternoon tea on a daily basis.

3 Peanuty Mmmms