Cream Bakery is Kaput - Is it True?

I had dinner with Meg and Charlene today, and we talked about our upcoming QueensSwap project (more on that soon).  Breaking bread with these ladies is always enjoyable and fruitful since they're well connected to our nabe - Charlene, a more recent Astorian. 

Through our conversation, Meg tipped off an interesting piece of news that I thought you might find useful.  She mentioned that the still infantile, Cream Bakery on Steinway Street has closed.  Some of you may be surprised and some may have downright expected it, but this little cupcakery is reported to be no longer functioning.  I'll try to investigate about its possible future and the full story, but in the meantime, if you're in the mood for cupcakes you can still get some pretty damn great ones here:

Martha's Country Bakery - With any and every flavor you can imagine from your classic vanilla to red velvet, oreo and more, you can satisfy virtually any type of serious cupcake fiend.  36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.545.9737

Astor Bake Shop - It's no secret that this relative newbie has been producing solid, gourmet sweets, and I think it's safe to say they'll stay a while.  Their cupcakes come in a big and mini size and flavors vary between double chocolate, coconut and red velvet.  12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria NY 11102.  718.606.8439

Terrizzi Pasticceria - Terrizzi veers on the side of traditional, and you know what they say..."if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  I agree and think they have a great thing going.  Their cupcakes are moist, the size is just perfect (not too large but not a mini) and flavors vary between pistachio, peanut butter, double chocolate, oreo, vanilla and more.  35-14 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103.  718.726.9698

Queens Eats Fundraiser for the 1st Ever Queens Harvest Food Co-Op

Some of you may have heard that Queens is getting its own Food Co-Op next year, which is pretty exciting and a great way to gain access to quality, fresh food at a competitive price.  The organization is a member-owned member-controlled business and they're in the midst of raising funds for the co-op, which will in turn benefit all its members (which can be you!)  Here's where Queens Eats comes in. 

A fund-raiser event showcasing the best of the best of Queens, including tastings from popular restaurants and bakeries, raffles, a silent auction, music performances and more, the evening promises to unite some of the most important influencers in our borough. 

Here are all the important details you'll need to know.  Hope you can attend and make a difference in making this wonderful organization come to life quickly.

Queens Eats - Wednesday, November 17th from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
The Foundry - 42-38 9th Street, Long Island City NY 11101

Tastings from: Agnanti, Astor Bake Shop, BareBurger, Cream Bakery, De Mole, LIC Market, M. Wells, Sage General Store, Testaccio, Vesta and more

Featuring Tamara Reynolds, local food-extraordinaire and author of Forkin' Fantastic

Entertainment by: Mark Katsaounis and Sean Nowell

Bid on silent auction and raffle items donated by: Art of Fitness, Edible Queens, Inside Astoria, Matteo, Recycle-a-Bicycle, Woodside CSA, Yoga Agora and more.

Beer and wine will be supplied by Sixpoint Craft Ales and Off the Vine (cash bar)

Hope you can make it - buy your Queens Eats Tickets here.

A Spooktacular Halloween in Astoria

Happy almost Halloween Astorians!  As I usually do, I've prepared a menu of festive Halloween to-dos happening in and around Astoria.  It's great that the celebration falls on a Saturday this year, which means tons of fun parties, drinks specials and costume fun.  And just in case you're wondering, that's a picture of me in my friend Moses' Freddy mask.  Thought it made my Bond Girl outfit a little zestier.  Whatever you end up doing, hope it's spooktacular!

Cavo - The celebration starts early this year and you can either come by on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.  Each night promises a different style of music and costume fun - including Friday and Saturday night costume contests with some really great prizes including $1,000 in cash.  42-18 31st Ave, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.1001

The Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden also isn't wasting any time when it comes to Halloween fun.  Every night this week, they're having a Jack O'Lantern contest.  The winners of all five nights then compete on Sunday to see who'll take home a $250 cash prize.  Drinks specials such as a $20 Tasters Special go from 5:00 - 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.  29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102.  718.274.4925

Studio Square Beer Garden - A big Fear Garden party is in store on Saturday night, complete with a live DJ, costume contest and fabulous cash prizes.  They'll be featuring shot specials all night.  If you're interested, there will be another party sponsored by Gooth magazine upstairs in their private event space. Enjoy the party hop!  35-33 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106.  718.383.1001

Ovelia's annual Halloween ball starts at 11 p.m. on Saturday with no cover and plenty of good music and costume eye candy.  Order a yummy nibble while at the bar, especially their homemade Greek dips.  34-01 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.721.7217

Sunswick is hosting an unusual albeit intriguing Suns Wicked Haunted Dungeon Ball on Saturday night, starting at 9:00 p.m. $5 will get you in, as well as award you with a free shot and a look-see of the haunted dungeon.  $4 pints of Witches Brew will also be served.  Get ready! 35-02 35th Street, Astoria NY 11106.  718.752.0602

Cafe Bar's Halloween party is on Friday night.  Come in costume and enjoy their Happy Hour from 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. with $4 beers, mixed drinks and house liquor specials.  $6 pumpkin martinis will also be served. 32-90 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106. 718.204.5273

Mojave is also fun to check out on special occasions such as this one. Costumes are encouraged and they'll be featuring drinks specials. The food offering will remain as is, which is always delicious.  22-36 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105. 718.545.4100

5 Napkin Burger is doing something totally different on Halloween day with a 50's High School theme. You'll not only hear 50's music but you can choose from a variety of burger and sushi specials, as well as a festive pouring of Captain Lawrence Pumpkin Ale.  35-01 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11106. 718.433.2727

Astoria Brewhouse never misses a beat when it comes to a good party.  Their Friday night costume contest will be in full swing, along with karaoke and plenty of drinks specials.  28-50 31st Street, Astoria NY 11102. 718.728.0050

Cream Bakery - If you're looking for something sweet, make sure you check out Cream Bakery's Halloween themed cupcakes in various flavors such as vanilla, banana, red velvet and more.  They sport fun designs such as a marshmallow pumpkin face, candy corn and more.  31-78 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103.  718.545.3800

Cream Bakery Offers an NFL Special and More

Cream Bakery, the new cupcakery on Steinway is offering a fun special in honor of the start of football season.  Starting today, and every Sunday in the fall, they'll feature a Sunday Night Blitz, with 25% off of all baked goods from 6:00 p.m. on.  The promotion certainly caught my eye and can be especially useful if you're going over to a friends house to watch the game and need to bring a yummy treat.  Cream's cupcakes have proved to be delicious so far - moist and decadent with plenty of fun flavors to choose from such as banana, red velvet, chocolate cheesecake, your standard vanilla and chocolate and much more. 

They're also offering a week's full of daily specials for the fall season, which are outlined below.  I especially like the buy 1 get 1 free Mondays.  Who wouldn't want to start their week with that?

Cream Bakery - 31-78 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103 718.545.3800
R Train to Steinway Street
www.creambakeryny.com

Cream Bakery - Cupcakes That Will Make You Swoon

Last week, I posted a note about a cupcake promotion from Cream Bakery for buy 1 get 1 free cupcake.  For those of you who know me personally, you won't be surprised to learn that I tried Cream bakery the very next day.  Being a sucker for sweet things, and cupcakes in particular, I just had to taste the deliciousness they were preaching.  And I'm happy to say that I wasn't disappointed.

Although I didn't go to the bakery myself (I sent Dan in my stead), I got to sample Cream's cupcakes at a family birthday party last weekend.  Here are my thoughts and ruminations:

Cupcakes - From the minute I saw them, neatly wrapped in two 6 cupcake containers, I started salivating.  There were so many different flavors that my senses were on overload and I couldn't decide just which one (or more) I would try. 

Dan took advantage of the buy 1 get 1 free special of course, which limits you to 3 free cupcakes, so he paid for 9.  There were 5 varieties he picked including your standard vanilla and chocolate with different colored buttercream frosting and other fancier flavors too, including banana, red velvet and chocolate cheesecake.

I automatically gravitated to the chocolate cheesecake cupcake, which didn't have a creamy frosting like the others, but it was so rich that it didn't need a topper.  Wow! Once I bit into this soft mound of heaven, I knew I chose the right cupcake.  The chocolate dough was moist and not too sweet but still very chocolatey--and as soon as I took a bite out of the creamy, tangy cheesecake portion, my senses were delighted even further.  Overall, the cupcake was surprisingly light, given its rich ingredients and unlike a big slice of cheesecake, it went down easy.

Although I didn't try all the other cupcakes, I licked off the frosting on a few stragglers and was impressed with its sweet, velvety texture and its delightful taste.  I can't wait to sample the other varieties really soon.

Cost:
Despite the great deal we got with the buy 1 get 1 free, Cream's cupcakes are expensive at $2.00 - $2.75 each.  A dozen came out to $21, even with the aforementioned coupon.

3 Mmmms

Cream Bakery - 31-78 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.545.3800
R Train to Steinway Street

Cream Bakery is Here - Buy 1 Get 1 Cupcake

About 2 months ago, I mentioned the imminent opening of a new bakery on Steinway called Cream Bakery.  It's officially now open and while reviews have been mixed, I do think it's worth trying and I'm personally dying to check it out.  The following coupon provides a good incentive to go, as they're offering a buy 1 get one free cupcake special in honor of their grand opening.  I'm surely going to take advantage and check out the cupcake flavors including chocolate, vanilla, carrot, red velvet and banana. Mmmm...sounds like cupcake lover's paradise.

The above coupon expires on 8/31/10 and it limits you to 3 free cupcakes.

Let me know if you've already tried this place and what you thought of it, regardless of good or bad.

Cream Bakery - 31-78 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.545.3800
R/G Train to Steinway Street

Readers Want to Know...Introducing The Foodista Forum

Images by Emily D.

Over the course of almost three years that the Foodista has been in operation, I've acquired many amazing (and loyal) readers who I appreciate and value.  That's why I'd like to dedicate a section to you readers where you can ask any food/restaurant related question that's on your mind.  I'll post questions once a week and open them up for everyone to answer, encouraging a free exchange. A forum of sorts.

Introducing...The Foodista Forum

The first Foodista forum topic is actually two-fold and comes from Emily D who's a fellow Astoria resident.  Noticing two new food businesses in the nabe, that promise to open soon, she's been wondering just when.

The first one is a place called Wing Stop on 31-14 Steinway Street, which is actually a wing chain franchise based in Texas.  They boast 9 flavors of wings including hickory smoked BBQ, cajun, lemon pepper and more!

Do you know...when will it open?

And the second question is about a new bakery called Cream Bakery also on Steinway Street just past Broadway.  The awning looks really enticing and it'll be very cool to welcome a new interesting bakery in this part of the neighborhood.  I hope cupcakes are in store!

Anyone know what its plans are?

Feel free to chime in and offer up your 2 cents.  Also, if you have a question of your own that you'd like me to post in the next Foodista Forum, email me.