YUMMY CUPCAKES - Santa Monica

Yummy Cupcakes is located on Wilshire Boulevard, one-half block from the infamous Third Street Promenade. This location's walls have a variety of bold white & pink stripes or brown & pink stripes. Large photographs featuring their delectable cupcakes adorn the walls. The very high ceilings make the space seem much larger than it is. The very friendly counter staff is eager to tell you their favorites - no sampling! :(

There is a monthly flavor calender offering 16 flavors available all month, plus an additional 5 daily flavors. Yummy Cupcakes also offers vegan and sugar-free creations.

I had the "Red Velvet Cocoa" with cream cheese frosting and a "Peanut Butter Cup" with a creamy peanut butter frosting. Both cupcakes were extremely moist with deep rich flavors and an abundance of frosting. Their use of high quality ingredients is very evident. Simply decadent!

One of my favorites was "missing" from the menu - large muffin tops. Hint, hint...

In addition to this location, there is a Yummy Cupcake in Burbank and another soon to open in Brentwood.

Run, don't walk to get your handful of heaven!

Mmm... Mmm... Mmm...

$

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Entrée

$ 10

$$ 20

$$$ 30

$$$$ 40+

Staff

+ Stop bothering me!

++ Anyone here?

+++ Stopped when in the area.

++++ As needed and friendly.

+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall

& “One visit too many!”

&& “Convince me!”

&&& “I’ll be back!”

&&&& “Same table next week!”

PIANETA GELATO – Puerto Vallarta

Pianeta Gelato can be found in the heart of Zona Romatica across the street from another of my local faves – Joe Jack’s Fish Shack. This area of Vallarta is the older, charming Puerto Vallarta. Zona Romantica is Vallarta's most energized neighborhood with the south side beach, restaurants, bars, lounges and beach side cafes.

Pianeta Gelato is a new casual eatery with 2 different concepts – wood oven fired pizzas and homemade gelato. The short menu offers pizzas, salads, paninis, lasagna, beer and wine. On this visit, Carol, Treavor, Mandy & I went for a pizza dinner.

The pizzeria’s dining area and the pizza oven are outside in a very comfortable garden space with large plants, an overhang providing protection from Vallarta’s golden sun, a rock & water element hiding some of the noise from the street and a collection of sofas near the sidewalk. The sofas are perfect for relaxing and sipping beverages with friends and people watching!

Eloy, the sexiest pizza designer I’ve met, creates one of the best pizzas I’ve found in Puerto Vallarta. For dinner, we devoured 3 of Eloy’s creations. We had 2 Pizza Margheritas – a crust stretched so thin we could almost see through it topped with homemade tomato sauce, freshly shredded mozzarella cheese and thin strips of basil. The third pizza was the Pizza di Prosciutto – again the same incredibly thin crust, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and very thin slices of parma ham providing the “frosting” on this pie. Delizioso!

The pizza pies are fired in a specially designed brick oven within the outdoor pizza prep area located at the far end of the garden. Pizzas are fired for 4-6 minutes depending on the toppings. Each of our pizzas arrived piping hot with charred, cracked edges! The internal oven temperature is approximately 500º Fahrenheit (260º Celsius) with a cooking surface of 380º F (193º C). The oven is never turned off; the wood just burns down. It would take too long each day to fire it up to the required cooking temp.

A shaker containing a dry spice blend of ground red pepper, garlic & onion is found on each table. We all recommend that a couple shakes be added to each slice providing some missing zest to the tomato sauce. Once added, it is difficult to find a better pizza pie in PV.

My friends & I made several stops inside the new gelato space. I did not order gelato but my friends raved about the intense, fresh flavor combinations. However, I did observe a service counter operation that lacked sufficient staff and training to efficiently serve their customers. The “place your gelato order here” & the “pay here” areas are confusing and jam too many customers into a small space. One scooper should not service customers coming from 2 different directions, but there were always 2-3 staffing the cash register. I found it disorganized. If this is resolved, it should be a success.

From the number of occupied garden tables I’ve observed as I pass by this new café, Pianeta Gelato is becoming a popular pizza eatery in Old Town. I know I’ll be returning during this visit, at least for pizza… & I did.

Mmm… Mmm…

www.PianetaGelato.com

$$
++++
✦✦✦

Entrée
$ 10
$ 20
$$ 30
$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”

MANNEKEN PIS - Amsterdam

Manneken Pis has a small location on Damrak (the main street) approximately 3 blocks from Centraal Station in the Dam Square (downtown) area. There is no seating, just a walk-up window. But this does not detour those in the ever present quick-moving line to look elsewhere for their french fry fix. The white lab coat adorned staff are very efficient and friendly.

The menu is short - 3 sizes of fresh cut/fresh fried fries, shakes and ice cream. Period. The fries are reasonably priced, from $3.25 - $5.50. They also offer 17 regular dipping sauces and 5 special dipping sauces, ranging in price from .75 - .95 for each sauce. Not being fluent in Dutch, I asked a local next to me in line for a recommendation. Without a doubt, he indicated the mayo/green peppercorn was the best - a very smooth, slightly peppery mayo. I agree; it was fantastic. After receiving my order, I joined the rest on the sidewalk devouring their cones of french fry bliss.

The small fry I ordered was served in a paper cone; the sauce was plopped on the top. My fries were incredible - crisp with fluffy white centers! Remember to grab a tiny wooden fork & several napkins.

There is a large sign proclaiming Manneken Pis has been vote "#1 Holland Fries" for several years. Not once did I walk by during this visit to Amsterdam did I not see a line. The other fry shops in the area can't make the same claim!

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm...

$
++++
✦✦✦

Entrée
$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”

GREENDAYZ COFFEE - Amsterdam

Greendayz Coffee is a bright, contemporary coffee shop, 2 blocks off Damrak at Warmoesstraat 143. Franc, the adorable manager, quickly points out that their menu items are all natural or organic.

During my stay in Amsterdam, I made numerous trips to Greendayz for a caffeine fix. Franc recommended the “Classic Coffee” – a double shot of espresso with a small amount of filtered water. Delicious! This mellow, slightly smoky coffee quickly became my beverage of choice.

My sweet selection was their fantastic mocha chip muffin; it was a baseball-size handful of heaven. This super moist muffin had a subtle espresso flavor and slivers or dark chocolate. The muffin’s crystallized sugar top was incredible. I learned that the addition of a bit of applesauce was their secret to the unbelievably moist muffins. I admit I ate several.

The staff of this very comfortable, welcoming café is quick to answer questions about this amazing city, give directions, and make suggestions to those coming through the door. I always left with a smile and a hot cup of “Classic”!

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm…

$
++++
✦✦✦✦

Entrée
$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”

RICH TO RICHES - New York City - SoHo

Rice to Riches is in a chic, futuristic space in SoHo popping with bright colors. Rice to Riches has only one item on their menu - rice pudding. You will find not one but 17 year-round flavors plus another 5 seasonal flavors depending on the time of the year. There are also 10 topping for your bowl of rich and creamy bliss. Your bowl of bliss is so worth the wait; on my previous visits, the line to order has extended out their door & down the sidewalk.

Today, my chosen bowl of bliss was "Sex, Drugs, & Rocky Road" - a deep, dark chocolate pudding with tidbits of nuts... 8 ounces of decadence! Some of their creative flavors include: Understanding Vanilla, Chocolate Chip Flirt, Take Me To Tiramisu, Don Cappuccino and Rest in Peach.

"Think again if your image of Rice Pudding is a simple milk and rice dessert." - Associated Press

There are 5 serving sizes ranging from 6 ounces to 80 ounces. Shipping is available to conveniently satisfy your new found 'addiction'.

"Heaven's version of comfort food." - Daily Candy

http://www.ricetoriches.com

$
++++
✦✦✦

Entrée
$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”

MARIPOSA ICE CREAM – San Diego

Mariposa Ice Cream is not your fancy corporate ice cream shop; it’s better. Mariposa is your friendly neighborhood ice cream shop decorated with thank you’s and accolades from school children, the “famous”, and not-so-famous.

Owners, Anna & Dick, make each batch of their incredible ice cream at 7am each day, ensuring it is ready at opening – sometime around 1pm.

I sampled 5 or 6 flavors before choosing a scoop of the Mexican Chocolate and a scoop of Butter Pecan. I had heard kudos for their Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream. I made this visit especially for a scoop. The Mexican Chocolate ice cream has a very vanilla base loaded with Mexican Chocolate bits. My taste buds led me to believe the ice cream had flecks of vanilla bean. The Butter Pecan was very French vanilla-like, a velvety-smooth sweet base with an abundance of toasted pecan tidbits.

I was told that no eggs are used in their ice creams. Hard to believe; both scoops were extremely rich and smooth. The tubs of ice cream are at the perfect temperature for serving – each scoop had a slight exterior melt. The flavors were well balanced and jumped off my spoon. Luscious!

If you are unable to decide on the which scoops to order, ask one of the other customers in the shop. Everyone is very willing tell you why a particular flavor is their favorite.

I highly recommend that you go for a scoop or 2 of this decadent pleasure and stay for some of Dick’s very entertaining stories. I am addicted!

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm…

http://mariposaicecream.com/

$
++++
✦✦✦

Entrée
$ 10
$$ 20
$$$ 30
$$$$ 40+

Staff
+ Stop bothering me!
++ Anyone here?
+++ Stopped when in the area.
++++ As needed and friendly.
+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall
✦ “One visit too many!”
✦✦ “Convince me!”
✦✦✦ “I’ll be back!”
✦✦✦✦ “Same table next week!”