Finals - German Chocolate Cupcakes - World Cup Eating Challenge

I just want to start out and apologize this post is so late after the World Cup finished! Excuses suck but I was really sick last week and it was a struggle just to do normal work and chores without having to also figure out how to write words and sound interesting. This week I'm pretty distracted by Comicon planning but if I don't write this post now, I never will.

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I had pretty ambitious plans for Germany. I had thought of ways to do schnitzel and spatzle in a paleo fashion and I'd seen tons of paleo German chocolate cupcake recipes. However, when my plans for the final four settled and I saw I'd be doing Germany the same day I was going to a BBQ, I knew I'd have to reorganize a bit.

The cupcakes would still be a great thing to make for a BBQ. Spatzle sadly wouldn't travel well and is hard to eat/ serve at a BBQ so I skipped that idea. I decided I'd start my cupcakes Saturday night and in the morning I could frost cupcakes while frying schnitzel . I had great plans for a productive morning. I was going to wake up early, go for a 4 mile run, frost cupcakes, make schnitzel , pick up some wine from a wine club and get to the party half an hour before the game started. I woke up an hour late, making frosting takes forever, and it was already 11:30 before we were out the door without schnitzel or running. I'm terrible at figuring how much time it takes to do things.

The good news is the cupcakes were awesome so here goes...

The most important step to making cupcakes is getting your cupcake liners set up. I ordered a bunch of different colored liners from Amazon. This was kind of perfect because I doubt I'll have much use for the red so I was able to use a bunch on these cupcakes. I also probably didn't need to be so precise about alternating the colors since I'm the only one that saw this part but hey, wasn't it pretty?

Now that I had my colored liners in a row, it was time to mix my ingredients. I actually found a ton of Paleo German Chocolate cake/cupcake recipes which was awesome. Paleo baking is pretty easy as there are a lot of alternative flours and sweetners as well as allergen free chocolates. The hard part is frosting. I personally have had some failed attempts with whipping coconut cream frosting but German Chocolate uses a frosting made of pecans and coconut (all paleo) so it naturally lends itself better to being adapted in a paleo version.

I ended up picking this recipe, mostly because it was the prettiest. 

The instructions for these cupcakes were a little more involved than a lot of the other paleo baking I've done. There were a lot of steps that I hadn't had to do for any other recipe and the cupcakes on the surface looked a lot tastier than some of the other things I'd made. I think the creator of them did a great job of making a complicated process straightforward and I wasn't confused at any point on how to execute them all. I ended up doubling the recipe so I could have two dozen cupcakes and it was easy to do that after I'd already started which was nice. 

The next morning (when I woke up to not run or make schnitzel), I started working on the frosting. German Chocolate cake was always one of my favorite things growing up. That says a lot since I really don't like chocolate cake very much. However, I love coconut and so anything covered in coconut pecan caramel can't be bad. Making paleo caramel is pretty fun. I've never made the real stuff but it basically just uses coconut milk and coconut sugar cooked on the stove until it turns into awesome caramely goodness. It looks and smells amazing during the whole process and while it's kind of time consuming, I really like watching the ingredients completely transform before my eyes. 

The next step was to put it all together. Once my caramel was ready and had cooled down, I added the pecans and coconut. I realized my frosting wasn't nearly as pretty as the pictures. I think my coconut was shredded a lot finer so it soaked up more of the caramel and it turned out to be chunkier than the ones from the recipe. 

They tasted awesome though!! As I'd mentioned above, the process to make them was much more involved than other paleo baking I'd done. It really paid off. These were the most moist (sorry to people who hate that word) cupcakes I've ever made, paleo or not. I liked that the use of paleo ingredients lightened up the sweetness of them. Anything bursting with chocolate and sugar and caramel can easily be overly sweet and I'm happy that using the paleo alternatives leveled that out more.

I did have a little bit of a rant at the end of it all though. I took 20 cupcakes to the bbq... and came home with 16. There was definitely a comment thrown out suggesting that things don't taste as good because they are paleo and it's had me really frustrated for the whole week and a half since. Paleo or not - it drives me crazy when people won't even try something. How do you know that they don't taste good if you don't don't give them a shot? The few people who tried them all had great things to say. Dan and I were able to bring a bunch for co-workers who loved them as well. It kind of breaks my heart that I went through a lot of effort to make these and was really excited that the last thing I made for my challenge could be shared with a wider audience... and that excitement was crushed.

I was already planning on doing a post about paleo and my eating lifestyle choices so that's still coming. I do just want to say that this choice for me has been a huge factor in helping my health, lifestyle, and happiness. People think it's just some fad diet but it's really a choice to eat more fresh food, to know where your meals are coming from, and to put things in your body that it can process easier. Paleo cupcakes definitely aren't the healthiest thing in the world but they're better than crap filled with refined sugar and chemicals that you can't even pronounce. I don't want to tell anyone how to live their life or what dietary choices to make. I don't expect everyone to read this or try something I make and decide to do paleo. It's not easy and it's not for everyone, but it would be nice if you were open to other points of view. To assume something tastes bad because it's healthier or organic or unprocessed is just so closed minded. 

I don't mean to rant or complain but it's something that's had me upset for some time. The good part of it though? I still had one cupcake left yesterday and it was the best way to reward myself after my two hour workout. 

Week of April 11th 2011: CSSC - Progressive Grounds

Two coffee posts in a row? Maybe I actually got some studying done! Well, tried to at least...

Taste - 2. This was the first coffee I actually didn't like. Not that it was horrendous... it just didn't come close to living up to the standard I'd gotten used to. I'd gotten to the point where I'd really started liking the taste of coffee and *GASP* that meant I was going to be a little more choosey. This was also about the time I stopped being able to drink the coffee at work every single day and found I need to stop at Starbucks or Peet's a once or twice when I was especially tired. But it was also when I realized....

Buzz - 1... that I didn't really love lattes anymore. If you've ever gotten coffee with me, you'll realize how huge this was. My cups of coffee where more like coffee ice cream than a beverage that is supposed to appropriately start your day. This was the cup of coffee that did it for me. I felt so sluggish and lazy after drinking it because the heavy dairy was just slowing me down. I actually went home and made myself a cup of Ritual coffee just to wake up from my Progressive Grounds coffee.

Presentation - 2. Standard latte in a glass cup. I almost feel like I should dock one for the glass cup thing... That weirds me up. Coffee belongs in ceramic if it's not in a cardboard to go cup. I don't pour beer into a coffee mug or wine into a blue party cup so don't put my coffee in a pint glass. 

Ambiance - 2. I was so excited to walk into a coffee shop where many people were working on their laptops. That was until I sat down and they all judged me because I was the only on that didn't have a Mac. Ok, maybe they weren't judging me but I got a distinct "Why are you in our coffee shop and why don't you have a Mac Book Pro or iPad like the rest of us?" feeling... Other than that - the shop was nicely decorated and had nice pillows to sit on and plenty of space. The people just didn't seem to warm. 

Food - 3. I got the gingerbread cookie you see to your right. It was tasty but maybe a little dry. This was another place that had a full sandwich/salad menu that I didn't take advantage of so it may be worth checking out for that.

Selection - 4. There was a full coffee menu and food as mentioned above so you definitely had choices in that regard. However, I don't think they had specific coffee roasts if you're into that thing (which apparently I am now. Great, I'm a coffee snob all of a sudden...)

Study - 2. It had all of the makings of a good study place but I just couldn't focus. I blame this half on what must have been a decaf coffee and half on the Apple glares.

Novelty - 4. It's starting to seem like it's harder to find a place with real food, plenty of space, and that welcomes people to hang out all day on their laptops (as long as you have a Mac). Sure, it wasn't for me but I don't discount that it may be more comfortable for someone else.

Overall - 2. I think I made it pretty clear that this place just wasn't for me, but I think there are a lot of people who would enjoy it. If you have a few hours and a device that runs iOS, I think you'd have a great time there... just leave a couple hours free for a nap afterward. 

Weeks of March 14-21: The Food (London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussells)

Ok, as we both know, I am have a lot of posts to write... I'm going on a 5 month lag here and am in the middle of a series on a two week trip I took. I've been trying to think of the best way to organize all of this and since it's hard to remember the exact order of things when you're so far behind, I have decided to do one massive post on the food. So get your eyeballs and stomachs ready because this is going to be a long post about a lot of delicious adventures. I didn't write about every food experience, mostly because I don't remember the name of every place, but here are some of the highlights!

Week of February 28th 2011: CSSC - Four Barrell Coffee

I'm sure you were all thinking that as soon as I finished my test, the number of posts would just explode. Unfortunately - free time is something I don't do well and have had trouble finding some. I also lost my notes (bet you were wondering how I remembered things from so long ago) somewhere between here and the UK. Thank goodness this was a spot I thoroughly enjoyed.

So, spoiler alert - There are only like... 6 posts in my coffee series and I didn't study one of those times or get food another. I did really like checking out places though and had no less than 50 or so coffee spots on my list. I was thinking of just dropping into some locations and reading for a couple of hours. I figured most 20-somethings looking for good cafes aren't studying anyways.

Without further ado - Four Barrel Coffee.... is amazing.

Taste - 5. My creamy latte was delicious. I dropped a few sugar cubes in there and really enjoyed sipping it while reading my study guide.

Buzz - 4. It was good and I was able to focus but Blue Bottle was still stronger. I think Blue Bottle is going to be my benchmark for strong coffee. If something can top Blue Bottle then I may need a new ranking scale.

Presentation - 4. I've been mostly ordering latte's just to see if they make pretty patterns in the foam. I wasn't disappointed. I guess you get a 5 if there are fireworks and anti-gravity tricks happening. Yes, I will eventually have a 5, but that's a story for another day.

Ambiance - 5. The space is really cool. I always think dark wood in a coffee shop makes it feel warmer and more comfortable. In addition to that homely feel, Four Barrel had a lot of artwork on the walls. Some of it was kind of erratic but it was fun to look at. There was also a cool rope/light fixture in the windows that I loved. If I ever get a pirate ship movie theater, I'll need to look into getting some.

Food - 4. I got a really nice toffee chip cookie. And by really nice I mean it was delicious and gooey like a cookie should be. My only issue was the size. If it came in Specialty's cookie size, this may have been a 5.

Selection - 3. For a coffee shop, not bad but there was a short list of coffee drinks, a shorter list of tea drinks and a handful of special blends. Plus, the food was limited to a dwindling display case.

Study - 5. This was probably my most productive cafe. At first I thought the music may be too loud, but it was actually the perfect volume to drown out the chatter. I grabbed a window seat and had plenty of space to layout my books. There was a lot of seating so I didn't feel rushed or like I was inconveniencing anyone.

Novelty - 4. How did an artisan coffee shop in the Mission get such a high score for novelty, you ask? It goes back to ambiance. Anyone can set up a coffee shop and say that they serve the best imported, specialty, fair-trade coffee in the city but if you can also create a warm environment where people feel welcome to relax and read for a bit, then that's kind of special. I would go back any time for a coffee, or to hang out. People had kids, dogs, laptops, newspapers - so many different kinds of people felt welcome there. That is hard to find.

Overall - 5. I was really close to giving this place a 4 based on the cumulative score, but if I liked this place so much and didn't give it a 5 - what would deserve the top score? This is a great coffee shop with friendly baristas, a good crowd and it's in walking distance. I don't really know what else I could ask for!

..but seriously - how awesome was that pirate ship movie theater?

Week of January 17th 2011: CSSC - Sage Cafe

Sorry for the dely in posts! I know you must think I got lazy on my vacation but that wasn't quite it. I actually did keep up with a few posts while overseas but mostly I was writing about the thoughts and inspirations I had at the moment. Because many of my posts are delayed a month or two, it can be hard for me to recall some of the thoughts I had at the moment. I figured it would be better to capture some of those as I had them than to keep up with a post that I already had detailed notes on.

But moving rapidly forward - this post is the second installation of my cafe study ratings. The next cafe I went to was one that in my neighborhood of SoMa. I had been wanting to go to Sage for a while because it is so close but they hold some odd hours (closing around 5 and not open Sundays) which didn't fit well with my full time schedule.

Anyway, here it is:

Taste - 2. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything special either. I needed to put my usual ton of sugar in and Blue Bottle just didn't need that.

Buzz - 3. I stayed alert the rest of the day but it wasn't the same motivating rush that Blue Bottle's caffeine gave me. I did come from Bikram yoga though and that stuff just drains my energy.

Presentation - 1. My coffee came in a paper cup and my pastry was wrapped in plastic. At least the 7x7 guy got a happy face... maybe I should have said I was going to write about it on my blog?

Ambiance - 3. There was comfortable seating, space to sit and other people studying. The staff seemed friendly and recognized regulars but it still didn't feel as warm as I would ideally like to see.

Food - 3. I bought a delicious,  but dry fruit tart. There was a full food menu that seemed pretty popular and several people were having lunch around me.

Selection - 5. There was a full selection of sandwiches, salads, breakfast, pastries, and drinks so there was plenty of choice.

Study - 3. It was a better space but there were a lot of distractions. The space had a bit of an echo so a simple conversation resounded in my ears a bit.

Novelty - 2. Pretty simple coffee shop, but it was well executed.

Overall - 3. There was nothing special in most categories and it wasn't too easy to focus. The bathroom has an awesome sink though... it also looks like bands may play there at times but I am not sure where they would find the space.

Week of January 3rd 2011: CSSC - Blue Bottle Coffee

I mentioned in my New Year's post that I wanted to simultaneously maintain this blog and pass the CFA level II. Those of you who has spent time with me between January and June the past two years, know what a conflict of interest this might be.

My solution was simple, try to go to as many different coffee shops in the city as I could. That way, if my studying prevented me from having a big crazy adventure, I could at least have an adventure in coffee and explore that side of San Francisco (not limited to the city, but there are a ton of coffee shops here). So, I decided to start the Coffee Shop Study Challenge (or CSSC for short). 

The basic idea of the CSSC, is to rate different coffee shops along a variety of categories (for consistency) on a 1-5 scale:
Taste
Buzz (caffeine level, basically)
Ambiance
Food (If applicable)
Selection
Study
Novelty
Presentation
Overall (not necessarily an average of the above categories)

So, to kick off my Coffee Challenge, I decided to go to the SF mecca of coffee. For months, it was hard to escape the murmurs and local articles about Blue Bottle Coffee, so I had to check it out. I decided to go to the Mint Plaza. It took me a while to find it (even though it's across the street from the 5th St. entrance to the Westfield mall, this place is freaking hidden), and the sign didn't help it stand out too much either.

Taste: 4. It was delicious. I'm one of those people that has some coffee with my cream and sugar and I didn't have to add a lot of sugar to my latte. I really want to try the siphon pot coffee next time I go there. I would tell you what siphon pot coffee is but I'm not really sure so I'll let Wikipedia and Blue Bottle's website do it for you.

Buzz: 5. I had a nice caffeine buzz going for hours afterward. In fact, I cleaned the whole apartment and stayed up until 2 am. That's only happened one other time and it was before I was a regular coffee drinker. This stuff has a kick.

Ambiance: 1. When I go into a coffee shop I think of dark stained wood and cozy chairs. Maybe I've been in too many Starbucks, but I don't expect a coffee shop to be in a high-ceiling, white washed location with big cold windows and tiny bar style tables with tall stools. The whole place just felt cold and unwelcoming.

Food: 3. I got a little gingerbread loaf which was really tasty. It had a bit too much gingerbread for my personal tastes but then again, the most experience I have with gingerbread are the person shaped cookies at Christmas time so maybe that's how it's supposed to taste? There were also several brunch type dishes that looked really good and I didn't see any plates go back with uneaten food.

Selection: 4. There weren't 25 types of coffees but I felt like all the basics were covered. Plus, the rare addition of the siphon pot was nice. The menu had what it needed and nothing more.

Study: 2. I got about 20% of the chapter I was reading done during the hour I was there which is a better pace than usual. However, because of the small space and cold atmosphere I didn't feel like I was welcome to stay and study after my coffee was done. I don't know the protocol on that, but if I need to find a new study spot every hour or drink 4 lattes, then this isn't going to go so well.

Novelty: 4. The coffee was amazing, and the siphon pot seemed really cool. Although the atmosphere sucked, it was really fun to watch the siphon pot in action the 2-3 times someone ordered it while I was there.

Presentation: 4. This is kind of a silly category, but I was really excited by how pretty the swirls in my coffee cup were.

Overall: 3. I think as a coffee shop, this place is great. There is good food, great coffee and it's in a central location. I think next time I go on a weekend shopping trip, I'll stop here for a pick-me-up. However, as a study spot, it was terrible. I could hardly fit my book and notebook on the little table and I didn't feel like I was welcome to study there. Since this is a study challenge, I have to knock the overall score for that. Now if this was a drink-coffee-apartment-cleaning-challenge, Blue Bottle might have gotten the elusive 5.