Vanilla Pastry Studio

Hi All,

     Recently my best friend had her birthday! Although, I usually make cakes and cupcakes for friends and family for their birthdays, I decided that with all the other things that needed to be done for her party that I would defer the baking.

     I first had these cupcakes at my friend's wedding. Hands down...the best Red Velvet Cupcakes in the city. I've had Dozen and The Priory, but there is no comparison when it comes to the Red Velvet. I typically do not even consider Red Velvet when I order a cupcake but since they were at a wedding, I had to do my due diligence and try them all. Out of all the cupcakes at the wedding, the Red Velvet cupcake was the only one I ate in its entirety...well 3 of them! Ever since, there have been a few occasions when I've even craved it! So, it was a no-brainer on where to go for her birthday. Plus, she really likes the chocolate-peanut butter.

     The icing itself is just so light and creamy and is the perfect accompaniment to soft, moist cakes. There are a lot of flavors so you can't really go wrong with your flavor choice; however, like I said, I stick with the Red Velvet. It's not too sweet and the cake is fluffy and the icing...it has the perfect amount of vanilla and is so creamy and delicious; you can tell they are made fresh! If you can find one better to rival it, I will check it out and crown a winner!

     As for the atmosphere, you can sit inside, which is decorated in pink! You can see the baker's making new batches and the aroma is to die for. You can place an order by the dozen, a mini dozen or by the cupcake. There are many options and are fairly priced. My suggestion if you want to try a few flavors and not break the bank...go for the mini dozen! For $12, you can try up to 12 flavors, some flavors are excluded, but you can get an understanding of your favorite flavor. Check out Vanilla, located in East Liberty on Penn Circle and let me know what you think!

DELI on North Avenue

     So the other day I was thinking, where can I go on the North side that is also somewhere quite healthy. As I was driving along North Avenue, I saw the big DELI sign. As I read the menu, I realized that there were alot of options and all were made with fresh ingredients.

     Inside, there a few tables that were similair to a coffee shop and it was clean and very inviting. I ordered the Cobb wrap but I didnt stay, as I had to get back to work. Cobb Wrap: Roasted chicken breast, bleu cheese, bacon, egg, avocado, lettuce and tomato on a flour tortilla. However, I opted for the garlic herb tortilla. For $6.95, it was the size of a 12 in sub from Subway, but without the smell, ha! It was very good and filling but I would have liked some kind of dressing. The chicken was a little dry. They also have daily specials that aren't on the menu. You can your order as a salad, wrap or sandwich!

     So, if you are ever in the north side and need a quick healthy lunch or just a quiet atmosphere that won't put a dent in your budget; DELI is where to go. Let me know what you think!