Sweet Serendipity

The snow is coming down hard here in upstate New York, covering trees, hills and fields around the farm in a second coat of white this week. Meanwhile, if you're following us on Twitter, you might have seen a few more coats of white, freshening up furniture for a makeover story we're doing for The Nest. So with yet another snow day upon us and the shoot rescheduled for Saturday, here's a taste of sweet Serendipity to indulge your inner Cupid this Valentine's Day.

At a time when most magazines are shifting gears, cutting corners, or disappearing altogether, there's a new one on the stands—a real one—printed and bound in my very own hometown of Greenwich, Connecticut. Serendipity, it's called, and rightly so: Just when the future of magazines is at its bleakest in years, we score the win for a national brand, thanks in large part to you, then celebrate the arrival of a new local favorite. Conceived as a guide book for the young Greenwich family by editor-in-chief Suni Unger, Serendipity brings to town a voice—and a look—that's fun, fresh, and best of all, beautiful. Here, from the premiere issue, a story of irresistible appeal, where buttery cake and sugary frosting meld deliciously together from bakers that take the (cup)cake.

The Valentine one with the string, as though a gift just unwrapped from the bakery, reminds me of my days as a caterer back in Greenwich. I used to have Danny, one of the owners of Black Forest Pastry Shop, make all my wedding cakes for clients. Then I'd decorate them myself with extra icing and a piping bag. Buying cakes of graduating size from a bakery you love, then decorating them simply, is a great way of cutting costs at weddings.     

Even though I spent my days at Culinary Institute cooking more than baking, I love decorating pastries for parties, especially miniature desserts like petits fours, fruit tarts and of course, cupcakes! Lisa from Sweet Lisa's Exquisite Cakes is also a graduate of the CIA. Her banana cupcake with dulce de leche frosting, pictured above, is pure heaven. To the right, Debra Ponzek from Aux Délices, where I used to cater on weekends, tops a vanilla orange cupcake with a candied orange wheel, like pretty stained glass. Decorate a dozen cupcakes with buttercream dhalias like the one below from Whole Foods, then pile them high on graduated cake pedestals, and they're the perfect centerpiece for a summertime party.

These two I love for their comforting, homemade charm. Back at Martha, whenever my friend Austin and I were having a bad day at work, we'd march down to Crumb for their raspberry swirl cupcakes, plant ourselves firmly in the grass at Bryant Park, and eat ourselves silly till we were sick.

Good times.

But what's even better is that Alanna Jacobs, Creative Director of Serendipity, is actually an old colleague of mine from Martha! At the moment, we're working together to produce a dazzling table setting story for an upcoming cover, full of lush, vibrant color, just in time for spring! Stay tuned, everyone, and in the meantime, a question: What's your favorite bakery for irresistible cupcakes?  

Comments

[Splendid Market]

At a gourmet food store in Seattle, Pasta and Co., they used to have the best cupcakes - this was ten years ago before cupcakes were all the rage.

They only carried two, but were they devine! They had chocolate devils food cupcake with a squirt of ganache in the center of the tender, moist cake, lucious. But my favorite was the white cupcake with a slight almond flavor to it, in the center was a squirt of a creamy marzipan. The frosting must have been some sort of a cream cheese based frosting. All so good!

They still carry the cupcakes, but they don't pipe the centers in anymore. They are stil a nice treat.

[carrie leber]

what a great magazine - we live just a bit down the shoreline and haven't seen it yet - I hope they distribute it throughout the state.

[Lisa Fleming]

Hi, Eddie!

Saw you at the Serendipity launch party...it was a wonderful event & I really hope that those gals have a successful magazine. They certainly are very nice and ambitious & the premier issue looks great!
All best, Lisa F.

[pam robinson]

i think i am going to bake a big cake this weekend...yummie

[Robin McAllister-Zaas]

Inspires me to create some of my own!

xo

[Robin McAllister-Zaas]

Inspires me to create some of my own!
xo

[Jennifer @ Fiddle Dee Dee]

Love the cupcakes! I've been baking strawberry cupcakes this morning for Valentine's parties (3 of them!)tomorrow. The magazine looks great. I will have to look for this one as it seems it will be full of inspiration.

xo

[Patti Davis]

That magazine cover is one of the dearest things I have ever seen. And those cupcakes! Oh swoony me. AND you are going to come up with a gorgeous spring tablescape that I can copy? I'm fainting here.

I want you to know that now when I go treasure hunting, I always say to myself, "What would Eddie + Jaithan do?" I need a WWEAJD bracelet!

Love you
Patti

[Acanthus & Acorn]

Eddie & Jaithan,
I don't know what's better, the images or the mouth watering descriptions! I'd like the chocolate one with the pink frosting and raspberries for breakfast...please???

[pve]

I love the "cupcake cafe" - but truth be told, my friend makes the best cupcakes. (Taina, are your ears burning?)
pve

[Karena]

Those are all just dreamy cupcakes, I can tell they are delish!
Karena

[Karla Amadatsu]

Wow, those cupcakes are AMAZING looking...making my New Years diet very hard to stick to! Being snowed in doesn't sound too bad with one of those goodies and some great design blogs to read :)

Karla
Kerrisdale Design
blog.kerrisdaledesign.com

[beachbungalow8]

yum.

[Barbara at Daisy's]

Love these cupcakes and how funny that I am reading this as I am waiting for a batch to come out of the oven (valentine tea party in 2nd grade tomorrow). However I am starting to get sick of those lace cupcake cups. They are overkill and make it impossible to eat without messing everything else up.

On the up side is the fate of magazines. They won't die they just needed a little treatment in ICU for a while and back they will come. Especially great regional mags and new classics like Elle Decor. Blogs and on line are great but just like a real book and brick and mortar stores magazines will find a way to make it. There is something about holding it that just makes it better.

[Laurel Powell]

Yumm.. looks delicious! Looks like I am missing out by not being on twitter... I think I may join! Enjoy the snow!

[Suzanne]

I have been on The Nest for the past few years and am very excited to check out your makeover story for them! I also noticed that you'll be desiging a table for Tables by Design for Halls Kansas City. I'm happy you'll be returning to my town and plan to check out your table for inspiration.

[my favorite and my best]

oh dear sweet jesus. i would use my tongue like a zamboni and sweep that icing off in one lick.

[Victoria Zlotkowski]

Lovely, now - I have to admit I am no fan of cupcakes, but I adore their looks....
The best looking here around come from La Riviera Bake House in Ardsley and then there is that small Italien bakery in Mamaroneck, which I forgot the name of, on Mainstreet....
XX
Victoria

[anna/quilted giraffe]

Do those ever look good! I could definitely settle down on the couch with a cup of tea and one of those cupcakes, and watch the snow come down...

[Marija]

Sweet Mandy Bs, Chicago. No website but it doesn't need one. Trust me, I know a thing or two about cupcakes. Okay, I just really really like them. Adorable looking mag!

[thezhush]

Oh my goodness..cupcakes and a great new magazine in a town just over the border? YAY!
and really love Magnolia + Crumbs...and not a cupcake, but Aux delice's Devil Dogs are insane! And now I want one so bad!

[cristin @ simplified bee]

beautiful cupcakes!
xo,
cristin

[Terri]

Gosh, they are just the prettiest thing I've ever seen! Lovely images for a cold evening! Thanks, xo Terri

[kathysue]

It sounds as if you are surrounding yourselves with cheerful colors and fun objects and the cupcakes are just the best. You can't help but be happy when you eat a cupcake and the frosting ends up on the tip of your nose. Love you guys,kathysue

[Fifi Flowers]

Oooh I have been craving cupcakes... I REALLY must find a GOOD one and SOON!
Fifi

[Renae]

Hey Eddie and Jaithan! You fellers keep warm! I will certainly look for this mag...looks like a good one.
xx