At the Hop: Cupcakes for all at the Grandview Hop.

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Long time no blog, eh? What's up with that? It's been a little hectic over here, plus my birthday was just a few weeks ago so blogging had to take a back seat for awhile. But I've still been baking! Boy, have I been baking. Most recently for the Grandview Hop. I know, you're like "What's the Grandview Hop? I've never heard of it." The Grandview Hop, for you locals here in Columbus, is like the Short North's Gallery Hop. It's a neighborhood affair with vendors & artists lining the streets, people milling up and down Grandview Ave checking out the shops and general goings-on, maybe taking a walk after going to dinner. The dance studio has free lessons. It's a really quite a nice affair. It happens the last Saturday of everything month from April-November. This past Saturday was my first Hop—actually, it was my first public vendor appearance period!

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The idea came from a friend who said "You know, we were talking and we think you should sell your cupcakes at the Grandview neighborhood thing that they have." Well, he didn't say it exactly like that, but you know. So that meant the Grandview Hop. And a lot of times when people say to me "Hey, why don't you do this?" I groan because it's usually some cockemamy, hair-brained idea that would take oodles of time and effort that they just don't understand, especially while holding down a full-time job plus the side business. BUT THIS IDEA??? I sat there, eyebrows furrowed, saying "You know... actually... that would work. That really would make sense... YES!!!" EUREKA! The location is perfect. The frequency of the event is perfect. The clientele is perfect. These are my peeps! Plus, I know a super sweet shop owner who would let me have a space outside her store, which is perfect. It just made so much sense! So I went for it. I contacted my shop-owner-lady-friend who was equally excited. We're a perfect match!

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So here's the set-up! I'm stationed in front of Peabody Papers, for future reference (Hint Hint: Come see me in action!). It's a great brand partnership. Gorgeous, sophisticated paper & stationery mixed w/ gorgeous (just go w/ it), delicious cupcakes. What could be better? And Brooke, the owner, is quite possibly the nicest person with whom you could ever cross paths, so if you come by, make sure to stop into Peabody to check it out.

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On the menu for the event was two cupcakes, two grahamwiches, a butter sable cookie, plus some frosting free for all to try. Who doesn't love a sample?? So for cupcakes I had red velvet with vanilla malt frosting since it's delicious, relatively safe and standard, but just intriguing enough. Next was the chocolate cupcake with raspberry amaretto frosting topped with a thin lemon cookie. A little usual but very delightful combo when it comes to fluffy little cupcakes. Just enough to make people stop, look, and really think about the baked goods they're craving. The frosting sample though? Brilliant. I would without a doubt say that I make a darn good frosting. I kick a lot of frosting behind, if you know what I'm saying. Why not let everyone try it out?

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And now for the sables. A sable is a buttery, French shortbread. It's so much better than your everyday shortbread if you ask me. Much richer with a much better texture. These were filled with orange zest, chopped roasted and salted pistachios, and chopped chocolate—both bittersweet and milk. Plus, I throw in a little extra salt for good measure. ;-) Thankfully, I have a few leftover that I'll probably munch on in a few minutes here.

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And last but not least, the newly revised menu! I'll be posting this soon—I just have to adapt a downloadable PDF version. But this has an updated list of frostings plus TWO NEW FLAVORS! Key lime and coconut, welcome to the family! Grahamwiches have also been added to the offering.Speaking of grahamwiches...

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The grahamwich selection? A salted caramel grahamwich, dipped in chocolate, and dipped in roasted, salted pecans (and some without nuts if that's your preference.) Also, a key lime grahamwich dipped in chocolate and shredded coconut (and of course, some without the coconut). The key lime frosting tastes just like key lime pie, just an eensy bit sweeter (due to the sugar in the frosting, of course). But my God, it's good. Seriously. You're going to have to try it.

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So what's next? Well there will be another Hop at the end of June on the 26th. Remember, the last Saturday of each month. I'm usually set up about 5:30 and stay around til 10 or until I sell enough to make me happy—whichever comes first. :-) On the menu will be key lime cupcakes (another chance for you to get that frosting!), cinnamon toast cupcakes (intrigued? you should be!), and of course a grahamwich or two. Just have to decide on which ones!

This coming weekend I have a graduation party to bake for. The menu consists of vanilla cupcakes with lavender-lemon-vanilla bean frosting (a custom request) and probably some with key lime frosting, strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting dipped in chocolate, and brown sugar cupcakes with chai spice frosting. Maybe that will inspire me for the next hop!