Around The World in 80 Bakes: Two Little Red Hens

A visit for New York would not be complete for us without a trip (or two) to Two Little Red Hens, our favorite New York bakery. This tiny little bakery on the Upper East Side is a bit of a refreshing break from super-sized New York City; its extremely quaint, with redbrick walls and paintings of chickens everywhere. They make a delicious range of homemade baked goods, but the main reason we love it here is their mini cupcakes, which are the perfect little treat (although we rarely stop at just one!).

Their carrot cake and red velvet are fantastic, although we have two personal favourites...

As self-confessed chocolate and peanut butter fanatics, the Peanut Butter Swirl cupcake is a such a delight. A light, moist chocolate-y cake topped with a peanut butter icing and filled with even more icing. Yum!

We also love the Brooklyn Blackout, a real New York cupcake. It consists of an extremely moist chocolate cake, topped with chocolate ganache and (the best bit)... filled with chocolate pudding. It's definitely one we are going to try and recreate at home!

Sadly, we only get to experience Two Little Red Hens a few times a year when we're visiting New York. We're yet to find a bakery that measures up to it in London... so make sure you check it out if you're in the area!

Love, 

Samara and Anna

xxx

Around the World in 80 Bakes: Aux Merveilleux

I think we have found our new favourite dessert-spot. Aux Merveilleux have recently popped over from France to open their first London shop in South Kensington, and it is definitely worth a visit. They have a fairly limited variety of goods, but they are the definition of 'quality over quantity'.

Their two main products are 'Les Cramiques', which are sweet brioche buns with a range of different additions, such as raisins and chocolate chips...

...And 'Les Merveilleux', which are, in our eyes, 'little puffs of heaven'. In reality, they are meringue covered in a very light whipped cream, and then rolled in a range of different toppings. They are bewilderingly airy, and seem to disappear in your mouth the second you eat them.

With strict instructions that they must be carried carefully and kept refrigerated, they are packed into a pretty little box to take home. (You can also eat them in-store, by why would you give up the chance to have one of these!)

We picked our four favourite flavours; praline, caramel, chocolate and coffee.

What a gorgeous little treat, but at almost £2 each, maybe we will save them for special occasions.

Lots of Love,

Fiona, Samara and Anna
xxx

Around the World in 80 Bakes - Caffè Florian, Venice

Caffè Florian prides itself in being Italy's oldest café, first opening in 1720. It is located in the Piazzo San Marco, which provides the perfect setting for people watching! You have the option to sit outdoors and enjoy their famous orchestra, however we decided the 18th century interior was too hard to resist and decided to sit in one of the windows, in a ornately decorated room covered in frescos. 

Feeling ever so posh on our red velvet seats, we picked a range of desserts, teas and hot chocolates. Between the three of us we shared a hot chocolate, an almond tart and a chocolate tart, which each arrived beautifully presented with a Caffè Florian chocolate on top. Italian hot chocolate is renowned for being rich and thick, and this one did not disappoint. Ideal for a real chocoholic (an addiction we all suffer from), it was incredibly decadent, not too sweet and covered in a huge dollop of whipped cream. Perfection!

The almond tart was also a favorite - buttery pastry filled with apricot jam and almonds. Just the right amount of sweetness to counteract the rich hot chocolate, and we will never complain about the few extra chocolates thrown on top!

However, the cake we were looking forward to the most- the chocolate torte, turned out to be the most disappointing. Unlike the rich, moist, gooey-in-the-middle cake we expected, what we were presented with was dry, fairly bland and certainly not worth the hefty price. 

If you get the chance Caffè Florian is certainly worth a visit, and the setting is truly magical. However be aware that you are paying primarily for the experience and you could undoubtedly find tastier and more pocket-friendly places around Venice to have afternoon tea!

Lots of love, 

Fiona, Samara and Anna xxx