…what’s for dessert tonight?

Sick of Disney Channel, my girls have  gone in search of other things to watch this summer.   TLC, The Travel Channel, The History Channel, and HGTV have become some of their favorite places to land. 

Among other shows, they discovered “The Cake Boss” and it has fast become a favorite in our house.  For those of you who haven’t seen this show on TLC, it is a reality show following the behind-the-scenes project work at a family owned and operated bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey.  Buddy Valastro, the owner, learned the trade from his Dad, and is an incredible artist.  The things he and his team creates out of cake are absolutely extraordinary, and he always claims that his cakes taste as good as they look.  Well, after watching all summer long, the Zanduba family has been dying to test this claim, ooing and ahhing at their creations with growling stomachs.  (Check out some gorgeous creations on Flickr in tineypic’s photostream—she is a cake decorator at the bakery and has pages of photos of their work.)

So, yesterday while he was on his weekly trip to work in NYC, Zan took a detour to Hoboken on his way back to Jersey City from Manhattan.  He brought home love in a box…or “THE PRECIOUS” as we now prefer to call it.  We have a gorgeous cake, four brownie-like fudgie yummies, (well, now two) and six loaded cupcakes to sample from Carlo’s City Hall Bakery. 

You know when you have really high expectations that something is going to be wonderful, but all the time you are preparing yourself because nothing is ever as good as you think it’s going to be???  Well that was SO NOT the case here!  Big Girl and I tried the chocolate fudgie Yum last night and just about melted on the floor in ecstasy with the first bite!  Both of us agreed that we had never ever tasted anything so divine in our lives.  Later today we’ll see if the cupcakes and cake also surpass our expectations…I’ll let you know! 

If you live in New Jersey, all I can say is lucky you!!!  Take the day off and drive to Hoboken and visit Carlo’s Bakery…it will do your soul good.  Everyone else, next time you’re passing through NJ, take a detour.  It’s worth every out of the way mile!  As for me, I will beg now and then for Zan to make a little side trip for The Precious, and will hope that even when I don’t beg, he’ll decide to surprise me once in awhile.  🙂

A photo of The Precious:

And the German chocolate cupcakes:

Addendum:  Okay, so the German chocolate cupcakes with their coconutty, walnutty (I think) frosting weren’t my cup of tea…however, even though I am not a fan of German chocolate cupcakes, these were the best ones I’ve ever had.  And the cake????  OH MY GAWD!!!  A white layer and a chocolate layer (fabulous texture…dense, and yet soft at the same time) with some of that divine creamy chocolate frosting in the center, with white frosting and cherry flavored fondant over the top….Heavenly!!!