So how do you think about cupcakes? I think of a fun & whimsical treat. Maybe a kid's snack. Or a quick sweet treat I might pick up at my grocery bakery. Well Tony & Malgosia Monje have another idea about cupcakes….theirs is all about a sinful gourmet dessert for us grown ups, The Ultimate Cupcake.

You know you have a good thing when celebrities like Rosie O'Donnell quickly embrace your product. Well, I respect Rosie's opinion but wanted to evaluate these new fangled cupcakes for myself.  Tony was kind enough to send along a dozen to our GourmetStation R&D center. Fed Ex delivered around Noon and the cupcakes were still nice & cold with both packaging and product in tact. Fortunately we'd just finished lunch so the cupcakes served as an uplifting Friday afternoon dessert. The first thing I noticed was the amount of icing. Most cupcakes might smear a little of this gooey gold on top but not Ultimate Cupcakes. The icing was piled as high as you might expect on a piece of cake at a 5 star restaurant. The relationship of icing to cake is very important mind you - too much or too little icing and the experience is....well, just not right. It was obvious that quality ingredients are used in these cupcakes because of the creamy rich flavors.

I enjoyed dark chocolate, but you may also purchase vanilla, strawberry, red velvet, pumpkin and lemon poppy seed. Prices are a reasonable $33 per dozen. When I say reasonable, you will know what I mean when you try these cupcakes. They rival any gourmet dessert out there.

Right now the cupcakes are only available in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area. But Tony is hard at work to develop a mail order business that will service the entire US. Thanks Tony & Malgosia for putting a new gourmet spin on an old favorite.

Ultimate Cupcake

Order By Phone: 817-881-7444

Tasting the local seafood can be one of the greatest pleasures of a
seaside vacation in France.  When Parisians rent efficiency apartments
for August, they normally prepare most meals at their apartments.  However,
one restaurant splurge usually finds its way into the vacation budget,
and more than likely that will include a plate of mussels and fries, known
here as ‘moules-frites.’

Before I au paired in France, the only mussels I had tasted were the
huge New Zealand variety.  French mussels are much smaller (especially the
farmed mussels) – and almost sweet.  Because they are smaller they also
tend to be much less chewy.  So, what I’m saying is, if you didn’t like
mussels back in the US, try these out – at least once.

Even though ‘moules-frites’ is often offered as a starter, don’t be
fooled.  The servings are huge.  You get a huge bowl and normally a
bucket
to discard the shells.  Some restaurants like the one we chose in
Courseulles, Normandie offered ‘all you can eat’ mussels.

As with all popular dishes, people develop their own strategies for
enjoying this dish.  The purists will order ‘moules marinieres’.  In
this case, mussels are boiled with a dash of white wine and shallots.  Or you
can try the ‘moules a la crème’ which is a standard choice at most
Norman seaside resorts.  Our restaurant had several other options including
curry flavored mussels and Roquefort mussels. The method remains the same.
You receive a steaming bowl of mussels with plenty of  marinade.  You
can either go straight to the attack, devouring one mussel after another
or – fastidiously extract all your mussels from their shells and make
yourself a soup of sorts.  If you do this, you might want to go for the ‘moules a
la crème’.

As for all those etiquette lessons about not dunking your bread in the
sauce – well you can leave this chapter of the book in your suitcase.  I
learned that the best way to eat mussels is by emptying one of the
shells. Turn the empty shell into your utensil and squeeze it like a pair of
tweezers to extract the rest of the mussels in record time.

I think one of the reasons French people love this dish is partly
because it’s tactile.  This is a dish you can climb into with both hands.
Normally a towelette is served alongside.  On the Atlantic coast,
another great dish is ‘mouclade’.  This is a gratin of mussels.  The mussels are
shelled and served piping hot in a gratinee.  You can use your fork for
this, but it won’t be as much fun as ‘moules-frites’.
Apart from being delicious and filling,  ‘moules-frites’ is often one of
the most reasonably priced resort meals you’ll find in France.

Chris Card Fuller

www.parislogue.com

GourmetStation, the leading national merchant for gourmet dinner gifts, upscale gourmet meals and fine food gifts, announced the introduction of their new Americana menu for Father's Day 2008.

(PRWEB) May 30, 2008 -- Gourmet dinner gifts are not just for Moms these days. With Father's Day just around the corner, GourmetStation has been busy developing it's 2nd Americana menu designed for Dads and the gentlemen of the household.

This brand new Americana 3 course dinner for two features handmade appetizers such as gorgonzola puffs and artichoke and parmesan bites. Four new entrees from field and stream have been developed starting with lamb top sirloin in apricot sauce, lemon dill baked salmon, beef tips in burgundy wine sauce and Dutch Pennsylvania stuffed chicken. The gourmet dinner gift is topped off with another new item, apple spice cheesecake. The Father's Day gift is priced at $69.99 plus free 2nd day shipping.

"After the huge success of our first Americana dinner gift in 2007, we knew we must develop more menus that would appeal to men" says Donna Lynes-Miller, founder and President of GourmetStation, " We thoroughly enjoyed developing this new Americana menu just in time for Father's Day 2008" Lynes-Miller went on to comment.

About GourmetStation - www.gourmetstation.com
GourmetStation delivers a delicious in-home dining experience complete with the flavor of travel to an exciting cultural destination. The online retailer offers the unique opportunity to give or receive a unique gourmet food gifts to mark a life-cycle occasion or just to take a night off from cooking. GourmetStation offers multiple regional menu options including Parisian, Tuscan, Cajun, Fusion, Americana as well a Romance menu and seasonal menus like Thanksgiving dinner delivered, Christmas dinner delivered, and Valentine dinner delivered. The wide variety of destination themed food gifts is designed to spark the imagination of both the giver and receiver. Each chef-inspired gourmet dinner is intended to provide a dining experience similar to that of its regional inspiration.

Internationally themed three and four course gourmet meals, and soup gifts are delivered anywhere in the United States. Deep-chilled gourmet dinners and gourmet soups require only 30 minutes preparation. Some dinner gifts include European blend coffee or organic tea, after-dinner candy, floating candle and matches. Prices for gourmet dinner gifts and soup gifts start at $49.99 plus shipping. Gourmet gift certificates, including Dinner of the Month certificates, Dessert of the Month certificates and Soup of the Month certificates are ideal for birthdays and anniversaries. For more information, visit www.GourmetStation.com or call 1-888-944-9794.