Beautiful Weekend - Chockfull of News!

We hope everyone had a fantastic weekend.  The weather was super fantastic this weekend in Los Angeles.  Traffic, smog, potholes... you have nothing on our sunny days!  Spring forward if you haven't already.  While we lose 1 hour of sleep, we gain so much more daylight to enjoy the days activities after work.  WE LOVE THAT.

Speaking of more activities, we have a bunch of new news to share with you, our Crème Caramel LA loves:

First up, we're adding a second farmers' market!! Yahoo!!  Starting April 23rd - Saturdays, we'll be at the Glendale Americana - Gigi's Farmers' Market slangin our desserts for our Eastside friends.  We're super excited to be adding another vending date to our schedule.  Gigi's Farmer's Market is located in the Glendale Americana and is up and running 10am-2pm.  For our parentals out there, they have a petting zoo for the kiddies, and of course shopping, eats, and a movie theatre on site!  We'd love to see you strolling around with a cup of hot Caramelized Bacon Bread Pudding or a chilled treat of Coffee Crème Caramel.

We received the next bit of news on Friday evening and we COULD NOT wait to tell you today.  We just learned that we were accepted to participate at Unique LA's Spring Show!!  (YES, DOUBLE EXCLAMATIONS!)  Unique LA hosts the largest independent design show in the country (yes, the whole US o' A) that showcases local artists and designers and we get to share our treats at the event. :)  Event will be held in Downtown LA at the California Market Center's Penthouse, May 7-8 (your admission gives you access both days.)  Thanks to Sonja at Unique LA for the opportunity.  We're super excited!

We heart Artisanal LA.  We're giddy with excitement for the upcoming Artisanal LA Spring Show for the following three reasons: 1) all local food producers and artisans will be in one beautiful space showcasing their best and yummiest, 2) it's happening in less than month, April 16-17, and 3) Artisanal LA and Shawna (the event's founder) gave us the opportunity to officially launch our company at the Holiday Pop-Up and we had a FANTASTIC time !!! (TRIPLE EXCLAMATIONS!)  Whether you're a locavore, a mild-mannered food lover, or just a Hungry Hungry Hippo, like me, this show cannot be missed.  Restaurants, small businesses, and amazing chefs will be ready to amaze and tantalize you with their wonderful savories, sweets, and umami goodness.

We were lucky to be included with an amazing group of participants in the December show: Cast Iron Gourmet (makes our bacon for our Caramelized Bacon Caramel Bread Pudding - aka CBC), All Spice Cafe (spices, sauces, and more to make your mouth tingle!), Mothercluck (amazing jams and wonderful jellies), ViciVictual (sweet potato pie, YES!), Crust by Stephanie Jayne (amazing, AMAZING s'mores pie),  Morning Glory Confections (Bacon Fat Brittle, what?!!), San Angel Mole (Holy Mole.  Ok, I'm sorry that I went with the obvious. :) ), Flying Pie Man (sad our meat pies are in Mountain View, CA),  Get Your Lardon (Bacon? BACON!  Yes, there is a running theme.) , and many more awesome food artisans that make us smile.  Needless to say, it's going to be a pretty sweet (and savory - *ba-dum CRASH) time. (Oops, forgot to add Cold Brewand Cola.  Wish I had some right now.)

More info to follow on these (and hopefully more) events as we get closer to these dates.

Our sincerest and heartfelt thanks to all our supports - friends, family, and new friends and family.  Without you we would have a lot of bread pudding and crème caramel on our hands and no one to eat them.

We love you.
KdlC

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P.S GEEZ Spring Forward!!  I totally forgot to thank @GmasBakery, @DianaTakesABite, and @Tinabellera for stopping by yesterday!  <3s and :)s and thanks. :)

Thanks Manila Machine!

We have a small batch of Original Crème Caramel on the Manila Machine truck tonight!  Thanks to the lovely truck owners, Nastassia (Let Me Eat Cake blog) and Marvin (Burnt Lumpia blog), for the opportunity of having our dessert on their AWESOME truck!!

The Manila Machine is the premier Gourmet Filipino Food truck in Los Angeles.  With over 6000 followers on Twitter, their truck is a must eat destination for fantastic Filipino eats, but really it's just great food and wonderful people.  Chicken Adobo, Lumpia, and PAN DE SAL SLIDERS??  Yes, PLEASE!!

We're very lucky to be invited to bring a small batch of our Crème Caramel on board this illustrious mobile food palace.  For our Filipino loves, yes, our Crème Caramel is very much like the Filipino Leche Flan (< Burnt Lumpia's post, yay!).  Our dessert foundation started with our family's Leche Flan recipe and was adapted into our present day Crème Caramel dessert.

We hope you can grab one before it's sold out!  Let us know what you think.

Thanks again, Manila Machine!! :)

76 degrees outside and we sell out of HOT Bread Pudding!

February 6th, 2011 marked the first day we opened our "doors" at the Melrose Place Farmers Market and it was a beautiful!

We woke up at the crack of dawn to slightly chilly temps and headed west towards WeHo from Silver Lake.  The produce vendors were already in place and the prepared food vendors and crafters were setting up for the day.  We grabbed a cup o' joe from fellow vendor Oscar's Coffee, unloaded our "store," and the day took off with a great start.  We were welcomed by our neighbors, Honey from Bolani (SO GOOD), Bergen from Eat Me Cookies (Delicious and good for you!), and Phil from Fair Trade Express (I bought the cutest little bull handmade in Peru for my new nephew).

 

Burro the Bull

Really awesome people vending fantastic products.  We're in GREAT company!!

The morning warmed up and the sun was bright and... well, sunny. :)  Rose penned a sign that it was our first day of business and it was official.  We were slangin' desserts!

(Photo Courtesy of John Lesko)

We loved the look of instant pleasure and the positive reviews from our sample tasters.  Really, that made all the long hours worth it.  We loved when we were asked, "Are you coming back next week?" multiple times.  Yes.  DEFINITELY!  (Please and thank you!)

The day was made even more fantastic when we sold out of our Chocolate & Caramelized BACON Bread Puddings!  Another hot (sold out) seller was our Original Creme Caramel.  For our new loves out there, get there early.  We don't want you to miss out!!

 (Photo Courtesy of John Lesko)

We heart the vendors and WeHo community for such a warm and sweet reception.  We can't wait to see more of you out next Sunday for our second day of business!!

Thanks to my very dear loves, Sean G, Creese W, Adri D, and Rose V for their support and help throughout the day.  You are awesome beyond compare.

LOVE LOVE LOVE to our friends and family that stopped by:  Vicky, Diana, John, Jenn B and the rest of the B family. :), my bro Kyle (aka my webmaster) and Sheila, my sis Karleen and Jules (sans new baby boy.), and lastly, my moms and pops.  Our day was made brighter by your presence.

Week #2 here we come!  And look what we have in store for you:

Week #2 - Hearts and Hot Love Week
We have two news items for you!
1) We're adding a little spice to our regular menu.  Literally!  Try our "HOT" Chocolate Bread Pudding made warm by All Spice Cafe's Ghost Pepper Grind spices!!  This past Sunday's sold out Chocolate Bread Pudding will have a little hot action going with a simple sprinkling of All Spice Cafe's Ghost Pepper grind.  The amount of spice is up to you.  We'll give you a container of the goods, you sprinkle your desired temperature.  The result is a warm, but not overwhelming heat that is tempered by the chocolate custard and our recommended sauce topping of Creme Anglaise.  Get hot with our Hot Chocolate BP!! (Sorry - this lovely flavor will only be available at the Melrose Place Farmers' Market.)

2) LA/OC dwellers - Order ONLINE for the 14th and send your loves (friends, fam, and/or hot luvah) creme caramel and bread pudding to sweeten their day.  (Ok, I hate that I used the obvious verb - lame, I said adjective, but I meant VERB. ;-) )  Last day to place your order for delivery to addresses (home and office) in LA and OC counties is this Thursday, February 11th by 4pm!  Want to save on delivery fee and pick it up on Sunday at our booth?  Enter the coupon code HEARTSIES and we'll confirm your order will be ready for pick-up anytime between 10am-2pm at the Melrose Place Farmers Market this Sunday, February 13th.  This coupon is only valid for pick-ups at the Melrose Place FM.

Thank you again for the love and support on our first day.  Hope to see you this Sunday!!
Kristine

Here are more pics from our first day!  (Thanks to Jenn B and John L for the pics. :)

Our Store!

 (Photo Courtesy of Jenn B)

Weekly Menu

  (Photo Courtesy of John Lesko)

Melrose Place Farmers Market

 (Photo Courtesy of Jenn B)

Happy B Fam with Chocolate Creme Caramel

  (Photo Courtesy of Jenn B)

The early crew - Sean G, and Creese W.

(Photo Courtesy of KdlC & retouched by Cathy G.)

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SUPER SUNDAY!!

Super in a lot of ways.  There's a game going on that I hear is pretty popular.  If you are going to a party celebrating this annual game centering around pigskin, don't forget your pig eats!!

Caramelized BACON Caramel Bread Pudding - the CBC! (Pictured below with Salted Caramel sauce.  Thanks E for the pic!)

If you're looking for gluten-free options, check out our Crème Caramel desserts for your sweet craving: (Oooh, this is a pretty sassy picture of our Cafe, Original, and Chocolate Creme Caramel!)

As special thanks for reading and your support of Crème Caramel LA, we're offering a special Party Platter Pack discount if you order online and pick-up at our Melrose Place Farmers Market booth this Sunday!

Creme Caramel - $22.50 - 6 pack (Sold individually - $4/each)
Bread Pudding - $26.50 - 6 pack (Sold individually - $5/each)

Just place your order online through our Google Checkout by 6pm on Saturday, February 5th and use the coupon code "MPCFM."  We'll have your order ready for pick-up at the booth on Sunday anytime between 10am-2pm.  Just in time for the big game!  (This offer is valid only for pick-up at the Melrose Place Farmers Market on 2/6/11.)

Thank you for reading.  We hope to see you soon!

:), Kristine

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I'm going to post...

Updates a plenty will abound on our website shortly.  A little tardy, but with a little more info for you, our Creme Caramel LA loves.

We are going to start taking orders with 48 hour notice of our bread pudding and creme caramel for local Los Angeles and Orange county delivery!  YAY!  Our friends outside of these areas can place their orders for bread pudding only, since the creme caramel has proven to be a little temperamental when shipped outside of the SoCal borders.

So, what have we been doing since our official launch during Artisanal LA's Holiday Pop-Up?  

Holiday Orders!

We were locked in the kitchen baking and packing our holiday orders for the Christmas season and our little birds flew from the nest to homes all over Southern California.  Holiday Spice Bread Pudding and Egg Nog Creme Caramel made their debut and were received by eager bellies.  But alas, the new treats are retired until 2011's holiday season.  We hope you had the opportunity to try them while they were around!

Maryland!

We went to Maryland to visit Sean's (my expediter and big guy) family and baked a few orders for our East Coast friends.  Caramelized Bacon, Holiday Spice, and Pumpkin Bread Pudding made the kitchen very fragrant and thinking about it makes our tummies grumble.  Hmm, I thought I had an extra tin of bread pudding in the freezer... sorry, I will focus.  We did a little test kitchen of a new flavor of Creme Caramel.  Liked the taste, but still working on the texture.  More on that soon.

Farmers' Market!  (Hopefully our new "home"?)

We visited 3 farmers's markets and hoping that we'll find a weekly home in the next few weeks.  Thank you to all for your support and inquiries.  We're hoping we get to see you on a weekly basis in the next month!!

Online Orders!

Until the website is updated, please access our store via our blog.  Not really sexy, but it does the job.  Do you have a large order or special request?  Email us at cremecaramella@gmail.com and we'll see what we can do to make you happy.

And me?  I'm Kristine and I make the bread pudding and creme caramel.  You?  You're awesome.  Thanks for reading.

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