Flashback Friday - Aruba

It's cold and there have been two unexpected snow showers today.  I would love to be on a warm, sunny, breezy beach looking at and listening to the sounds of the ocean. I am thinking back to a trip that I took about five years ago to Aruba. I remember huts on the beach, beautiful clear water and a wonderful warm breeze. I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Resort whose theme reminded me that I'm in the Caribbean compared to the other resorts I visited while there. There were plenty of palm trees, ponds of water and huts on the beach.  I also remember enjoying a delicious cobb salad and pomegranate iced tea at one of their restaurants. As I face another forecasted winter storm, I use these memories as a temporary escape and motivation to plan my next beach trip. 

Sweet Spot in Richmond, Virginia

Whenever I'm in a new city I look for a bakery with tasty treats, specifically cupcakes. Even if it's unlikely that I'll make it there, I still feel comforted knowing what the options are and what people are saying about them. I have a gluten allergy so I look for places with good gluten free options. While in Richmond for work, I discovered Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe from Yelp which had great reviews. It's a cute bakery with a boutique feel and a friendly staff. When I inquired about the gluten-free options, I was directed to a case filled with plenty of options. Usually a standard bakery may have one or two gluten-free options, if that, but I was pleasantly surprised and excited to be able to choose from a variety of cupcakes, cookies, pumpkin roll cake and other pastries. I selected the three gluten-free cupcake choices, red velvet, a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing and a creamy marshmallow topping and a chocolate cupcake with vanilla icing.  I cannot pass up a chocolate chip cookie so I ordered one of those too. The other cookie options were the chocolate crackle cookie and I believe oatmeal raisin.  My items were then packaged and labeled with a sticker that reads "Gluten Free" so there is no confusion. 

I was very impressed with the flavor and texture of these treats. They really tasted like their gluten-filled counterparts. These were not the dry, crumbly, or tough cupcakes I've had at other locations. The chocolate chip cookie did not have an excessive grainy texture that I've experienced so often. Instead, the chocolate cupcakes were moist with a rich chocolate flavor and plenty of icing and the red velvet was great with the signature cream cheese icing. The chocolate chip cookie was exactly what I expect to get from a boutique bakery, a thick, tender cookie with a lot of bite. 

Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe made me forget that was eating gluten-free desserts and I appreciate it! If I lived in Richmond, this would be my happy place. 

Pics are below. Enjoy!