Maude's for lunch, and then...cupcakes!

We had the itch to gallivant last week, so we ran down to 

Gainesville and had lunch at Maude's.  The menu was

pretty limited (I think they're more of a coffee

shop than anything else) but it wasn't half-bad!  Tunie and 

I had Da Bomb (bacon, cheese, tomato, onion and mayo) 

and Nataroo had a BLT.  The croissants were buttery 

and crisp and the cheese was gooey and melty; all 

very good things.  The sweet tea was almost as good as

Tunie's - super sweet and made with Earl Grey (this little twist

is HIGHLY recommended if you're a sweet tea maker, by the

way.)

The interior of the place was quirky; the kind of place

you might like to bring a book or a board game and 

hang out.  We sat outside, though, on the patio, no 

mean feat in Florida in June! Not bad, just so long as a

person thought cool thoughts. I just wish smoking would

go out of style.  Cigarettes and warm, buttery, delicious 

croissants do not mix, at least in my opinion.  

(Nor do panhandlers seated mere inches away from one's

plate, but that is another point, I suppose.)

Oh, but then! Croissants are one thing, and a good thing indeed, but when one's sweet tooth begins to ache, only Sarkara Sweets will do!  Sarkara, land of cupcake bliss, and home of the design-your-own-cupcake!   Right inside the door is a huge board full of temptations - cake flavors, fillings, frostings, toppings, drizzles, you-name-it.   It's always hugely disappointing 

to find out upon entering that you happened to 

come at an inopportune time and custom 

cupcakes aren't gonna happen, but the 

display case still has some pretty darn

good options.  Nat opted for a mocha creation - 

chocolate cake with coffee-flavored frosting.

I went with a red velvet cupcake with chai

frosting.  That red velvet was no red food

coloring and cake mix creation; a nice hit

of cocoa came shining through.  Tune settled

on a caramel chocolate candy bar cupcake,

and I think we all agreed hers was the best. 

(The cake part, which was maple, was so.

darn. good.)

The verdict?  

I think we have a winner, folks!