Girls Day Out with Real Women Eat

Saturday was a rare occasion when almost all of Real Women Eat were able to get together for a long overdue Girls Day and fact finding mission...a.k.a Cupcake evaluation!

Left:  Saucy in front, Sweet Jeanette(me) in back

Right:  Cupcake in front;  Delicious in back

(Buttercream was the only one who couldn't make it)

First was breakfast at Mimi's.  It is, after all, the most important meal of the day.

I had buttons made for everyone with our logo on it, and threatened them within an inch of their recipes if they lost them!  

I had heard of a cupcake shop in Brandon.  Until now I thought there were no local shops... except in Tampa.  I was excited to find out after talking to Dena that there were more than one in Brandon area!  WooHoo!

The first one we tried to go to was Simply Cupcakes.  To our disappointment, there was a note taped to the door.  They were in Plant City for an antique/craft show and chili cook-off.   So it was off to the next cupcake shop...

Sweetie's Delights.

I just love this painting on their back wall.  One of the employees took this pic for me.  I don't know what the "back room" was, but they closed the door just after I saw it so I asked if they'd take the picture for me.  They were gracious enough to do so.   Don't you love it?  I wish I had a kitchen wall big enough.  I'd SO have Brooke paint those cupcakes on it for me!

We each bought a cupcake of our choice (I bought two) and sat down to do our "research"...er, pig out!

I naturally got the chocolate peanut butter.  In fact, everywhere we went, if there was anything with peanut butter in it, I got it.   The other was a key lime.  I was very pleased with my choices.  I don't remember what everyone else got, but there will be the evaluations on RealWomenEat.com later this week. 

All decorated for Halloween

We did end up going to Plant City to seek out Simply Cupcakes.  We tried their cupcakes too, but I just realized I don't have any pictures!  I remember our favorite flavor there was the cookies-n-cream cupcake.

While there we wandered into a candy shop.

They provided samples - Yesssss!  I never knew dark chocolate could taste so good!  I had always thought dark chocolate tasted bitter. But this was so creamy and smooth...and yummy! They mentioned the process they painstakingly underwent to insure it's taste.  Well worth it!

All in all, we had a great day of feasting and fellowship.  But I have to mention our "find" of the day...

We were searching for a place to sit to try our cupcakes and found some outside tables a couple doors down from Sweetie's Delights.  We were just going to buy some water, but were overcome with the place.

Leena's Chocolates!!!

This is Anthony Caliguire  (Leena's son)

We couldn't resist the Gelato!  I got strawberry and it was love at first bite!

No kidding!  I love this stuff!

Anthony was great - he  shared with us the history of Leena's  and all that they have to offer.  They have private parties there too...and for $35.00 you can book the place for food, fun, and a tour of the back room to see all the "behind the scenes" goings on.  We all decided that we want to take advantage of this for a girl's night.  I mean, c'mon, $35.00 to feed me, entertain/educate me too?  I'd pay $35.00 to watch an ant eat a bale of hay.  This is much better!   After we take advantage of this and get the tour, we'll be posting it all on RealWomenEat.com, be sure to check it out!   Basically, we went looking for cupcakes, but fell in love with Leena's Chocolates!  (and I can't wait to tell you more, but on Real Women Eat!)