Over here at 423smith (a.k.a - OrangeYouGlad) we’ve spent the last year or so working on the branding, web design, print and package design, and even the signage (see those cute wall decals?) for new Washington DC based cupcake shop Hello Cupcake. That is a full year of looking at photos of Penny’s tasty creations, drooling over their delicious descriptions, imagining their oh so delectible cake-tastic taste. And now, as of today, the shop is finally open and I am in the wrong zipcode to be able to get my hands on one of those precious little jewels.

Truth be told, I was able to get a hello cupcake teaser back in April when soon-to-be “Grandma” Duncan suprised me by contacting Penny to bake cupcakes for my baby shower. But, it has only left me wanting MORE!

These really are the best cupcakes I have EVER had (and I am not just saying this because Penny is our client/friend.) So, if you are reading this and you are in the DC area, please go treat yourself to a Velvet Elvis and have a second (or third) one for me.

a quick look at what the blogs are saying..

Washingtonian.com - The Opening Day Scene at Hello Cupcake, August 25, 2008

DCist - First Look: Hello Cupcake, August 25, 2008 includes some nice photos of our design handy work - packaing, logo, signage etc…

Daily Candy Washington DC - I Say Hello, August 25, 2008

Check out this fun blog where some of my fictional heroes are “Simpsonized.”

hat tip to IO9.com

If only Sadie’s middle name was Bacon! If I ever have a kid I’m definitely including Bacon in their name. Okay, I think I’ll have to settle on Bacon as the name of my next dog.

Little Sadie (well, actually Tammy and Andrew) kindly offered up their kitchen for some bacon cooking this weekend. I had just received the August shipment from the Bacon of the Month Club so I decided to go with that package rather than busting out the June or July selections.

August’s Bacon of the Month selection

I’ve never had, and therefore never cooked, cottage bacon before. I fried it up and that seemed to work out okay.

Cooking bacon in T&A’s kitchen

It reminded me a lot of the bacon served in Australia.

Brooklyn LJ snatching a piece

Everyone at brunch seemed to like it but I wasn’t a big fan. One thing I’ve noticed with the BotMC bacon is that it has been really salty. I’m not sure if that’s because I typically don’t use salt and thus the bacon seems extra salty to me or if it actually is that salty. However, the cottage bacon wasn’t sweet or salty. I found it kind of bland and think it would work best when paired with other ingredients such on sandwiches.

The bacon wrangling is getting out of hand. I’ve got June and July’s bacon waiting for a kitchen. August’s has yet to come but it will be here soon. Potential kitchens include Tammy’s, LJ’s, and Alceste’s second home. If F-Train ever returns to Brooklyn I’m volunteering his kitchen whether he likes it or not - although we all know how much he loves his bacon so how can he refuse?