Saturday Market Finds

 

One of my favorite things to do for self care is to go to markets (farmers markets, maker markets, art markets, etc) by myself. One time I went with my dad and kiddo and it was a race to look for the few items we "needed" and then there wasn't really wiggle room for looking around. Papa Hungry doesn't mess around, get what you came for and leave! This is why I prefer to go by myself. Yes, I will more than likely spend too much money when I do go, but I will have a lot of fun doing it. 😂

Here's some of the venders and the fun things I sampled today as I bought my way through the Market at the Oasis: 

Heart of Bohemia: The owner was born in the Czech Republic and brings a variety of items to the market from his store. (Check out some of the awesome stuff they have here!)The thing I was most excited about were his kolaches. They also serve hot dogs on a Czech bread, which may have to be sampled next time. This time I did a savory breakfast kolache and a sweet cream cheese kolache. 

I ate the breakfast kolache while I shopped. It was an amazing dough (I seriously would love the recipe) topped with eggs, bacon and a drizzle of honey. I brought the cream cheese home for my mom (but I did sample it at the market!) and it had a sweeter dough, was loaded with cream cheese and topped with something delicious and crunchy. 

He has a wide variety of flavors for kolaches, so I have plenty more to sample my way through. 

Mimi's Sweet Creations: Her instagram is @mimilovelemons so you know I had to find her! I kept it light because I knew there were a few other food spots I wanted to look into, so I just got a lemon bar and the cinnamon roll cake. 

The lemon bar is SO GOOD! I haven't been able to eat it all yet because it is VERY lemon-y. I think the amount of powdered sugar on this bar is fine, but of course Momma Hungry thinks there should be more. (I promise, that woman could eat a bowl of powdered sugar straight, so I'm not sure if any amount is really enough for her.) 

Papa Hungry had no complaints on the cinnamon roll cake, and I will admit it looked much better before I dropped it. 😔

King Tremaine Premium Candies: This was a big reason for the visit today. Momma Hungry loves pralines and I've seen these popping up at different places and saw they would be at the Oasis and knew I had to snag her some. 

Y'all, how cute is this praline?! I didn't realize they were in the shape of hearts! While I stuck with the traditional flavored praline, King Tremaine also has a variety of flavors to choose from, including coconut and mocha. Check them out here and snag you some of your own. 

Casian Cuisine: Casian Cuisine was started by a pair of Filipina sisters who started cooking traditional Filipino food, but found it difficult to get the seasonings normally used in Filipino cooking. So they put their own twist on it and began using cajun seasonings to pair with traditional Filipino food. 

I decided to try the lumpia. It was delicious! Very similar to an egg roll with chicken. The sweet chili sauce they served with it was the perfect compliment. When I was talking to my best friend about my market finds, I mentioned this to her and couldn't remember the name, but since she is Filipina she knew right away what I was talking about and told me that lumpia in any form is delicious, so I made the best choice. 

Casian Cuisine is based out of Opelousas, and they do the market circuit. Be sure to follow them on Facebook so you can head out to where they are to sample some of their amazing flavors. 

Once I started diving into my delightful market finds, I realized I needed something to wash them down with. Since I had not had coffee prior to this visit, I swung by the CC's close by to pick up a MochaChip Mochasippi. I have not had one of this in well over 10 years, and it was just as much an espresso milkshake as I remembered...which with how hot it was today, was exactly what I needed.

Have you been to the Market at the Oasis? If so, who are some of your favorite vendors? What other local markets do I need to begin checking out?

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Time to Partea

 

So for Pokemon Go Fest, kiddo I went adventuring around town and landed at a place that has been on our list to try for a while, Boba Partea. 

 

It's taken us so long to try this place because I do not like tea of any sort. However, after seeing some of their pastries on Instagram, I figured I could at least get a one of the strawberry shortcakes that look delicious. 

First impression was that this was one of the cutest places I've been to. They have an outside patio area that has wooden furniture and a cute little photo booth. Honestly, I felt like I was maybe dining at a fairy's house...don't judge me. Inside there was tons of art and it was a little overwhelming because I kept noticing cute little boba art that I missed looking at certain spots earlier. 

     

As far as the menu goes, instead of getting a cake, I got something better. The strawberry sweetheart smoothie, which tastes like a strawberry shortcake in liquid form. Kiddo got peach tea with cherry boba. We didn't get a strawberry shortcake, so obviously we have to go back 😉

Kiddo has already requested to go back, and since we didn't get any pastries, I think it's definitely something we need to do! Maybe we'll go this weekend when we're out and about for Pokemon Go Community Day! Or maybe our travels will lead us to discover another fun new to us gem. But before we left on this visit... of course we had to make sure we got in a little photo shoot!

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Baton Rouge Donut Trail - Part 4

 

The final two stops on the Donut Trail took us on a bit of a drive to Gonzales. It was a commitment as that was a significant round trip drive there and back to my house, so I had to try all donuts in the car before leaving. 

Daily Donut: This was the last stop for me on the tour. What I didn't realize going into this trip was that Daily Donut was a drive thru only. This put me at a disadvantage because I knew order panic was going to hit since I didn't have time to look around and make my selections. Also, you don't see a menu until you get up to the window to order, so I panicked as there was a line behind me. 

 

As I mentioned before, I reward myself for making the effort to bring back donuts for the family with donut holes to eat on the drive back. The first thing I noticed was that they had glazed donut holes, chocolate covered donut holes, and chocolate covered with sprinkles so obviously I went with the latter. I panicked and just did a half dozen glazed and a half dozen chocolate covered. 

While I was waiting for my order to be ready, I did get a chance to look at the menu. It was small, but had all of the standards that you come to expect from a donut place (cake donuts, jelly filled, cinnamon rolls, eclairs, kolaches, etc). 

For me, the donuts were a little more dense than I like. I'm also not a big fan of donuts that are glazed and then covered in chocolate. Did I like the donuts? Yes. Would I drive to Gonzales again just to get them? Probably not. 

Amazing Glaze: The reason that I've saved Amazing Glaze for last is because this was, by far, my favorite place on the list. (With Mikey's being a close second) We were overwhelmed by all of our options, and noticed some items that were unique compared to the other places on the list. 

Our assortment was pretty varied. We went with a regular donut with fun icing, a cinnamon roll that was huge, a berry Chantilly (that has some surprise berries inside!), a kolache who's name I can't remember but it had sausage, cream cheese and jalapenos, and a strawberry cream cheese filled donut. 

This one was our favorite mainly because of the large variety of donuts they had. Taste wise, they were on the lighter side which is my personal preference for donuts. 

While some stops on this list I would 100% go to again, and others that I won't necessarily make a trip just to eat at, I can't say that I had a bad donut at any of them. Some were just not my preference. I would eat any of these donuts if the ended up in my office or my house though. Have you tried any of these places? Are there other donut shops that you think should have made the list? Drop them in the comments!

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Baton Rouge Donut Trail - Part 3

 

We're starting the second half of our Louisiana Donut Trail and today we will discuss the last two stops are that are officially in Baton Rouge. (Our final two stops take us to Gonzales, and we'll check those out next post) 

 

District Donuts: I didn't get a picture of the sign for this one, so pictures of what we got will have to do. I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of their donuts. I did try one of their smores donuts and it was good, but as far as just their plain glaze donuts, I'm not really a fan. 

   

While I may not be a huge fan of their donuts, the cinnamon roll and this biscuit, totally here for! The cinnamon roll is crème bruled and the biscuit sandwich with the miso praline bacon and sunny side up egg 😍 I'll have to go back and try them for not breakfast too. 

Thee Heavenly Donut: I've had king cakes from here about 10+ years ago, but had never been for a donut. Kiddo immediately knew what she wanted (a strawberry glazed with sprinkles) and I settled on the banana creme donut, which was essentially banana pudding inside with some crushed vanilla waffers on top. 

  

However, it wasn't until we were already paying that we saw the sign for made to order beignets. 😍 My banana creme and my mom's chocolate covered immediately were relegated to dessert after lunch so we could enjoy an order of these gorgeous beignets. 

Are you a fan of District Donuts? Am I just crazy in thinking their donuts are just ok? Would you drop everything for an order of fresh made beignets? Let me know in the comments, and I'll see you next time for the last two stops on this trail, as we venture to Gonzales!

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Baton Rouge Donut Trail - Part 2

 

Part 2 of the Louisiana Donut Trail takes us to two places down Airline Highway in Baton Rouge. 

Good Morning Donuts: I've passed by this one plenty of times, but never during open hours because it's on a side of town that I don't drive to very often. I made the trip out here and the parking lot was packed and the drive thru line was almost to the road. 

 

I only got a dozen glazed donuts (and some donut holes that were chocolate covered with sprinkles for the ride home) and I really liked this a lot. They weren't too sweet, as some glazed donuts can get. 

 

Mikey's Donut King: Some would say these are the best glazed donuts in Baton Rouge, and they were pretty up there. I want to go back because they also had a full menu of super hearty breakfast options for a reasonable price. You can even get a porkchop and eggs for breakfast, how cool is that? 

Once again, the cinnamon roll was pretty large. I'm starting to believe that all donut places here try to make cinnamon rolls as big as possible. Can we make donuts super big too so I can eat just one? 😂

Next stop, two Baton Rouge donut places that I had heard plenty of people talk about, but hadn't been to. One I've had king cakes from ... about 10 years ago when someone brought it into the office, but I had never gone there myself or for donuts. So come back next week to hear all about those!

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Baton Rouge Donut Trail - Part 1

 

Ok, so I am very susceptible to suggestions when it is in relation to food. My dad found this article from Only In Your State on the Louisiana Donut Trail in Baton Rouge. Naturally, I had to make a point to eat from all 7 of these places. And while some took the effort of getting up and driving farther than I would like to get donuts, that only meant I HAD to eat one (or some donut holes) on the way back home with the spoils for the family to try. 

I'll break down each of these for you, so settle in for a series where I eat my way through some of the donuts of Baton Rouge. In full disclosure, I had NEVER been to any of these places until reading this article, so I guess it did what it was supposed to do. 

Fleur De Lis Donuts: The place where this all started! The reason that I even began this journey was because Fleur de Lis came highly recommended from one of my student workers. Not that I trust their opinion in food often, but this was one of the best, and he made a very bold claim. 

Per Chandler, this place has the best chocolate covered donuts in the city. Bold claims always need to be verified. It just so happened that I passed this place on my way from The Market at the Oasis to meeting kiddo at theatre classes this spring. I made a U-Turn to go back and check it out. 

Obviously, I had to get this chocolate covered donut and I have to say, if it isn't the best in the city than it is pretty dang close. The chocolate is richer than most chocolate glazes, but doesn't necessarily taste like a dark chocolate. It was really good, and after talking about it with the family, I was told I couldn't eat at any of the other places on this list without bringing them donuts back. 

So, to stay in the family's good graces, they've eaten at almost all of these places as well. And remind me I need to get them Fleur de Lis donuts now. 😐

Sambath Donuts: I've driven by this place so many times and it's always been when they are not open or I'm not in a lane that is optimal for a last minute turn to get some donuts. Sambath serves donuts by morning and Thai food by afternoon. I'm thinking I need to find that delicate balance where I can get both at the same time on my next trip. 

I went pretty easy on this one. Some donut holes for me to eat on the drive to the family, a chocolate covered for my mom, a strawberry glazed with sprinkles for kiddo, and a cinnamon roll for my dad. 

 

That's a pretty massive cinnamon roll. And I'm going to come clean ... I also got a kolache for myself. Because the donut holes are just the appetizer and the dessert for any good donut shop breakfast. 

Come back Friday for Part 2 of the Donut Trail Adventures!

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How The Cookie Crumbl(s)

I had seen the sign for Crumbl Cookies when I would go to Mooyah on Seigan for a while now, but had no clue what it was. All I knew was that it seemed to be a cookie company and I like cookies. I didn't research them too much, but saw more and more people I knew posting about them. 

What I learned was that they were huge on Tik Tok. As someone who is not hip enough to be on Tik Tok, this meant nothing to me. My friends who are hip enough to see them on Tik Tok, told me that they have a rotating menu weekly. That got me interested. I mean, obviously it's a ploy to take all my money since they have new options each week. But also I'm sure it keeps the workplace somewhat exciting since you get to make new stuff each week, but also a challenge to make sure the quality expectations are met. 

I've tried to go a couple of times before, but the line out the door quickly deterred me. I refuse to wait in line for about 99% of things you could name. At some point the popularity will die down and I'll try again. 

But then, my friend told me a great hack. Order on the app and ask to pick-up curbside. By the time I hit that I was in the parking lot, it was less than 10 minutes before I had cookies delivered to my door. 

SUCCESS!!! 

One reason it takes some time is that everything is made as you order it. So the cookies were piping hot when they got to my car. I did sample one before I got home though and it was so worth it. 

We only got 3 kinds to try (had to double up on one because it was the most popular in the family vote) We ranked them as follows: 

(1) Strawberries N' Cream: a chilled vanilla cake cookie topped with whipped cream and strawberries. Now, for those of you who know our family well, you're probably shocked this beat out the #2...but it was by a thin margin! This cookie tasted very light and was definitely a good cookie for summer. 

(2) Chocolate Cake: a chocolate cookie packed with chocolate chips and topped with a fudge icing. This one was SOOO GOOD! It was very rich though and definitely was easy to share. 

(3) Sea Salt Toffee: a classic cookie with swirls of toffee and chocolate chips. This one was good, but at times I felt as if I got hit with A LOT of sea salt. Now, I didn't stop eating it because of it, but it did cause me to pause. Maybe sea salt is more addicting once you get over the a strong bite of it 😉

Sea Salt Toffee, Chocolate Cake x 2, Strawberries N' Cream

I'm pretty sure I'll be waiting around for the next flavor drop just because that sea salt got me addicted. Have you been to Crumbl yet? If so, what flavors have you tried? 

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