CUPS is only 3 Star Green Certified Restaurant in San Diego County!

We just received notice that we have been certified as a 3 Star Green Certified Restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association (www.dinegreen.com) - its highest rating. This 3 Star status makes Cups the only 3 Star bakery in all of California, and the only 3 Star restaurant of any kind in all of San Diego County.

We worked very hard to achieve this status, and we are very proud to have obtained this highest level awarded to any restaurant in the country. As a restauranteur, it is neither easy nor inexpensive to secure this status; its positive impact, however, can't be quantified.

We are one of only 20 restaurants certified as 3 Star Green Certified Restaurants since the Green Restaurant Association began awarding this designation to green restaurants in 1990.

The Association looks at every aspect of a business, from the building materials used in the building or remodeling of the space, water and utility utilization, to the foods served and the containers they are served in.

We here at Cups are so honored to be part of such an environmental friendly assoication.

The Cups Team

"Back in the Saddle"

Enough travel for a while. Back to Cups, our bakery, our lounge, and now, our teaching kitchen and party room, Cups Culinary aka the "green room." THIS is the reason I opened Cups - to really share my passion for cooking and teaching with others. Just had the first few events here: 30 sorority sisters, 4-year-old princess party, bridal shower, baby shower, and next week - a Superman-themed deco party! Next step, classes for summer camp, and a full public class schedule. If you have thoughts or suggestions, e-mail me....

So you've probably seen some of the "not your mother's cupcake" shots here. Let me explain. When you say you make cupcakes, a lot of people come in with certain expectations, many of which are based on the box mix/canned frosting cupcakes of our youth and the contemporary grocery store equivalent. No disrespect intended - been there, eaten that! That's just not what we do.

I wanted to make varied, complex, often more dense, less sweet desserts - that happen to come in a cupcake form. We make dense, dark flourless Cups. Sugar-free Cups. Brioche and other yeast-dough Cups. Mixed sweet & savory Cups. Vegan, gluten-free....

SOOOOOO it became necessary to let people know what we do differently, so as to address head-on people's expectations. Love us, hate us, this is what you get. I can't imagine a single cupcake to please every palate - nor do I want to. One billion served to me doesn't say top quality, it says lowest common denominator. But let me get off my high horse (how easily I seem to get back in that saddle...).

Anyway, as I started this rant, am happy to be back at Cups, my new expansion of space inspiring my creative juices. So I will put down this computer and return to the kitchen, to eagerly play with some new concepts. So excited about the upcoming season - so much fresh fruit to incorporate into our Cups! Am harvesting a lot of chamomile from the garden right now, have been thinking this one through - love the idea of a sweet honey-vanilla chamomile Cup. Also picking a lot of fava beans, but not feeling that one yet. Planting my own vanilla and cinnamon plants (in a small greenhouse) but won't get much there for a while. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of the little blackberry buds starting to appear. Now this is the saddle I want to get back in....

Michelle Cicceralli Lerach
Founder


http://cupslj.com
mailto:info@cupslj.com

Cups Cupcakery and Lounge

Cups Lounge

Ever heard of organic decadence? Well, you have now. Introducing Cups Lounge, the all-new, all-natural cupcakery in the heart of downtown La Jolla, and the only organic cupcakery in all of San Diego. Every day of the week, we create ten flavors of pure cupcake enjoyment, from among more than fifty total flavor varieties we offer. Each is joyfully baked fresh in-house every morning with loving care, and using only the best local, organic, sustainable ingredients.

Kick back and relax in our retro-modern lounge, hook up to the free WiFi, and enjoy your Cup with our house specialty, fresh strawberry milk on tap or one of the many offerings from our traditional coffee bar where we pull “ristretto” style espresso shots. While you're at it, why not sample our newest creation, FrostNips, a delectable blend of butter cake and frosting, rolled and hand dipped in chocolate.

Stop by soon. All-natural and organic have never been so deliciously indulgent.

The Cups Team

"Not Your Mother's Cupcake of the Week"

What do we mean by "Not Your Mother's Cupcake"? Let me explain. When you say you make cupcakes, a lot of people come in with certain expectations, many of which are based on the box mix/canned frosting cupcakes of our youth and the contemporary grocery store equivalent. No disrespect intended - been there, eaten that! That's just not what we do. Enjoy!
~ Michelle

"Not You Mother's Cupcake" of the Week

THANKS!!!

So much to talk about...so much has happened since my post about the "cake balls" - since named FrostNips. Which, by the way, are available for order now at Cups for Valentine's Day ($25 for a mixed dozen in a cute heart-shaped box!). Ok, that's it for plugs...!

So really want to thank everyone who came out for our big Grand Opening celebration on January 30. WOW! To say we were happy about the turnout is to put it mildly. The only regret I have is that so many people had to wait in line for soooo long. We tried to shut down the street to bring the party outside but were denied, so we had no choice but to manage the number of people in the space at any one time. Anyway, our crew responded by bringing lots of yummy Cups and FrostNips outside to the patiently waiting. Hope everyone was happy. I know I was. Loved that there were lots of kids decorating cupcakes (check out my facebook or 944.com to see full array of pics), people enjoying the savory delights of Authentic Flavors (I can't say how many of the vegan portobella sliders I ate!), and the cool mocktails of the geniuses at Snake Oil Beverages (even though they sent their PR guy in to "bartend" - u were awesome Mike, don't take any *&%%## from the "couch people"!). The party was so awesome the cops came - only to be sent away, Cups in hand, "nothing to see here" ...except people having a great time - all without alcohol. Check out the article at sdentertainer.com ("Cuckoo for Cupcakes") to get more info.

And this on the heels of our successful return from Sundance, where we were the exclusive sweets provider for the Luxury Lounge, nestled in between Harry O's and ChefDance on Main Street in Park City, UT. Got to premiere our FrostNips there, along with some of the more exotic Cups flavors. Made a lot of friends, garnered some new Cups fans - especially my pal Louis Lombardi (Sopranos, Entourage) - who came by every day for a box of to-go PB Cups. Come and see me in LJ Louis...!

So now it's back to work, Valentine's Day right around the corner..., and most exciting news of the moment - the Cups Culinary School should (I say should because I've been promised, but have heard that before...construction anyone!!) be open at the end of the this month! We will start baking and decorating classes as of March - and I can't wait. We will also have private b-day parties and karaoke-fests in the private space (for those not interested in "sharing" their vocal talent with the Sunday Cups Lounge ).

And, I'll be writing a new foodie column for the San Diego Businesss Woman Magazine, beginning later this month, called "LifeSavor." I guess I could post that here too...

new Cups bite-sized treats

So excited about our latest creation, a yummy bite-sized confection of cake, frosting and chocolate - like cupcake meets truffle. Our awesome bakers created them last week and we offered them to customers (those that were left after staff devoured them, that is) and they hardly lasted an hour! So we set them on the counter and asked for suggested names - got some interesting ones too! Still contemplating the right name for these little bite-sized marvels, but if you're lucky, you'll stop by at the right time to get a sample, and maybe even suggest a keeper of a name (free goodies to the winner). These are coming out in time for Valentine's Day, in a perfect pink heart-shaped box. Would have posted a picture, but didn't last long enough. Next time....