Candace Nelson
Candace Nelson is the founder and pastry chef of Sprinkles Cupcakes, the world’s first cupcake bakery. Started in Beverly Hills in 2005, Sprinkles featured Candace’s sophisticated take on the classic American cupcake and became an overnight bakery sensation. Candace’s cupcakes inspire long lines of devoted fans as well as accolades from Oprah Winfrey, Blake Lively, Katie Holmes, Ryan Seacrest, and Barbra Streisand. Today, Sprinkles has eight locations across the U.S. and a traveling Sprinklesmobile, sells its cupcake mixes at Williams-Sonoma stores in the U.S. and Canada, and has inspired a worldwide cupcake-bakery phenomenon. Candace is a judge on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars and has been a contributor to The Best Thing I Ever Ate, as well as a judge on Bobby Flay’s Cupcake Throwdown.
For the ultimate refreshing dessert, look no further than this creation from a Bon Appétit “Tastemaker of the Year.”
Lemon Meringue Cake by Nigella Lawson
Lemon and meringue are the perfect flavor combination for summer. Nigella brilliantly translates this beloved flavor combination, usually seen in pie form, into cake form. Yum!
Don’t mess with Texas—it has the Mexican dining scene down to a seriously delicious science.
Texas cuisine at its very best. Robert Del Grande’s Southwestern-inspired cooking is addictively delicious. Wash down rabbit enchiladas in mole with exquisite margaritas in the hippest setting in Houston.
If you can’t make it out to the actual bakery, this guide will help you do your best at recreating the wondrous treats.
I’ve been making pilgrimages to this very special bakery in San Francisco since it first opened. The parking is nonexistent, so I go with my sweet husband, who is always willing to circle the block while I wait in line for the incredible croissants. Its cookbook captures perfectly the artisanal nature of its gorgeous baked goods and inspires me to open the pantry time and again.
Food Destination
Where grungy meets gourmet, and you leave happily stuffed.
Lower East Side, New York City
This neighborhood has been foodie ground zero for me since I first ate at Momofuku Noodle Bar. With the addition of David Chang’s Ssam and Milk Bar, as well as my discovery of Clinton Street Baking Company, Doughnut Plant, Falai, and Frankie’s Spuntino, I can’t seem to leave this neighborhood on my trips to New York City.
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