I know fall and October are all about pumpkin-ing everything, but for me it’s the scent of spices that speak of grey skies, cooling weather and holiday season to me. Example #1: This pistachio-cardamom cake from a couple weeks ago. Example #2: This cinnamon roll pound cake – or mini cake, to be exact, that […]...
Happy October! Halloween Chocolate Lollipops
Happy last day of September! Yes, we’re a week into fall but I know what the beginning of October really means – Halloween! You can see from these Halloween chocolate lollipops we’ve already gotten a start on making some treats! Candy-making at trick or treat time used to be more of a chance to exercise my […]...
{Cookbook Review}: Sugar and Spice and a Pistachio and Chocolate Cake
Pineapple Buns (Bolo Bao): A Hong Kong classic
Do you have your standard “test” item when you visit a new restaurant or bakery? Whenever I check out a new bakeshop, I like to try out their croissants – and their tarts. If I love their puff pastry and their tart crust, I’m sure to make a return visit. Chinese bakeries have a different standard repertoire; I usually […]...
Guava Mango Passion Fruit Cake
Summer’s coming to an end and alas I didn’t get my tropical vacation this year. I have a couple of other small trips coming up that prevented us from adding in a Hawaii getaway. Maybe that’s why I found myself craving something sweet and fruity and faintly exotic, that could make me feel like I’d […]...
{Food Events}:Sacramento Farm to Fork Preview Dinner
Here in the Bay Area, San Francisco is considered the epicenter of the food scene, with the neighboring East Bay and South Bay sitting in its shadow. Sacramento, an hour north of San Francisco, often falls below the radar as well. It’s traditionally thought of as California’s capital, but in fact Sacramento encompasses 1.5 million acres of farmland, […]...
Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, daughter, and dog Max. 
