The Cinnamon Snail Continues to Prepare Impeccable Food; I Continue to Eat It

Visiting the Cinnamon Snail at the Red Bank Farmer's Market is one of our favorite day trips.

yes; this sandwich is smiling at you

Generally open from Mother's Day through fall, it's a medium-sized market with a relatively impressive assortment of fruits, veggies, plants (the non-edible kind...well, edible ones too), and assorted crafts.

purple heart (thanks for the info, GPBS!)

If you haven't been, it's a really nice way to enjoy the Snail away from the hub-bub of the city.

We usually do an inaugural walk through the market to pretend like we didn't only come to eat, and then we get on the Snail line because we basically did.  There, on this day, I met a kind man named Odie (sp?) who told me he was local to the area and a new vegan.  He could not have been in a better spot, amirite?

Snail crowd

I'll admit VM's heart broke a little when she realized her fave portabello carpaccio was missing from the new menu.  Defeated, she instead went all breakfast on me, for which I was not prepared, and ordered the blue corn pancakes: with pine nut butter and Vermont maple syrup.  This was completely unexpected, as I generally like us to be in sync with our sweet vs. savory!

Of course they were so delicious: thick, hardy, and all fancied up with their pine nut butter swag that they made her forget about the sammie for the time being (until later in the day when she implored Chef Adam to bring it back).  I may or may not have gobbled up some (alot) of her pancakes; they were insanely awesome and I don't know how or why I've never ordered them before.  Definitely put them on your must-try list from the Snail.  I can tell you from experience that Snail pancakes are even great the next day.

I was all set to order the gochujang burger deluxe for myself, but the seasonal menu changes took me by surprise as well- however contrarily.  My heart actually grew three sizes when I spied a new menu item (that may or may not have kicked the portabello carpaccio off- eek!): Thai BBQ tempeh: with pickled onions and Thai basil, arugula, smoked chili roasted peanuts, and sriracha mayo on grilled spelt bread that is right up my alley.  So much deliciousness in one place!  The contrasts of textures and flavors and all things culinary that my tastebuds appreciate more than my brain understands: this sandwich deserves a standing ovation; I'm already plotting the consumption of another (at the Vegan Shop-Up perhaps?).

I admit that I did try to sub a baguette, but Chef Adam convinced me to give the new, gluten-free bread a whirl (update: not to be confused with the spelt bread).  As you probably know, I generally reserve my gluten-free eating to select places, but I've got to admit that the man was right; it tasted mighty fine.

 

You might not know this about me, but I love me some toast (someone should make that scent into a perfume); the more old-school the better.  Had I not known, I never would have considered that this grilled bread was gluten-free.

Since we I cleaned both of our plates....let there be donuts!

Cherry chocolate cheesecake pretzel panty? party (I'm making an executive decision and going with party:

This kind of flavor-packed donut is just one of the Snail's many specialties (see the chocolate peanut butter cookie dough and chocolate cherry brownie donuts for more insight): vanilla donut with (presumably sustainably and ethically sourced zebra) chocolate and vanilla glaze, dark cherries, cheesecake cream, and chocolate-covered pretzels.

Also, VM's favorites: the traditional apple cider doughnut and the brown sugar beer-glazed.

And then...

What?  Chocolate Ice Cream Doughnuts!  Need I remind you how much VM and I like ice cream cones?  A lot!  This donut is just begging for a scoop of drumstick ice cream accompaniment.

For the record, we didn't eat everything right there and then; we took a bunch home in the Snail pail to get us through the week.

The Cinnamon Snail is always adding new items and specials to their amazing and incomparable repertoire of food, drink, and dessert.  If you haven't experienced their food yet, I respectfully urge you to get a move on; what are you waiting for?  In addition to their impeccable flavor combinations and unmatched service, what also remains consistent is their extreme dedication to fostering compassion. Thank you, Snail; we heart you for all that you do.

VEGAN LONDON: Cookies and Scream

I've been blogging my trip to London in chronological order, but I have to admit that I've been delaying this Cookies and Scream post because I've been consciously trying to forget that they exist; the temptation is too great.  Cookies and Scream is a vegan (we knew that going in) and gluten-free (we didn't know that going in) bakery that offers an incredible array of decadent sweets that are too good to believe.  Like them on Facebook to get an idea of what they have on offer from day to day, but I warn you: it will be sweet torture.

C&S is located within the Camden Lock Market, a large indoor/outdoor, both-sides-of-the-street, arts and crafts (also crap) market.

I was more than a little anxious at the prospect of finding Cookies and Scream amidst the chaos, but my traveling companion has a significantly superior sense of direction than I.

that's my kind of bar

Ta da!!

Loves it.

I had no idea that the options were going to be this vast and impressive.  The gals who were working could not have been friendlier with us or more patient with me and my ogling.  It was fabulous to have the opportunity to enjoy such spectacular baked goods while watching them create more right before our eyes.  If I lived in London, I dare say one of those stools would have a permanent imprint from my butt.

How I wished I wasn't freezing; I'm sure these scream shakes are amazing.

My friend chose the mosh! brownie: mint and chocolate.  You'll notice it says right there on the sign "try warm with cream mmm," but he didn't!

He did, thankfully, at least agree to have the brownie warmed.  Holy moly it was ridiculous.  I don't generally like brownies and I rarely like mint chocolate, but this?  This was a different galaxy of both.  OUTSTANDING.

It's no surprise that I immediately gravitated towards the chico pie: "peanut butter pie with chocolate chips- yum warmed with cream."  And I followed the directions!

This.  Cake.  Was.  Wow.  You well know that I reserve my gluten-free baking love for Gone Pie in America.  In England it's Cookies & Scream all the way.  You'd never know it was vegan and you'd never know it was gluten-free; I hope the two bakers meet one day; in the meantime, I'll continue to feed my face on both sides of the pond.

peep my pin

I'm getting full just thinking about it.  First of all, my piece was gigantic.  Second, it was warmed to just the right temperature so that the chips melted at the slightest fork pressure while the ice cream resisted.  Third, I would buy these by the whole pie if I were closer.  Stunning accomplishment; really. 

Would you believe it was so rich that I had to order a tea because a hot chocolate would have put me over the edge?  That's rich.  I chose chamomile and they seemed very proud to serve teapigs, so I'll plug 'em here.

I'm sorry to have to tell you that with a full day ahead of us; no fridge in our overly-heated hotel room; and three more days of vacation, I was not in a position to buy out the shop and call it a day.  I did, however, manage to buy a wookie to take home to my parents.  And, I may have tasted it along with them- upon my return, just to make sure that it was still okay.

It was more than okay; it was a cross between a baked good and a candy bar and it was PHENOMENAL.  Chewy wookie bar: double choc-chip, raisins, whole hazelnuts, thick chocolate; it survived without incident and was as amazing as the other things I'd tried, but in a completely different way.  In fact, the same can be said for everything I tasted from Cookies and Scream: original and outstanding.

this is the best photo I can take after an 8 hour flight

One more thing.  My friend bought one of the recommended Scream Sandwiches: two choc chip cookies sandwiched together with coconut and vanilla frosting to go...and I did not.  I don't really like frosting;  and, even though it was explained to us that the frosting inside tasted like ice cream, I did not believe that such magic could be true.  There are some mistakes in life that you cannot undo; this was one of those mistakes. Thankfully, being the good friend that he is, he allowed me to have a taste.  It turned out that the bakery-soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies did, indeed, sandwich "frosting" that managed to- inexplicably, taste like ice cream.  Believe me when I tell you: run, don't walk to buy a dozen of these if you can.

It is not an exaggeration to say that it is worth the trip to London just for Cookies & Scream.  I sometimes have to block them from my social media feeds because the things they are describing sound way too good and they are much too far away.

 

If you go to the Camden London Market for nothing else, go for Cookies and Scream.  And PLEASE bring me back one of everything.  In the meantime: Cookies and Scream, would you consider delivery? 

London Tip: When you get off the tube, you'll pass tented areas that say "Camden Market;" this is not what you're looking for; keep moving down the street!