A few years ago, someone turned me on to a little bakery specializing in cupcakes. Located in a little “mall” in the Gourmet Ghetto district of Berkeley, and now a short two block walk from my house, this place cranks out amazing mini cakes in all sorts of flavors, always perfectly moist, never stale, perfect frosting (usually buttercream).

A few days ago, I took my roomate (who, living two blocks away for a year, had never been) to Love At First Bite (yes, aptly named). I recommended my favorites and we headed home to have a cupcake before heading out to fly kites at the Berkeley Marina, and we planned to have another around dinner time. We bought Pretty in Pink, fresh strawberry; Red Velvet–50′s cocoa cake with cream cheese icing, and Peanut Butter Cup, a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter icing and a quarter reese’s on top.

Some of my other favorites include the Matcha (green tea), but I liked it better when it had the fluffy piped icing instead of the flat, denser icing, and at one point (though I haven’t seen it in a while) they had one called True Love which was different from another chocolate one in that it was like a moist, dense, milk chocolate with buttercream icing in vanilla or chocolate.

At any rate, this place is worth a trip, and though we can’t call it cheap (though for some perspective, the worst cupcake of my life was at the famed Citizen Cupcake in San Francisco, and cost almost 100% more than these), let’s admit it: cupcakes are a lot of work, and we just can’t make them like this at home. I use to come in from Oakland (though I’d come much farther with other excuses to be in the area) just jones’n for a cupcake, and you will too, once you’ve had one.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a small chain called The Cheesesteak Shop (you can find locations, menus, history and more on their website). I’ve been going (primarily) to the location on University Ave in Berkeley for a little over a year–a stop a previous boyfriend and I would make on our way back from the Berkeley marina, from some kite flying, or after a hike.

I’ve only ever had the “twister fries” (think home-made seasoned curly fries, greasy and crispy in just the right proportions), and the original cheesesteak–the first one on the menu, though they have a variety of others (with mushrooms, in Italian style, etc). But I tell you, you’ll never be so satisfied.

Carmelized onions, sweet and hot peppers, a soft bun with some cornmeal on the bottom, cheesy goodness and super hot, super fresh meat. And, cheap.

A few days ago, I moved to a great location in Berkeley, between downtown & the “gourmet ghetto.” Since then, I have been gleefully enjoying my neighborhood–one I was previously familiar with, but always drove in to, hasseled with parking, and felt like a visitor in. After just three nights here, it feels like home.

In the mornings I have enjoyed walking either a block or several to various different coffee shops for my morning espresso and (sometimes) croissant. I’m on a mission to find the best one; on lazy days (I’ve had a few since graduating this past Saturday from college, while working only about 25 hours a week right now–know somewhere I could be employed full time?) I stumble two and a half blocks down my VERY street to a wonderful cupcakery (which I will write about seperately tomorrow or the next day), walk with my ipod to a nearby gourmet grocery, to various Indian, Thai, French, Spanish, Japanese restaurants, to the famous Chez Panisse, to the famous Cheeseboard Collective where I bought two delicious flavored rolls this morning for my lunch and dinner endeavors–I am still unpacking or I would have taken photos of all these trips, of my cooking lately.

Some of you may know my last living situation was less than stellar. The crazed, rude, and frankly dumb girls I shared a kitchen with made it completely inhabitable with both their filth and their unpleasant, constant, tv-blaring presence. I am so relieved to have sane roomates and a big, cooking-friendly kitchen that you’ll be seeing a lot more of me in coming days.

Best of all I’ve been able to walk to several of my friends’ houses, been able to walk to meet them at one of my favorite dancing spots (a pleasant urban 12 minute walk from home, and 15 minute drunken stupor back), my favorite east-bay pizzaria, and a variety of other high quality businesses that encourage socialization.

Though my existence as BROKE is impending, it’s a happy, happy time.