My thoughts on Pazo's Cupcakes & Cocktails menu
My nightlife column in today's paper was about how some restaurants are offering new specials to cater to the lounge set.
I lumped together Pazo's new Cupcakes & Cocktails menu with Lebanese Taverna's late night happy hour and Phillips Harborplace's new lounge.
Originally, I had called one of the cupcakes "divine," but Editor Tim saved me from myself. He did, however, allow me to call another cupcake "studly." Granted, I said it was more like a muffin than a cupcake. Get it? Stud muffin?
Yeah, I know, I'm a dork ...
To do the review, I went to Pazo by myself, nabbed a bar seat and proceeded to order two (2) cupcakes and two (2) cocktails at once. The bartender was a bit taken aback, but obliged me. She brought the cocktails first, and then the cupcakes.
It felt a little weird sitting at the bar, stuffing my face with fancy cupcakes, but hey, ya gotta do whatcha gotta do. I ate half of each cupcake, drank half of each cocktail and scurried off to see Cage the Elephant at the 9:30 Club.
The whole ordeal reminded me of the time Amie and I reviewed Fleming's for the Baltimore Sun's (now defunct) Dining Guide. Each of us had to order an appetizer, entree, drink and dessert. The portions were huge, and we came nowhere close to eating it all (I think we took it home).
I felt like such a stereotypical American when I insisted on ordering two desserts, though I'd only eaten half my steak. The bottom line is, when duty calls, Sam Sessa picks up the phone. Burp.
(Pictured is the Sweet Corn Cupcake paired with White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Martini. Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
This place sounds extremely yummy. I must stop by sometime soon.
Posted by: Paulettew | March 5, 2010 9:38 AM
Lol... This being Baltimore, they should make a Divine themed cupcake. You know... THAT Divine.
Might taste like a fresh dog biscuit though.
Posted by: The Baltimore Chop | March 5, 2010 11:46 AM
This isn't about Pazo or cupcakes at all, but about service, in general. Basically, what's the deal with Golden West, in Hampden? Are the bartenders really so consciously bent on being rude and condescending? I suspect that GW isn't the only place that does this. What's this change in the server-patron dynamic all about?
Posted by: Calvert | March 5, 2010 1:32 PM
Um, what?
Posted by: Sam Sessa | March 5, 2010 2:19 PM
Calvert,
May I refer you to the Dining@Large blog? (a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2009/05/golden_west_takes_the_eat_in_s.html">This entry may pique your interest.
Posted by: TheBeav | March 5, 2010 2:32 PM