missjunebug’s Find of the Week: Carrara Pastries in Moorpark, CA

Posted by missjunebug on July 28, 2012

A Carrara Pastries Croissant with an Italian Twist! Photo by mjb2012

missjunebug had some not so fun medical procedures this week that compromised her diet considerably. The first one (a PET/CT scan) cancelled all carbs and caffeine from her diet for more than a day. Arg. She quickly entered the sad realm of Headache City and no amount of protein or vegetable matter could make up for that profound lack of sweetness and starch and caffeination. missjunebug needs her caffeine and carbs!!!!

The next day she was back to a normal diet for 24 hours, then she had to go all clear liquids for 24 more hours to prepare for a lower GI series performed by a hospital radiologist that assured her the procedure would go by quickly.  This, of course, is a matter of perspective. missjunebug’s perspective was no quite so sanguine.

Ever had a baby? Now imagine that baby is traveling down that other canal. Arg x 10. TMI no doubt but to get back to the restricted diet, the interesting thing she realized was that it was tons easier to go all liquids because the beverages she drank had…wait for it…wait for it…caffeine and carbs! She rounded out her intake with some beef broth and chicken broth and those 24 hours just flew by. Clearly (pun intended!!!) missjunebug could never be a big fan of Atkins. But this is all prologue.

What missjunebug really wants to talk about is what she did to catch up on her carbs once the medical procedures were in her rear view (pun intended!!!). She headed over to that lovely, sleepy bedroom community of Moorpark, CA to scoop up some of the best Italian croissants on the planet at the recently opened Carrara Pastries.

This beauty of a bakery is full of delightful Italian pastries, cookies, and cakes, but missjunebug’s two favs are their light-as-air croissant, lightly glazed and their lightly powdered sugar croissant plumped up with the most luxurious and luscious Chantilly cream you have ever tasted. You can see the croissant in the photo above practically floating above missjunebug’s plate! That’s thanks to the meticulous execution of authentic Italian recipes by pastry chef Massimiliano Carrara, a native from the city of Lucca (Tuscany). To borrow a Brit word, he’s brilliant!

This pasticceria featuring homemade Italian desserts will not disappoint. You can find it right across the street from another Italian fav of missjunebug’s, Cafe Firenze. The next time you get a carb craving, check out Carrara Pastries at 476 West Los Angeles Ave, Unit A-13 in Moorpark or their delicious website at www.carrarapastries.com.

If you want more that one or two croissants be sure to get there early, around 9 or so, because these pastry perfections go fast! Or call 805-552-4250 the day before and let the pastry chefs know how many you’d like. Sadly, missjunebug had to learn this the hard way arriving one morning at 11 am, about two hours too late to enjoy authentic Italian croissants! Is there anything sadder than an empty display case where fresh croissants should be, but aren’t? missjunebug doesn’t think so!

Even their packaging is golden perfection. Just take a look!

Pretty Packaging Pleases missjunebug! Photo by mjb2012

Buon Appetito!!!

missjunebug Wonders: Why Are Weddings So Wonderful?

Posted by missjunebug on July 2, 2012

Lately missjunebug has been thinking about the wonder of weddings. And she’s come up with some ideas about why they’re so wonderful (Debbie Downer Alert!) despite the fact that many marriages fail and the longer the marriage the rougher the going).

Weddings are hopeful! They affirm the couple’s love and share the hope that this is the real thing! This one will last and flourish and defy the odds! Despite all the carnage and collateral damage of divorce evident everywhere in the culture, this couple this time will make it! And the guests believe in the shiny hope for the future the lovely bride and handsome groom represent! And missjunebug believes, too! Believe her when she says she believes!

Good weddings have toasts with champagne.

Better weddings have open bars.

The best weddings have both!

If the guests aren’t fully on board with the hope thing, they can toast away any slight misgivings and really enjoy themselves! This also makes getting out on the dance floor much, much easier which brings missjunebug to her next point.

Weddings are wonderful venues for dance floor shenanigans. missjunebug believes in the power of the cool dance move. The wedding guest just needs one good one which he or she executes over and over as the music plays. missjunebug recommends Running Man. It’s fun and zippy and a really good workout! Especially in heels!

Weddings are wonderful opportunities to reconnect with friends and relatives you haven’t seen in years and haven’t managed to keep in touch with except for the occasional Facebook poke (ack! Zuck! What were you thinking!?), giving you a chance to hone your small talk skills. missjunebug can never get enough small talk and she’s sure you feel the same, too.

Weddings (like plane crashes) come in threes. If you’ve received one wedding invitation, expect two more before the year is out. WonderFUN x 3! Then expect to spend your time trolling registries to get just the right present that hasn’t already been purchased, leaving you with items under 10 dollars or over 200 dollars. Or you can be a rebel and buy a non-registry item! Risky, but commendable.

Okay, missjunebug has had her fun poking fun at weddings! She’s actually in love with the wonder of weddings and wonders daily when ElderJB and TinyJB will have a wonderful one of their own. Cue: Deep Sigh.