If you don't mind sharing:

a) how you did it
b) where in San Francisco the cheesecakes are from

Just curious. :p

Well a couple of friends tried it before I did initially in January so I learned from their experiences. One of my friends was a crew member with SIA so she had the luxury of storing in a cold storage unit onboard. Sailaway75 didn't have such good luck from what he told me. Probably the fact that he tried to transport the cakes that weren't travel friendly might have been a factor.

Anyhow, the cheesecakes I've transported were from Cheesecake Factory. The ones I've been able to transport without issue included the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake (7"), Original (7"), and Kahlua Cocoa Coffee Cheesecake (10"). The cheesecakes when purchased were all supposedly frozen from what I've been told. Before leaving, I've created large icepacks at work using some plastic bags that are used to store sauces. I double seal the open side to prevent leaking. Prior to getting to the airport I just set the cheesecake boxes on top of the solid ice pack. When I get to the airport I'll usually head to the lounge. When at SFO i usually head to the SKL where they've been more than gracious enough to store the cakes and ice pack in a freezer while I'm in the lounge. When onboard I've asked them to see if it would be possible to store the cakes. I believe it's against policy to store any passenger food in the compartments but YMMV. The first time I transported the cheesecakes I had the Godiva and Kahlua ones. When I asked initially to store the cakes I was told there was no room, but wasn't surprised about the response. During the announcements I recognized the purser from a previous flight I had taken. I went to see the purser and asked if they had room to store them and the purser was able to store the Godiva one for me. The Kahlua coffee one was too big for the compartment. Anyhow I just left it in my bag with the icepack underneath it for the flight from SFO-SIN. On the second sector I didn't bother asking as they were still pretty cold. For the Godiva one I stored it in the sidebin and the Kahlua one stayed in the bag as it was too big for the sidebin also. As I stayed in the SKL SIN upon arrival overnight I asked if they could store them in a freezer for me while I slept. They didn't object. Both cakes made it to SIN in one piece ^

From my experience on the first flight, when I brought cheesecake back to SIN a couple weeks ago I stuck with the smaller ones (7") since I knew they fit in the cold units should I be able to store them. This time I had a Godiva Chocolate and Original Cheesecake. I made ice packs the night before and upon arrival at SFO asked in the SKL if they would store for me. Again no problems :) As I boarded the plane much to my surprise I saw the same purser! Ironically I've had the same purser on 3 consecutive flights to Asia. I told the purser I had cakes and was told there should be room upstairs :) Upon getting to my seat I asked if they could store these for me and there were no issues ^. This time upon arrival I stayed at the LM Changi Village so I asked them to store the cakes in a freezer which they had no issues with doing. The following evening I moved to the Sheraton and they did the same for me there. They held the cakes for me until my friends were able to pick them up. Once again the cakes made it in one piece ^

I guess if you do want to try this the best cakes to do this with are the ones that are solid/dense and don't have much whip cream. I know this will eliminate many from being transported on a long flight, but maybe with other measures you might have more luck with the cakes that have more whipped cream or soft centers.

As my friends know I can transport the cakes withouth issue, I guess they kind of expect to get one when I'm visiting from the states. Thank goodness the TSA at the internatonal gates isn't as strict as those on the domestic side where they really enforce the 2 piece carry-on limit as I'll usually have rollerboard, Tumi tote/computer bag, and the cheesecakes in a shopping bag.

Okay, I just want to say that I can't believe there have been dozens of opinions regarding transporting cupcakes, yet no one on FT can tell me when they think Jet Blue will load their next fares....

:)

One my last fun trip to Manhattan, my friend and I hit a few of the popular cupcake bakeries. Magnolia was our hands down favorite. But Cupcake was the worst. Not just the worst of the trip, but the worst cupcake I've had in years. (And I'll eat a grocery store cupcake with crisco icing if I'm really jonesing for a cupcake and have no other source!)

When you say they can be stale, you're not kidding. We went to their location at 18 W. 18th (which is attached to a great bookstore that specializes in children's books). The cupcake was refrigerated, which sort of masked the fact that it was stale, but instead made it hard as a rock. The icing was buttery, and not very sweet, and, since it was cold, it tasted like hard butter. I love chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream, which is what I bought, and I ended up throwing it out. Absolutely disgusting. But the icing flowers looked pretty!

If anyone is looking for cupcake recommendations in Chicago, I'm happy to share! Here are my recommended placed in Chicago:

I love Sensational Bites (3751 N Southport Ave), which does chocolate and yellow cupcakes with vanilla buttercream or chocolate buttercream. They also do a handful of specialty cupcakes...carrot cake, chocolate with peanut butter icing, banana with ??? icing, etc. Delicious, moist, a lot of icing and reasonably priced (about $1.35 for the basic flavors). These are all "normal sized" cupcakes. A lot of other great baked goods and coffees at this bakery!

Southport Grocery & Cafe at 3552 N Southport Ave. makes very good oversized cupcakes with buttercream frosting. I haven't bought cupcakes from their recently. I know for sure they do vanilla buttercream, not sure about chocolate. I can't remember if they do chocolate cupcakes, yellow cupcakes or both. No specialty cupcakes as I recall. These cost about $3 I think. This is also a cafe, with some gourmet grocery items for sale.

Both Sensational Bites and Southport Grocery are within walking distance of Wrigley Field.

Sweet Mandy B's (1208 W Webster Ave) makes yellow and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles. These used to be my favorite, but I think they've gone downhill recently. (It's my understanding that some of the people behind Sensational Bites used to work at Sweet Mandy B's, so I'm not sure if there's a cause and effect related to its decline...). They sell a couple specialty cupcakes, too. All cupcakes are normal size. Their regular cupcakes sell for about $1.50. They have other baked items, too. (Sweet Mandy B's is in west side of the Lincoln Park neighborhood. If you're near DePaul University, you're nearby.)

Fox & Obel (corner of McClurg & Illinois) sells oversized cupcakes including my favorite, red velvet with vanilla buttercream. Very yummy. It costs about $3 or $4. This is a full-sized gourmet grocery store and cafe. If you're like me and enjoy visiting grocery stores when you travel, F&O is worth a visit. It's on your way to Navy Pier, and the cafe, which can be pricy, has some terrific items (including cupcakes). Be forewarned, it might be the most expensive cafeteria line you'll ever go through. (I like their lobster club, so it adds up for me.) The grocery store usually has samples out, so you can make a mini-meal out of it while buying a couple items, too!

Any cupcake recommendations for either SNA or around the Financial district of SFO (you all have me hungry now for good cupcakes and those are my next two destinations)

In SFO, I would go for Miette, which is located in the Ferry Building. They are closed Sunday/Monday. Cupcakes are $3 each.

http://www.miettecakes.com/

Ironically there was a section on cupcakes in the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this week.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...sn=001&sc=1000

GREAT article. Thanks

Somewhat surprisingly, some of the best cupcakes in the Bay Area are in Berkeley, Emeryville and Walnut Creek (or only for catering). In the city try Delessio Market & Bakery at 1695 Market St.

For anyone who has time to bake and want to try some unusual flavors, this is a pretty cool blog. She has recipes for martini cupcakes, Samoa cupcakes, you name it. http://chockylit.blogspot.com/

Are any of these near the financial district? This will be my first trip to SFO so dont know much of the city well

Took your advice, just had a Miette cupcake (ok 2). I loved the cupcake, not sure about the frosting so much!!!!

A little OT, but amusing anyway: many years back a friend's father was a pilot for UA. One time he was non-rev deadheading back from SFP-ORD, and my friend and his sister gave him a package to take to their mother. A sack with several pounds of authentic San Francisco sourdough starter. He didn't understand cooking chemistry, but they'd told him it was very important and she wanted it very much.

so, half way to ORD the dough started rising... and rising... and rising... and rising... and he keeps trying to squeeze it down, cover it, make sure no one notices...

hairpeace, did you try Babycakes? Walked by it this afternoon, but had just had a piece of cake elsewhere, so didn't think I should have anymore, even if they are vegan/gluten-free, etc.

Yes, I did. They're very good. ^

So I did finally try Babycakes--I thought they were fine (which is saying something given that they're vegan, wheat/gluten-free etc. etc.) but don't really feel a need to go back for more. However, I will recommend them to my friends with a celiac son who are moving here shortly.

A friend was raving recently about Billy's carrotcake cupcake, so I may have to try that next.

I saw these mentioned in Time Out NY and thought of this thread:

Cup-a-cake at the Container Store

:)