I'm Biggie: avid cook, speedy lunch packer, mom in San Francisco, & former expat fluent in Japanese. 
Packing cupcakes and BlogHer ‘08
This weekend I was wracking my brain trying to come up with a way to make a write-up of the 2008 BlogHer blogging conference relevant to packed lunches, and it finally came together on the last day. After the food blogger meet-up lunch on Sunday (photos below), I went shopping with Amy of Cooking with Amy at a nearby Sur la Table, where I picked up a Cup-A-Cake cupcake holder
I recently recommended this to a mom at Bug’s preschool whose son is allergic to basically everything (eggs, wheat, soy, dairy, peanuts, etc.) as a way to send along a special treat to the kids’ parties, so they don’t feel bad about being the only one not eating birthday cake or cupcakes. I’m sure parents of food-allergic kids already know the trick of making and freezing a batch of unfrosted cupcakes to pull out one at a time for just this sort of thing, but packing a frosted cupcake so that the decorations don’t get stuck to the lid or plastic wrap is a sticky problem. I picked up the Cup-a-Cake for US$3 at Sur la Table, but have also seen them at Williams Sonoma, Amazon, and other stores in different colors. The company’s website has online sales as well as a retail store locator along the lines of my Bento Store Locator. Do you have a clever way of sending along a single cupcake? Let us know in comments! (Disclaimer: I have no commercial affiliations with Cup-A-Cake.)
Above is a photo of some whimsical Sesame Street cupcakes that were at the Sesame Street sponsor room at the conference. Impressive! I thought about taking one home for Bug, but hadn’t yet bought the Cup-A-Cake holder so I passed. (Read on for my full BlogHer conference round-up with photos.)
I was invited to a lunch with celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, where he managed to charm and engage the audience while flacking for Bertolli pasta sauce. The pasta sauces tasted fine, but weren’t particularly remarkable. I’d doctor them with freshly sauteed vegetables to serve with pasta, or use as a base ingredient when cooking something else to speed things up. People at the lunch were given his new cookbook Rocco’s Real-Life Recipes
Other personal highlights of the conference included:
- The food blogger Birds of a Feather session on the first morning, allowing us all to put faces to names right away and then seek each other out over the next few days of the conference. I was surprised that people beyond the bento crowd were familiar with Lunch in a Box. Kudos to Kalyn of Kalyn’s Kitchen for running the session, neatly reining in the PR folks who tried to use the roundtable introduction time to give an extended product and service pitch instead of the 10-word food blog description we were given as “homework.”
- Meeting Elise from Simply Recipes, who gave an outstanding presentation on building blog traffic that was worth the price of admission. Elise also recently launched the a standalone site for the Food Blog Search tool powered by Google Custom Search, with over 2000 food blogs. Plug your search term into the box and get results only from food blogs, not from corporate websites or other random sources. There are instructions at www.FoodBlogSearch.com on how to get your food blog included. Great idea, and thanks for the mug, Elise!
- Unrelated to food and blogging, but as a Bigfoot Woman (hence the “Biggie” nickname) I experienced a kind of nirvana at the Macy’s party when the store folks responded to my question about big shoes by ushering me into the back storeroom to the wall of size 11’s and assigning a personal salesperson. Honestly, it’s no fun looking at cute tiny shoes on display when you have to assume nothing’s available in your size. To share the wealth, I went around the party approaching all the tall women and asking if they’d like to join my expedition to the wall of 11’s in the back. Six of us including Rhi, Wifey, and Mocha Momma wound up having our own private party in the storeroom, walking out with eight pairs of cute shoes between us. This was the first time I’d ever been shoe shopping with other Bigfoot Women besides my sister. Yay!
- And of course, there was the more leisurely San Francisco food blogger meet-up organized by Amy and Kalyn. This was a relaxed ending to the weekend, and I came out feeling part of a larger food blogger community. Interesting group of people there; in addition to the folks pictured below, I was also tickled to meet Claire of Cookthink, Anna from Cookie Madness, Simona of Briciole, and Christine from Christine Cooks. At the conference itself, it was great to meet Gwendomama of Gwendobento, Lydia of The Perfect Pantry, Janice of Meal Makeover Moms, and Shuna of Eggbeater, who was in this week’s New York Times Magazine article about raspberry flummery.
Left to right, here’s Gudrun of Kitchen Gadget Girl, Kristin of Offbeat Eating, and Kalyn (benevolent matriarch of the food blogger community). I think some people at the conference mistook Gudrun and me for one another — I got some comments referencing conversations I’d never had. Hey, another tall Gadget Girl!
The local SF blogger contingent included Amy of Cooking with Amy, Sam of Becks & Posh, Jen of Life Begins at 30, (see her interesting post on whether eating locally is possible with ethnic food) and Sean of Hedonia. I wound up at a lot of the same conference sessions as Amy, who provided amusing commentary throughout. 
Last but not least are Lynda of Taste Food, Ed of Is it EDible?, Susan of Food Blogga, Chuck of Sunday Nite Dinner and Food Gawker, and a fabulously anonymous couple behind Bunrab.
Other food blog write-ups of BlogHer ‘08
- Kalyn’s Kitchen’s master conference summary with lots of photos
- Cookie Madness on the food blogger meet-up
- Kitchen Gadget Girl’s list of the favorite kitchen gadgets of everyone at the lunch meet-up
- Bunrab on the food blogger meet-up
- Jennifer Jeffrey’s recaps of BlogHer Day 1 and BlogHer Day 2
- The Inadvertent Gardner on the conference
- Kalyn’s list of Food Bloggers at BlogHer 2008
Further reading on Lunch in a Box:
- Need for speed: A mommy’s lunch manifesto
- Bentos & the picky eater
- How to pack a bento lunch and fill gaps
- Choosing the right size bento box
- Bento Store Locator with Google Maps
- Biggie’s list of top speed tips, tutorials and equipment reviews
July 23rd, 2008 | Categories: Containers, SF Bay Area local, equipment, for kids | 
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July 23rd, 2008 at 11:42 pm
What fun! And SCORE on the shoes!
Good thing Bug can’t read your blog, or he’d be mad you didn’t bring him the whole table of cupcakes.
Thanks for the links. Some blogs there I’m not familiar with. (Like I need more.)
July 24th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Thanks for another wonderful round-up of the conference. It was great to meet you, as I’ve long been a fan of this blog!
July 24th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Thanks for the great run-down, Biggie! You just introduced me to a great handful of food blogs that would have taken me ages to stumble across on my own.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:19 am
I’m inspired to cook something other than mac ‘n’ cheese for the kids today. Good roundup.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:19 am
Oh I love those!!
I also love these items made by Thermos, like Snak Jar. There are products that are more adult oriented without kiddie themes.
http://www.thermos.com/
Search for snack jar. (no affiliation with thermos). smart packaging, transport jars always has me bying whether I actually need to or not. Really unessenary but well I have a jar for every and I mean every occassion. From sandwhich and muffin packaging to cake packing to soup packing
July 24th, 2008 at 4:42 am
Looks like you had so much fun at BlogHer!! I wish I could have gone.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:51 am
It was really great meeting you at last, and I agree, hanging out with the food bloggers is just so much fun!
July 24th, 2008 at 6:21 am
my one priority in SF was trying to find bento boxes and i failed, failed, failed (i guess i didn’t realize that i’d be at the conference all day, everyday - even most of sunday).
being from kansas, i used to bento retail finder thingy (so technical, i know) and the closest one is in indianapolis (300-some miles away, oy).
kick-kick-kicking myself for not seeing the city more and not going to the sunday meet-up.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Great round up! The shoe shopping was a blast. It’s always great bonding with other “big-feet” women! I’ll be looking forward to next year’s escapade.
Oh, and love the Cup-A-Cake holders! Smiles!
July 24th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Sounds like you had a blast! I am 5′11″ slender build and a size 10 in shoes…thank you very much. While pregnant with DD my foot went to a size 11, thank goodness my pre-pregnancy size 9 foot decided to come back down to and meet me half way at a 10.
My individual cupcake take-a-long trick: I use a storage container similar in size to the cupcake, turn it upside down and use the top as the bottom and the container as the top.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:17 am
I haven’t yet tried the single cupcake holder. Think it’s time maybe I did. Also, thanks for the tips about stores in Japantown. I’ll probably make a quick trip over there this weekend for some fun shopping.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:43 am
If I eat a cupcake for breakfast, it is your fault. The end.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Hey Biggie, Looks like you had a blast…. Good times… I wanted to let you know they sell Cup-A-Cakes at Sprinkes Cupcake locations too, And we are getting a Sprinkles Cupcakes at Stanford Mall in Palo Alto, NEXT MONTH! WOOHOO!
July 24th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Oh, now I want a cupcake holder-maybe I’ll head to the container store later on.
You only went to the tall women?! I would have been happy to join your big feet women group, but I’m only 4′11″. Yes, that amounts to clown size feet on a tiny body! Thankfully no one notices and am in disbelief until I show them the double digit number on my sole.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
When I pack cupcakes, I kind of cutout a top off the cupcake (kind of hollowing it out a bit) and place some frosting in, and place the top of the cupcake back on (:
July 24th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Hi There
I just stumbled across this from another page - and i just wanted to say I LOVE IT
I bring my lunches to work every day, and you have some amazingly quick awesome recipes and ideas -
THANKS!!
July 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I use an Avent breastmilk cup
(upside down) to transport cupcakes for my little guy with food allergies.
I had them already, so I didn’t have to worry about buying more stuff!
July 24th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Instead of bringing a single cupcake for my four year old with multiple allergies, I try to coordinate with the birthday kid’s mom and bring cupcakes that match the party’s theme to share with everyone. At first I thought it would be a little awkward offering to bring food to someone else’s party, but I’ve been surprised at how happy they’ve all been to let me do some of the baking.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Great write up, sounds like a blast! I’m a size 9/10 (depending on the brand and shoe style) and find it impossible to find shoes as well. The most aggravating thing to me is seeing a shoe on display that looks so adorable and well, lovely, then finding it in my size (woo!) only to discover it does not look good in a larger size. Boo. Congrats on finding shoe nirvana, though!!!
July 25th, 2008 at 2:56 am
Woo cupcakes, never enough! Great idea!
July 25th, 2008 at 7:04 am
I have two of the cupcake containers. I make regular size cupcakes, but they do not fit well in the container. The plastic teeth sink into the cupcake very far and ruin the presentation…but if the look of the cupcake doesn’t matter they work fine…
July 25th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I’m glad you had fun at the Macy’s party. I thought it was the mos bizzare party ever, I wrote an account of it on my blog if you want to relive the moment! hehehe
July 25th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
@1 from Kitt: The cupcakes were pretty adorable, but I was full and had no way of preserving one for Bug. As you say, good thing he can’t read my blog yet!
July 25th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
@2 from Lydia (The Perfect Pantry): Lovely meeting you as well, Lydia! Great fun hanging out with you at the conference — I wish I’d remembered the nearby Sesame Street room for good coffees instead of waiting in line at the Roomba coffee stand. You’re such a smart cookie…
July 25th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
@3 from dawn: It was definitely an education for me as well — now I have WAY too many interesting food blogs in my reader… Hope I find time to post!
July 25th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
@5 from Jessika: I certainly hear you on the container addiction — I plead guilty!
BTW, are you talking about this kind of Snak Jar?
Looks interesting, but how does it hold up in terms of heat retention?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I saw the write up “the kitchn” did on you. I must say gratz! I feel vindicated that you use Goya as well. lol. I wish I had shelves in my freezer though. Did you have to put them in?
July 25th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
@27 from Mimi: Thanks, Mimi! I don’t have a problem with Goya — I think that’s alcaparrado peeking through a pantry basket in the photo they showed. Handy pantry staple for yellow rice, etc.
Our refrigerator actually came with built-in freezer shelves; the whole bottom part is a pull-out tray too. Pretty customizable for different storage needs — I have no complaints about it!
July 26th, 2008 at 12:34 am
@26, Biggie, I’m sorry I should have said that snak jars are for cold items only which the company clearly specifies. I use them to bring yoghurt dessert with me or a perilous salad. The minus with the container is that it holds quite quite alot, 8 oz. But I packed a cold rice dish de other day and it was perfect for tossing in the cold sallad and a babybel cheese too. (Forget appearance please
But it is a convenient thing, holds cold well. Not storing ice-cream in it cold but well.
For medical reasons I’ve been advices to stay away from gluten for some weeks and I’m having a blast (note sarcasm). I had vitamine b12 definiecy from hell, getting treatment for the. Learning what not to eat and what to eat is a whole science. The treatment is working however. the actual medical treatment to get the b12 up.
July 26th, 2008 at 6:02 am
I must say, just as a general commentary, that I am finding this (…) I have no affiliation with (…)
I totally understand the need for it, but still. I have no affilition with milk company x, cocoa company y. The list can become endless. I applaud your efforts Biggie, I relly do, You’ve been sooooo totally open with you private gear and what is sent for you to try out etc., even listing all your cook books that are your private possessions, with additions of many items that do belong to your separate household as private items. That it is nesessary in the first place, that is what I find kinda you know, uncool yet necessary. Not reply is required.
July 27th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Very cute works. Keep it up.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
@8 from laura: Well, there was so much going on at the conference that it would have been hard to break away for long unless you’d scheduled time before or after the whole thing. Totally understandable! I’m local and it still felt like a LOT.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
@10 from Gigi: Interesting trick for packing cupcakes; thanks! My sister’s like you too. She’s a slender 6-footer with size 11 feet pre-pregnancy, but they grew to size 12 after she had kids. My gain — she gave me her old shoes!
July 28th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
@12 from Rhi: So did you have a cupcake for breakfast? Inquiring minds want to know…
July 28th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
@13 from Summers Love: Thanks for the heads up about Sprinkles Cupcakes — I didn’t know about the Stanford Mall one!
July 28th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
@14 from Monica: Man, if only we had a secret code or something to recognize the other big-footed women! I guess going around staring at each other’s feet will have to do for the time being… Sorry I missed you; you would have been welcome if I had known!
July 28th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
@15 from Raine: Hollowing out a cupcake to make room for the frosting would definitely keep you from losing the frosting on the surface of your container! Good solution for folks just looking for the flavor of a frosted cupcake but don’t care about decorations.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
@17 from Cass: Nice DIY improvisation on making a cupcake holder from breastmilk containers! Very clever; thanks for sharing.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am
@18 from Libby: I could see that making you very popular with the other moms, actually! Hey, want to come to Bug’s birthday party? Then I wouldn’t have to provide cake!
July 29th, 2008 at 12:02 am
@19 from Yvo: I solve the big/small shoe cuteness issue by not looking at anything smaller than an 11. It’s just too aggravating to look at the tiny cute ones and set myself up for disappointment. Nordstrom Rack is my friend…
July 29th, 2008 at 12:03 am
@21 from Tiggs: Thanks so much for the feedback on the Cup-A-Cake holder teeth biting into the cupcake. The teeth don’t go into the frosting on your cupcakes, though, do they?
July 29th, 2008 at 12:19 am
@22 from damaris: It was a strange party, wasn’t it? At the beginning I was thinking — hmm, they made the furniture department the last stop, after everyone’s been drinking booze and eating finger food? I guess that’s why floor model furniture is cheaper…
July 29th, 2008 at 12:25 am
@29/30 from Jessika: Wow, good luck with your GF diet — it really is challenging to vet all of your household products (not just food, but medicines and skincare products as well). I hope you get everything straightened out. (fingers crossed)
On the disclaimers, I see blogs out there where the line between paid promotion and impartial review is seriously blurred. It’s made me want to be transparent where that sort of thing is concerned on Lunch in a Box; sorry that it can be jarring at times. I do think readers should be aware of the issue, though, so that they can put on their Cynic Hats when reading breathless reviews anywhere (even in some magazines).
July 29th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
ooh, I knew it was a bad idea to leave that gathering early. Sounds like I missed out on some good retail therapy.
I am this close to buying one of those cupcake carriers - I cannot tell you know many times last year I had to transport cupcakes for some function or another. Of course, I also hear that some schools are not allowing cupcake parties anymore!
Biggie, looking forward to a shopping trip in the not to distant future….
July 29th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
@43, they quickly as h*ll sent me to someone to go through my meds since I have a syndrome currently in progression. I wasn’t aware of beauty products, I don’t think she was either. What to lock for in beauty products?
After the initial schock wore off I was like ok I can do this, it’s the additives that’s cruddy but I know that pretty much so I will cook as much as I can on my own. They’re sending me to a dietician. I don’t like pasta anyway. Gluten free bread deserves a chapter on its own, especially for someone loving to bake. Make, or there must be a way to kick it up without adding gluten. Potatoes, fine with those. Rice. Fine with me, actually more than fine. I’ve done milk- and lactose free so what the heck but gluten will be and is a challenge. And I’ve had food allergies so I bring foods to functions alot of the times anyway rather than to rely on things fu***ng up. Hello bento box :). I don’t sound as if I know the upside of this, rather I was up the was and like damn it, another thing and I crack and excluding gluten in any country is a bitch. Yet our supply of gluten free products is supposedly good compared to America when I read about Gluten Free Girls wedding trip in Italy.
and I’d rather see a disclaimer as extensive such as yours than no disclaimer and people things under the table.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:02 am
@44 from Gudrun: So tell me, Kitchen Gadget Girl, what’s your favorite multiple-cupcake carrier? I’ve seen a number of them and figure I’ll need one eventually, but haven’t yet done the research.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:06 am
@45 from Jessika: For gluten-free bread, I had good luck making the breads in The Gluten-Free Gourmet Makes Bread cookbook. It’s still not like regular bread, but some pretty good substitutes once you toast them. This is when our heavy KitchenAid stand mixer really paid off for us, as GF breads are basically no-knead quick breads that can burn out the motors on weaker mixers. Good luck to you; I hope your health improves, Jessika.
August 9th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
[...] thus far who have helped me along in my quest for world domination, wait, I mean food knowledge. Biggie, Amy and Kayln, thank you for your links. Jen, thank you for including me at your dinner party. And [...]
August 13th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Mmmmmm cupcakes!
Just a note in case anyone’s looking for the Cup-A-Cake holders: I saw a bunch at my local (DC Metro) Linens N’ Things for $1.49 each - a considerable discount already, but even more so if you use one of their ever-present 20% off coupons!
February 5th, 2009 at 4:42 am
[...] Biggie knows, I have been looking for one of these for a while. Most of the cupcake carriers hold just 12 [...]