More Speakeasy Photos

Here are yet some more photos of the Speakeasy. These photos were taken by my friend, Will Rittenhouse, who happens to have impeccable taste in cameras and an impeccable photographic eye. I love how warm these came out. They really captured the lighting we created with the candles and white lights everywhere. 

The DJ

That's me serving banana cream pie!

My beautiful friends, Marie and Maureen

Some more of my beautiful friends, Kelley and Amy

A close-up of the gorgeous Maureen

Speakeasy as Pie

Design by Marie Jaen

If you've spent any time with me in person in the last month or so, you have heard me go on and on about pie and/or cocktails and/or how to pair pie and cocktails. 

I am very happy to announce that I will be taking this talk from a mere idea to EVENT next month. Maria and I will be hosting our very own pie speakeasy! 

Why a speakeasy? Because it'll be a full-on invite-only party that starts out in the basement and moves into the backyard, where everyone can feel free to enjoy as much pie, cocktails, and music as they please.

I will, of course, be updating you as more details solidify. If you'd like to attend, shoot me an email at southxsanfrancisco@gmail.com and I can send you a flyer. You will need a physical flyer to get into the part-ay. And you don't want to miss this, I'm telling you.

This event will include the following amazingly spectacular highlights. Plus I'll be there, and I'm awesome. Well, usually. Sometimes. You know.

• A live DJ all night
• Performances by Maria "Songbird" Remos
• The release of Maria's mixtape, Speakeasy as Pie Vol. 2
• Unlimited pie once you get into the party (some of the ideas I have floating around my head are classic apple pie with apple butter cream topping, banana cream pie with dark chocolate ganache, gluten-free/vegan coconut cream pie, pear and apple pie, blackberry pie with streusel topping, pecan pie, and so on)
• Pie pops of several varieties so you can take home a goodie bag to your loved ones
• Cocktail pairings with each pie: expect something with Baileys, a fresh fruit cocktail, and lots of aperol
• Friends and family and loved ones all around in our lovely Bernal Heights home

So get excited for this because, yes, it is finally happening!

Impromptu Southern Pound Cake

My friends and I had a pool party this weekend. They all drank a few beers, got hungry, we had strawberries. So, naturally, I whipped up this pound cake for everyone to enjoy. I'd like to note that I was sober, just so everyone knows that I was not making a pound cake this delicious after I'd had a few Coronas in me. That would be major skillz that I probably don't have.

Find the recipe below!

Close-up (with the Coronas of course)

The final spread

All together now (I just want to note there were a LOT of us there, okay!?)

Simple Southern Pound Cake Loaf

The original southern pound cake gave "pound" cake its name. It included one pound of butter, one pound of sugar, and one pound of flour. It also didn't include any baking powder, as the fresh eggs helped it rise like a charm. Sounds delicious... and a wee bit heart-attack inducing. I prefer this modified version adapted from Southern Living. 

Ingredients
2/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups sifted flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325F. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
3. Sift together the dry ingredients. Add to the butter mixture, alternating with additions of the milk and vanilla.
4. Pour batter into a greased and floured loaf pan about 3/4 full (the cake rises a lot).
5. Cook for 75 - 90 minutes, or until you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.

Serve with fresh whipped cream and strawberries, blueberries, or other seasonal fruit.

Flour and Sugar,
Carrie Melissa