Dushi Bagels of Aruba

One of my favorite places to eat in Aruba is Dushi Bagels/Charlie's Grill, a sweet little spot in front of the Playa Linda on Palm Beach. The outdoor eatery is famous for not only the Dushi Bagel breakfast (perfect for morning fare), but also their Charlie's Grill burgers (holding it down for the lunchtime crowd). Gotta love a spot that multi-tasks.

Though I touched on my favorite Aruban breakfasts after last year's trip, I unfortunately didn't snap a photo to capture the serious yumminess of the Dushi Bagel. While they aren't quite New York bagels (but what is?), they are pretty darn close and still way ahead of the frozen/Lender's bagel movement. Loaded with scrambly fried eggs, slices of ham and stringy cheese of the seemingly Swiss variety (what kind precisely, I haven't quite figured out yet), this bagel sandwich is the perfect way to start the morning, especially after a jog in the extreme Aruban heat.

And if that mouthwatering photo isn't enough to get you going, check out their serious cheeseburger lunch, served complete with French fries on a wooden board. Talk about making a $9 lunch feel super special and decadent to boot.

So there you have it. A quick round-up of my favorite breakfast and lunch spot, Aruba-style. Just pass the coffee with evaporated milk, and I'm set to tackle any day...if only this were acceptable on a daily basis here back in the States...

Moka's Red Velvet Cake

A couple of weeks ago, Shaun and I embarked on the Cannon family vacation 2010, annually spent at our favorite spot in Aruba with my parents, sisters and family friends (and in case you didn't know, it was also the home of our 2008 beach wedding). Known for year-round fabulous weather, tradewinds, and signature slanted Divi trees, Aruba is also famous for its abundance of delectable restaurants. Though much of the week was spent swimming in blue water, laying under a palapa and cheering on Holland in the World Cup, we also found time to indulge in the local culinary delights that the island had to offer. I know what you're thinking, how did we manage to fit all of that in, day after day.

While I'll be telling you about my favorite local spots, there's something you should know about the Cannons. We love our dessert. So while last year we indulged in fried Oreo's at Smokey Joe's, this year, we stumbled upon a life-altering confection. Yup...I just said life-altering. The only thing sadder than having to wait another year to sunbathe on this One Happy Island is knowing that it's also another year before I get to have Moka's Red Velvet Cake again. It's that good. Multiple layers? Check. Ample sweet frosting? Check. Sprinkles? Check.

Located in the Paseo Harencia, an outdoor mall in the heart of Palm Beach (across from the Holiday Inn), Moka's is a small coffee shop offering gourmet coffees along with homemade desserts displayed in glass-topped cake stands. After all, is there anything else more inviting than beautifully displayed layer cakes?

Instead of the usual cream cheese frosting (of which I can never have enough), this red velvet confection was topped with standard vanilla buttercream, a refreshing and unexpected change from the typical red velvet. Oh, and the three layers of cake with buttercream filling between each didn't hurt either.

Moist and decadent to boot, this cake was even a bit pink and yellow at the edges, a sure sign of its imperfect, yet wonderfully homemade nature.

So there you have it. A pretty fabulous dessert that, admittedly, I may or may not have indulged in multiple times following nightly dinner. Have you ever had a cake or dessert that you just can't get out of your head? Share the goods!

Psst...itching for more Aruba-inspired fun? Check out Aruba tidbits here, here and here. And for more cake fun, try Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes, Pink Coconut Cupcakes, Baba Booey's Peanutastic Cupcake, Butter Lane Cupcakes, Key Lime in the Coconut Cupcakes, and Baked by Melissa's Mini Cupcakes.

Brunch at B Bar

There are few things in this world that I love more than brunch. Of course Shaun tops the list, but following him...let's just say that brunch is high on the list. So on a rainy Sunday morning I planned to meet my sister Kimberly for brunch at Clinton Street Baking Co. After catching a glimpse of their highly acclaimed blueberry pancakes on an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay, we thought it would be the perfect place for a rainy Sunday (and the perfect opportunity to see how my own Lemon Blueberry Pancakes measured up one-on-one).

Since the title of this article isn't Brunch at Clinton Street Baking Co., you're correct in assuming that we in fact never made it to brunch at Clinton after finding out that it was a stomach-turning 3 hour wait. Oh, and no, they don't take reservations.

Feeling defeated and with stomachs growling, we began a hunt for the nearest delicious brunch locale, not relishing braving the stormy weather on the Lower East Side, a neighborhood we were less than familiar with. To make matters worse, Kimberly was a little scared/turned off by Katz's Deli - not sure if it was the massive lines, the abundance of wood paneling or the wall of meats. So we made our way over to the Bowery and saw B Bar in the distance. Though I hadn't been there since my NYU Communications Department graduation party in '04, I have such fun memories of B Bar - the party, meeting my dad for dinner in college and mostly their juicy, cheese-covered burger served on an English muffin. Yum.

Anyhow, back to brunch. B Bar boasts a trendy yet relaxing vibe with reasonable prices and a serious outdoor patio. Greeting us the table was a little wooden cutting board with sliced banana bread. Though it gave my version a major run for its money, it was missing the super delish brown sugar crust on top. But I let it slide because the bread was moist perfection.

In addition to downing large amount of B Bar coffee, I went with my favorite unsweet brunch meal, Eggs Benedict. Served with jalapeno Hollandaise sauce and some of the best home fries I've tasted, this Eggs Benedict surpassed many others that came before it. I mean, doesn't it just look good enough to eat?

If you have the means, I highly recommend giving it a visit. But I want to know about your brunching habits. Do you go out or stay in? Do you go for sweet or savory? Dish on some of your favorites in the comments!