Los Altos Real Estate Blog

I've been a fan of Frost Cupcake Factory in downtown Campbell since they opened and we've used them for after-dinner dessert to parties.  What some people don't know is they also cater to weddings.  Cupcakes are a great alternative to the traditional wedding cake that offers both variety and flavor in a wide range of custom displays and presentations.  They've got extensive experience with weddings large and small so no matter how many guests you have, you're covered.  Better yet, there are many advantages to cupcakes over the traditional wedding cake.

Advantage #1 - Variety!

They offer over two dozen flavors and you could include any combination of those flavors to create a unique taste experience for your wedding.  You could even creates themes with the flavors along with different colors and decorations.  Your imagination is the only limit.  Take a look at the photo book they have at the front desk for ideas or talk with the owner and baker, which brings me to advantage #2.

Advantage #2 - Personal service!

The owner, Andrea, is a great person and will sit down with you to personally develop a plan that combines looks and tastes.  I've seen her do it!  Why bother with the impersonal wedding planner at the hotel or some other venue when you can talk to the actual baker?  Having that interaction will make the planning easier and more memorable, which is what wedding are all about, right?

I rarely make a huge plug for a local business but in this case I have to.  The quality of the cupcakes at Frost Cupcake Factory are far superior to those of some of the "name brand" chains you may hear about.  Besides, tasting the samples here is a lot more fun than typical wedding cake bakers.  Planning a wedding?  Stop by Frost.

This place is spectacular!  Do you like really good, gourmet-quality pizza?  Then this is the place for you. My wife and I came here on Tuesday night and were blown away by the quality of the food.  We started with a couple of beers and because it was Happy Hour, the prices were incredibly low.  I got a great draft, hand-crafted brew for $2.50 and it was served in a couple of minutes - very fast service at this place.  We opted to order their meatball appetizer and a large pizza with artichokes, pepperoni, mushrooms, and fresh tomatoes.  That's our "benchmark" pizza whenever we try a new place.

The meatballs were incredible!  Hand-made and seasoned to perfection.  They're baked with a cheese topping and served hot out of the oven.  We couldn't get enough of 'em!  Our pizza came out promptly after and it was among the best we've ever had - and we've been to a lot of epic pizza places.  The dough was perfectly cooked (we opted for thin crust), the sauce was tangy and vibrant, and the toppings were the perfect combination of fresh and plentiful (but not too much).  It's artistry in a pizza pie!

Service was excellent and timely.  But that's not where the story ends.

We came back on Saturday at lunch.  The restaurant was much busier and lively.  This time we opted to try their garlic bread, more meatballs, and a large caeser salad.  WOW!  These guys know how to make a salad.  The lettuce was cool and crisp like I'd make at home, but even better.  The dressing and croutons are all made right on side, from scratch, and you could tell.  The croutons were slightly crisp, a little springy inside, and absolutely perfect.  I've been in 5-star restaurants and these are on par.

The garlic bread is baked with a cheesy layer on top and pre-baked garlic.  It's got a bold flavor and is almost as addictive as the meatballs.

Prices are reasonable, service is great, and the food it brilliant.  Stop by and try Blue Line Pizza. You'll be glad you did.

www.BlueLinePizza.com

Blue Line Pizza review on Yelp!

The Ainsley House in downtown Campbell is a historic home with an old "Cotswold" style roof that stands out from more contemporary styles of the surrounding neighborhood.  It offers a very "Dickens" feeling to the holidays when it's decked out in decorations and holiday lights.  Thus, it's a great time for the Holiday Open House.  This is a chance to:

• Tour Ainsley House
• See all the decorations inside and out
• Enjoy a few refreshments
• Listen to live entertainment

Since you're within easy walking distance of the downtown restaurants, it's easy to stop by either before or after dinner to make a fun-filled evening.  My personal favorite is Aqui but there are plenty to choose from.

• Location:  Ainsley House
• Time:  5:30-8:00PM
• Dates:  Dec 15-18th
• Tickets:  $10 (members) or $15 (non-members)  These may be purchased in advance or at the door
• Address:  300 Grant Street, Campbell, CA
• Phone:  408-866-2758

The grounds at Ainsley House really are very nice and the decorations are truly some of the best in the area.  If you've never been there, this is one of the best times all year to stop by and visit.  Give it a look!

BUSINESS REVIEW:  Rocket Fizz

Growing up is overrated and one of the things I miss from my childhood days is candy and a good soda.  Well, at Rocket Fizz, you can get both...as well as a variety of novelty items and signs that go back to the good old days of fun stuff. Rocket Fizz is the latest addition to Downtown Campbell located at one of the best corner locations possible on Campbell Avenue and 2nd Street.  This store is a great addition to the downtown experience and offers something completely new.  If you want an extraordinary variety of classic sodas, a world-class array of candies, and the "best of the classics" novelty items, this is the place to go.

When you walk in, the first thing you notice about Rocket Fizz is that they have a lot of different sodas.  Not just the usual stuff but a wide range of flavors and brands with everything from birch beer (very rare) to orange cream sodas.  The best part is that they have classic brands from yesterday in addition to unusual brands from around the country.  It's all top quality stuff (having had a few of their brands) at a reasonable price.  If you want to try a different soda, this beats any selection of sodas I've seen anywhere in the area.

The next big attraction is the candy.  They've got it all. From classic candies like Sugar Daddy to modern candies of the world like a Crunchie Bar from the UK.  The big draw is nostalgia with many candies from the 50s, 60s, and 70s all in their original packaging.  My memories were most fond of wax candies, gum cigarettes, bazooka bubblegum, and a few others almost all of which they have.  The store is big enough to offer a wide range of each type of candy from chocolate, gums, hard candies, and novelty candies.

The little extras you'll find walking around are a selection of funny signs, toys, and novelty items that include everything from "Garbage Pail Kids" cards to fake vomit.  You'll even find the classic "snake eggs" trick.  All this stuff is a lot of fun to look at and remind us of the "good old days" as we watch our kids wander around trying to decide what to buy.

They're located at:
220 E. Campbell Ave
Campbell, CA  95008
408-370-1510

They're on Facebook as well at www.facebook.com/RocketFizzCampbell

I had the pleasure of stopping by the Frost Cupcake Factory last night after dinner.  The place is scheduled to officially open this Friday, July 1st, 2011 but is open now to "test the waters" with local patrons.  There were two employees who were very welcoming and nice, as well as the owner who was baking a fresh batch of cupcakes.  The owner, Andrea, came out to meet us as well as other customers to get our feedback.  She was very kind, nice to talk to, and offered a free sample cupcake to get our opinion.

This new sweet shop is exactly what Campbell needed as a way of offering some truly distinctive variety to the downtown dining experience.  Sure, Campbell has had it's share of yogurt, ice cream, and sweet shops but let's face it, cupcakes are just different.  And in this case, different is better.  These cupcakes offer exceptional texture quality along with flavors that are subtle and distinct.  I had the Tahitian Vanilla cupcake which had a sublime flavor that exceeds anyone's expectations for a dessert.  If you've had real vanilla, truly high-quality stuff, then you'll know what I'm talking about.  The cheap stuff you buy at the grocery story is NOT the same.

We also had the mocha java and coconut.  All I can say is "WOW!" to both.  Again, the flavors and textures are exceptional and it's like eating cake from a master pastry chef, all in a nice package you can eat at the shop.  The size of the cupcakes is more than enough to make a single enough for dessert.  I'm sure that some folks will feel that one isn't enough but I can assure you it is.  As with anything world-class, a little goes a long way.

So, after dinner downtown, I highly recommend stopping by.

They're located at 199 E Campbell Ave and open at reasonable hours.

For a similar accounting and more stories about Campbell, visit their blog.