Open! Mayflour bakery 162 Main Street in #EssexMA

Mayflour is now open in Essex! Tucked into the colorful junction of Main St & Rt. 133, the new space has the same calm & cheery vibe it had in Rockport, only more so. The specialty cake and coffee shop is much bigger with several tables and chairs inside, and access outback to standing tables, a pollinator garden, and ever-changing vistas of the gorgeous Great Marsh.

What’s carried through to Essex from Rockport? Master confectioner Jocelyn’s award winning pre order specialty and wedding cakes and tasty sweet and savory treats are made from organic and locally sourced ingredients. Also, Mayflour’s morning beverages–the organic and cold brew coffee, teas, and seasonal sips (especially come winter their yummy hot chocolate and marshmallows)–are returning favorites.

What’s new?

One big and happy addition is a cold case so Mayflour can stock pot de crème and other small fancies on any given day, and speciality cakes on Fridays and Saturdays for any “last minute” and “just because” celebrations we all can use more of.

Parking

There is one accessible parking spot to the right of the entrance. Six parking spots are available across the street on Main St. in front of Andrew Spindler Antiques. The bakery opens at 7:30 A.M.–before 8 A.M. is hard to come by for a bakery on Cape Ann–so it’s a convenient stop before work or school.

August 2023 photo block Mayflour. Small batch bakery. coffee. cakes. 162 Main Street, Essex. Thurs-Mon 7:30-3. Artist Elissa Lincoln’s artwork is featured. The sustainable bakery opened in July.

Try the hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows at Blume in Rockport Massachusetts!

Step through the cheery pink door of Blume Coffee (“Flour Shop”) aside Mayflour Cakes & Confections at Whistlestop mall in Rockport Friday through Sunday for specialty coffees, teas, and hot chocolate (with to die for marshmallows), and not to miss Mayflour Confections daily bake treats.

homemade marshmellows_Flour shop _2018 april 21_Whistlestop Mall Rockport Mass © catherine ryan

 

 

 

 

 

Cape Ann has so many great scone options with its stellar bakeries–there could be a scone trail!

HOME SWEET HOME

Loving every minute of a snowbound afternoon

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For the Love of Chocolate

Maybe because Valentine’s Day is coming up….or maybe because we’ve had a gazillion feet of snow and it has been downright miserable out….either way, I’ve had chocolate on the brain.

Without getting all mushy or TMI on you, there’s something undeniably romantic (in my humble opinion) about chocolate.  Not like the average box of chocolates, but like a super yummy chocolate fondue spread, a chocolate martini, or some hot chocolate coffee liquor kind of dessert in a glass…or a crazy rich and decadent gourmet chocolate mousse.  That’s what I’m talking about.

And maybe a little bit of John Legend. Just saying. A girl can dream.

So, with that in mind, and while thinking about “Things to Do Over February Vacation” my mind traveled to hot cocoa.  Because honestly, insert my humble rude awakening,  hot cocoa with the kiddos is much more likely these days than any of the afore mentioned romantic types of chocolate indulgence.

So, on that note, I started to do some research as to where to find the best hot chocolate in Boston.  Why Boston, you ask?  Well, I also have a small love affair with getting over the bridge.  I LOVE living here on Cape Ann, but I also adore taking the boys into the city, flying by the seat of our pants, and making a day (or even better yet…a night) of it.

So, while looking around, I stumbled on a great little piece by Boston.com and figured “Why reinvent the wheel?”

Check this link out for some of the top spots to hunker down with a giant mug of chocolate!   

Some of the places look great for a day with the little ones….and some look like a perfect place to snuggle down for a while with a significant other for some quality time and warm fuzzies.  You choose.

One of the top spots listed is the Langham Hotel and its Cafe Fleuri.  Every Saturday from September to June they boast a Chocolate Buffet to shame all others.  It isn’t cheap…and reservations are a good idea…but what a fabulous alternative to tea with a little sweetheart….or a romantic date with a grown-up one.

Take your taste buds on a decadent trip across the globe with The Langham, Boston’s famous Chocolate Bar.
This season presents a new theme, the “World of Langham,” which pays homage to the upcoming 150th anniversary of The Langham, London. Featuring more than 100 chocolate dessert combinations, Executive Chef Mark Sapienza and Executive Pastry Chef Ryan Pike feature chocolate dishes from Langham Hotels across the globe, every Saturday in the hotel’s Café Fleuri restaurant.

Stations with varying levels of chocolate intensity and flavors – from white to dark and everything in between – feature a never ending supply of desserts from every continent along with local classics from the past 25 seasons including Boston crème pie, whoopie pies, brulées, bread puddings and more. Action stations feature crepes, chocolate fountains, chocolate lava cake and ice cream sundaes as a contemporary jazz band sets the tone for the afternoon.

If anyone else has great, and more local, suggestions as to where to mug up for a Winter Treat, please share and comment!  There’s still several weeks to go and we need to make the most of it!  We’re in this together, friends.

The Welcome Center–Perfect setting for a fire Place and Hot Chocolate

The Welcome Center–Perfect setting to sit by a warm fire place and enjoy a hot cup of Chocolate, that is what crossed my mine when I shot this photo.

_2015_01_29_051246 Stitch

Sunday Afternoon Chocolate Party

Our hot cocoa party quickly became a chocolate party when Nicole Duckworth arrived with a platter of chocolate-dipped-and-delicious strawberries, pineapples, and bananas (and I had as usual doubled the amount of chips in the chocolate chip cookies). I so hope the kids fall asleep tonight!

friends ©Kim Smith 2015

See Happy Hot Chocolate Snow Days

White Chocolate Spoonful’s of Valentine Love

Print

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Todays Second Valentine recipe!

White Chocolate Spoonful’s of Valentine Love~The Perfect Spoon for Hot Chocolate!…

For recipe details Click see more Continue reading “White Chocolate Spoonful’s of Valentine Love”

Happy Hot Chocolate Days!

Parisian Hot Chocolate ©Kim Smith 2014

Aren’t snow days simply the best? I think I looked forward to them as much as did my kids. As a working mom a snowy day meant magical extra time off with my children, and was a day made even more festive when accompanied by cups of warm cocoa. Most times we made hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and/or with a few drops of essence of peppermint but if I had chocolate squares and heavy cream on hand to whip, we made it our favorite Parisian-style.

For recipe and story continue reading here.

Parisian Hot Chocolate -  ©Kim Smith 2014.Decadent and delightfully rich hot cocoa

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photoMary Tucker photo

Mary Tucker submits her heavenly hot cocoa photo that she made today; made heavenly with the addition of a truffle!

I haven’t quite figured out how to add an image to a comment so here’s your photo Mary!

Hot Chocolate With Snoop Maddie Mad At The Lone Gull

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Public Service Announcement:

With Hot Chocolate season descending upon us I thought I’d serve you with a gentle reminder to allow your Dunks Hot Chocolate approximately an hour to cool before attempting to take a sip or else you will scald the roof of your mouth, tongue, throat and esophagus.

You’ve been warned.

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