No. 10 || (Pumpkin) Spiceworld
Oh My Gourd, we're talking PSL, PTSD, a pumpkin palette ft. Viv Chen, and basically the blessings and curses of living in a P*kin Spice world.
Dear Readers & Cake Eaters,
Welcome to my 10th issue - the last one before I turn on paid!
***Audio Version Here and just a note, moving forward, it will be at the start of the section for paid subscribers only!***
I’m gonna try to keep this section short and sweet like Sabrina Carpenter, or maybe more like a PSL because as per usual, we’ve got a LOT to get through. Ahhhh I can’t believe I’ve already cranked 10 of these babies out - it’s been such a wild ride and I’m so grateful for the community that’s been built and is constantly growing here. MOM, don’t pick me up. I LOVE IT HERE!
In case it wasn’t obvious, I am a proud member of the Pumpkin Spice cult and I think something about living in Paris and having less access to all of the seasonal novelties gives me an even greater appetite for it. It’s hard to believe that this drink was launched by Starbucks in 2003 - 21 years of magic already! This issue is dedicated to all things pumpkin, periodt. FYI, Halloween and Valentine’s Day are my FAVORITE “holidays” and for the first time ever, I get to celebrate it in New York City. To say I’m beyond stoked to be in one of my favorite cities during my favorite time of the year is an understatement. BUT, all of that to say, besides eating all of the things and catching up with friends, if anyone would like to meet up while I’m in town - hit your girl up. Could always use another eating buddy!
Now without further ado, the world of pumpkin (spice) awaits!
Let’s dig in! xo
THE CAKEWALK - WEEKLY SPECIALS MENU
Thursday, Oct 10th, 2024
Appetizers
Supreme is dropping a Chopped Cheese Sandwich for their FW24 collection. This sammy pays homage to Hajji’s Blue Sky Deli in Harlem, “the birthplace of the chopped cheese”. Taking the tribute a step further, they’re creating a “sampuru-style model of the sandwich, a Japanese art form where food replicas are crafted for display. Made from materials like polyurethane, epoxy resin, and PVC, the model mimics the real sandwich while wrapped in the brand’s signature logo-printed wax paper and served on a ceramic plate”. Why not?
Omar Apollo teams up with Taco Bell to announce “Disha Hot, a sauce inspired by musician Omar Apollo’s family’s secret hot sauce recipe. According to Taco Bell, this first-of-its-kind sauce packet partnership brings together "savory, smoky flavors, capturing the flavors perfected by Omar’s mother in her original recipe”. “Taco Bell shared that its ingredients list includes roasted tomatillos, white vinegar, peppers, onions, tomatoes, lime juice, and a "family-secret spice blend”. This hot sauce has been available to the public in all Taco Bells since Sept. 26th but is only available “while supplies last” so take a quick jaunt over to your local TB to check it out.
Omar Apollo ain’t the only celebrity to being doing hot and saucy things, Brooklyn Beckham has also entered the hot sauce chat with his brand, Cloud 23 as profiled by
. According to Snaxshot, “the brand is debuting exclusively at Whole Foods” with a retail price of $14.99 and will also be available at Whole Foods in the UK. Here’s a quote from Beckham also via Snaxshot’s write-up:"I think my generation has grown up with so many mainstay brands and sauces that my hope is for Cloud23 to become a new household name of products for this next generation to grow up with." - read the rest of
’s write-up on it HERE.
While I would normally include something like this in the À La Carte section, we’re too deep in the pumpkin this issue to mix flavors, BUT it’s still very important for you to know that you can now pre-order NY-based resin-dipped food accessory brand, Dauphinette’s latest hand-beaded butter bag release that’s sure going to be a hit. Butter be quick to add it to your cart before it sells out!
ICYMI - I’m bored of talking about fashion week so just going to point out a handful of eye-catching accessories to look forward to going broke for at some point within the next year. First up, this Bottega Veneta “orange” purse. Not gonna lie, pieces like this get me emotional lolz. It’s not a want. It’s a need.
Balenciaga launches a “chip bag” wallet for SS25 piggy backing off of their previous potato chip clutch. Don’t get me wrong, this is very much completely up my alley but idk, something about it being Balenciaga gives me a slight ick. What do you think - are we bored yet or are we still very much into the Balenciaga universe?
Also plenty of fruits & veggies at Loewe SS25 so we can be sure to have a bountiful (accessory) harvest for Spring 2025.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Spongebob Squarepants, Wendy’s and Paramount have teamed up to unveil “Wendy’s Krabby Patty Kollab” featuring a namesake burger as well as a “Pineapple Under The Sea Frosty”. This kollab launched on Oct. 8th and will be available for a limited time. Is your mouth saying “I’m ready”?? Lolz.
Last month Moët-Hennessy owned Glenmorangie launched the 5th installment in their “A Tale Of” series, this time focusing on Ice Cream.
“Ice cream is an irresistible indulgence and – inspired by the flavours you might find on an ice cream parlour menu – we imagined creating a whisky of melting decadence and lavish swirls of flavour” says Dr Bill Lumsden, director of whisky creation at Glenmorangie.
If you find yourself in Paris this month, 5-star luxury Hotel La Fantaisie is hosting “A Tale of Ice Cream” in their rooftop bar and until Oct. 31st. You can try one of 3 themed cocktails whipped up for the occasion - A Vanilla-Strawberry one, a Mint-Chocolate one, and a Vanilla-Coffee one. I was lucky enough to be invited and try out all 3 and I’ll tell you that the Vanilla-Coffee is my fav! - think Whiskey/Coffee Negroni). Otherwise, you can find the limited edition available worldwide. Cheers! x
Main Course
Okay let’s kick this off with some Pumpkin Spice trivia.
Do you know when the PSL came to be? It was conceived by Starbucks’ Beverage Team in 2003 with an initial test rollout to only 100 stores between Vancouver and Washington DC. “Fall Harvest Latte” was a contender for the name but ultimately they landed on “Pumpkin Spice Latte” as we know it today and when it rolled out across the US the following year, instant success.
Did you know that Pumpkin Spice is actually just a blend of spices and actually has nothing to do with pumpkin? “. . . in the 1930s, spice manufacturing companies like Thompson & Taylor Spice Co and McCormick & Company came out with a revolutionary product: Pumpkin Pie Spice, a pre-blended mix that meant bakers could buy one spice instead of several. Thompson & Taylor's version, released in 1933, included nine spices. Today, McCormick's blend, which was originally launched in 1934, includes four spices: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice, plus sulfiting agents.”
So anyways, Miz Pumpkin Spice has been around for quite a while. But I don’t think anyone dares discredit Starbucks for how they gave PS a meteoric rise and platform.
SO. Tell me readers & cake eaters, what are YOUR favorite Pumpkin Spice laced treats of the season? Are you a diehard PSL drinker? Do you wait for Trader Joe’s fall drops with as much anticipation as a hypebeast waiting for the next Supreme drop (is that reference dated, lolz)? Are you just down to clown and open to trying anything that has the slightest pumpkin spice potential? Is it a pumpkin bagel with pumpkin cream cheese that floats your boat? Is it Magnolia Bakery’s seasonal pumpkin spice pudding release? Is it your fav scoop shop’s pumpkin ice cream or maybe pumpkin cheesecake that gives you the spice of life? Are you more savory and is it pumpkin pasta that gets you going? I NEED TO KNOW. Don’t leave me hanging in the comments section my pumpkin ppl!!!
Now within a pumpkin spice world that’s so rife with product ranging from delightful and comforting to blasphemous and downright disturbing, I would be remiss to not include a least a couple of them. IMHO, Trader Joe’s reigns supreme in terms of palatable pumpkin products - they really figured out how to tap in without having their audience tap out but I obvi wasn’t about to only list TJ’s items here so take a peek above for a selection of the more decent products to have surfaced over the years. Although not so convinced about that Aura Bora pumpkin spice sparkling water . . .
Also while we’re here, I need you to know that Trader Joe’s came out with a Pumpkin Spice Chardonnay. (I can hear my Frenchies screaming in horror.) Most of the reviews are alarmingly positive but just like in most marketing spins, there’s probs more spice than pumpkin, if at all. It sounds like it’s just very much a sweet dessert wine so make of that what you will. Here’s a review if you’re curious.
Now as for the less desirable products, I suppose pumpkin spice has really gone to the dogs. I’ve seen everything from pumpkin spice doggie meatballs to pumpkin spice bone doggie treats. Is a puppaccino really not enough these days?! And don’t even get me started on Dude Wipes’ “Dumpkin Spice” wipes. . . although I really live for that pun. Anyways, I don’t know what’s next for pumpkin spice but I have to say I was actually quite disappointed when doing my research. With so many products being dreamed up with AI these days, it was hard to decipher which pumpkin spice products were fever dreams and which were actually out there in the world and I’m quite surprised that there aren’t AS many blasphemous items as I would have imagined. Although let me tell you, Pumpkin Spice SPAM is very much a real thing - (check À La Carte section). Also Pumpkin Spice Tamales?! Anyways, meet me in the comments. I expect to hear from you.
Next, I need you to know that these exist!!! But whut r they you ask?! Well my friends, these are candied melons shaped to look like pumpkins. I’m not crying you’re crying! I’ve come across them before at Le Bon Marché in Paris’ luxe supermarket counterpart, La Grande Épicerie but admittedly I had always been confused about how they managed to candy a pumpkin so perfectly. Well, I get it now, it’s actually a cantaloupe! And considering where I found them, the price point shouldn’t be a shock either. If you’re looking to buy some, these bad boys range from 40-72€ on Confiseur Lilamand’s website depending on the weight and size that you choose. Good news, they seem to ship internationally for an equally hefty price. Will it make the absolute best centerpiece? Yes. Can it last you a couple of goes? Probably. Is it delicious? Also probably if you’re into that kind of thing. To say whether or not these are a delicacy specific to France is out of my research wheelhouse (also she’s simply pumpkin’d out) so I can’t tell you if you can find these outside of France or not but if you’re not trying to take out a new mortgage just to have some candied cantaloupes on your dining room table, you can also try your luck with this book that shows you how to make ‘em. . . in french lolz.
images courtesy of
Pumpkin Palette // Eye Candy - Next off, I asked my friend
(who you most likely also know via her fabulous NL, ) to contribute to this issue. Viv has an impeccable sense of style and a keen eye for creating color stories so I figured a pumpkin themed issue would be a fun color palette prompt for her.“Orange is so underrated imo. It’s everywhere in nature but so rarely in our wardrobes…I love how fiery and rich it feels”
Whether you’re following Viv on IG (@vivthemole),
, or even her Substack Notes, you’re always sure to be in for some colorful and stylish eye candy. I think that’s one of the things that brought us together to begin with - life’s too short to not embrace color in your everyday life and especially this season when pumpkin is the spice of life lolz.
À La Carte
*I may earn some money if you make a purchase through one of the links below!*
Vintage Alexandra Bartlett Cardigan (front and back)
Buccellati Murano Glass Pumpkin Jam Jar - what a fantastic little beast but let me save you a click and just let you know that this little bad boy is 3,700 EUR.
Vintage 70’s Palazzo Pants Jumpsuit - Size Small.
Vintage Orange Raffia Handbag (right)
SPAM 2-pack in limited edition Pumpkin Spice flavor - yours for only $94.99!
Bode Pumpkin Tee - lolz does Target not have something similar?
Loewe Orange Flower Sunglasses (top right) - perfect for pumpkin picking or simply picking up your 3rd PSL of the day!
Marni Pumpkin Mules (bottom right) - how can you possibly be late for a pumpkin date with these bad girls?
Staub Pumpkin Dutch Oven (4 QT) - it comes in different colors and sizes and for those who are brand snobs, yes Le Creuset ALSO has one that you can peak HERE. This just happens to be the one I own and I love it so I’m partial to Staub. But you do you! You get a pumpkin dutch oven and YOU get a pumpkin dutch oven!
(Not Just) Desserts
(roundups, reviews, recommendations, opinions, your “just desserts” for subscribing I suppose)
READ-ings - Seduced by the Pumpkin Spice Latte by Evelyn Cloves
“Melissa is SO ready for her first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. But what she discovers when she takes her first sip is that she is into PSLs on a level she NEVER expected. Join her on her voyage of sexual discovery with a few Pumpkin Spice Lattes, a couple hot baristas, and a whole lot of sensual fun.”
You know what, I love that for you Melissa. If you read my hot dog issue, you know that this sentient object erotica book genre has literally no boundaries - one of the newest ones I heard about is a book about a pommel horse coming to life and f-ing the daylights out of the gymnast practicing on it. Pounded by the Pommel Horse as it’s so elegantly titled. LOLZZZ (thanks Stephen Nedoroscik and the Paris Olympics)! So if everything from balloon animals, to doors, to pommel horses, to giant Kool-aid men, to deviled eggs can come to life and be f-ckable, why not everyone’s favorite seasonal beverage?!? (I wish you knew how much giggling goes on while I write shit like this.)
image via Amazon Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore - I’ll get straight to the point. This appears to be your typical holidays x romance x small-town trope that inevitably has a predictable happy ending. But honestly, there’s a reason we like this shit. In a world that’s so f*cking depressing, unpredictable, and seemingly filled with despair, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with finding solace in a happy-go-lucky fantasy world where everything smells good, everything works out, and happy endings exist in abundance. Apparently BookTok agrees as well as this book won “TikTok Shop Book of the Year 2024”, and is a best seller on several other lists. Yeah I’m definitely reading.
COMMUNITY HELP-ings - For my SF/Bay Area locals, Aurora Centro (sister to Aurora Alimentari, both owned by my very talented and passionate friend, Dario Barbone who I also had the pleasure of doing a cake order for) has had to uproot from their current location at the Salesforce Tower due to some tricky and unforeseen circumstances and will now be doing their best to move swiftly to a new location on Valencia (in the Mission) where they will now be known as Studio Aurora. At Aurora Alimentari you can find a fantastic selection of Italian deli meats and cheeses as well as a hodge podge of other wonderful items you should have in your pantry or simply put, your stomach. At Aurora Centro which will consequently become Studio Aurora, you will find an even bigger menu complete with some of their signature sandwiches and so many other options as well as plenty of seating. As you can imagine, uprooting unexpectedly and relocating with a time crunch is costly and painful, especially when trying to keep a business running at the same time. Dario and the team could certainly use our help so if you’re feeling generous or know someone who might, please check out their GoFundMe that’s geared towards helping them relocate and thrive. Dario takes great pride in his Italian roots and you can see how his knowledge and his love and care for the products as well as his customers shine through in every bite and every conversation you have with him.
images via Rose Los Angeles I’d also be remiss to not give a mini shout to Dario’s epic collab with Rose Los Angeles in which they came up with a “Tomato Basil” gummy with 3mg of THC inside. If you’ve already donated to Alimentari’s GoFundMe and want to treat yourself with a little reward, you can shop the Aurora Alimentari x Rose Los Angeles collab HERE.
EVENT-ings - Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 19th-20th - sorry to stay so Bay Area/Northern California-centric in this section folks! But if you do happen to be in this Californian neck of the woods, I highly recommend. While I’m sure there are pumpkin festivals a plenty worldwide and this is by far from being the biggest, Half Moon Bay has actually managed to earn the title of “World Pumpkin Capital” and the festivities are about as fun and wholesome as they can get. Between looking at some of the largest pumpkins you’ve ever seen (interpret that how you want lolz), plenty of entertainment like the pumpkin carving contest, and pumpkin everything essentially - I remember very clearly how delicious the pumpkin ice cream was that I had at least 10 years ago, it’d be really hard not to have a good time unless you were a pumpkin hater. And if you were really keen on only going to the world’s BIGGEST pumpkin festival, well apparently it’s in Ludwigsburg, Germany.
Digestif
Pumpkin Fashion AI Renderings by Digital Creator, Bonny Carrera
Fin.
My next issue is already cooking but in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to share this page with anyone you think might like this sort of content. After all, my newsletter can only feed its subscribers if they’re hungry. :)
And lastly, your feedback also means the world! Please feel free to comment below, or email me at thecakewalk@substack.com. xoxo
I might have to go to Wendy’s..
But what’s YOUR hot sauce of choice?