Anyone who has tasted bliss in the form of a NoRa’s cupcake will be thrilled to hear that NoRa’s Cupcake Co. has just begun offering lunch items. While they are only just starting to expand their menu, they are already serving croissants and sandwiches as well as one soup option a day and certain beverages.
The soups contain no preservatives and many are vegan and gluten free. They cost $4.25 a cup. We sampled the potato soup, a thick, creamy soup filled with veggies and a bit of meat. It was a bit reminiscent of a good pea soup as far as texture is concerned, and was extremely satisfying, especially with the croutons made from day-old bread. Their bread is from Farm to Hearth and can be purchased fresh on the weekends at $6.50 per loaf.
We also tried the spinach croissant and the ham and cheese croissant. They were admirably flaky and attractive, with a brightly glazed exterior and hearty interior. The spinach had a very strong, creamy flavor and played a central part in the flavor of the sandwich. It was certainly not an afterthought. The ham and cheese one was also delicious with a thick roll of ham and cheese oozing out the edge. They go for $4.25, or $8.00 with a cup of soup.
The best way to finish a NoRa’s meal is with a cupcake of course! The Half Baked cupcake is a vanilla brownie bit cake with eggless chocolate chip cookie dough (so it is safe to eat), a fudge ripple, and buttercream frosting. The frosting is very sweet, which nicely balances out the more savory cake. This is the perfect cupcake for any lover of cookie dough ice cream. Cupcakes are $4.00 each and can also be combined with a soup or croissant sandwich for $8.00.
NoRa’s drink offering includes local Zen Roasters Coffee and a variety of Honest Teas, Vitamin Waters and other cold beverages. They hope to soon be offering specialty coffee drinks like espressos and cappuccinos, so keep your eyes and ears opened for more news about NoRa’s expanding menu!
~Laura Hess
NoRA Cupcake Company
700 Main Street Middletown, CT 06457
860-788-3150
