New Location at Shoppers Corner

If you've been looking for our cookies at the busy Butcher Counter at Shoppers Corner, we've moved. You'll now find us, strange as it may seem, in the cookie aisle. Just look for our sign and a basket of delicious Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies.

Free Samples

Catherine will be handing out free samples of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter bites and other treats at the New Leaf Market on 41st Avenue in Capitola, Saturday, December 20th from 1pm to 4pm. Come see us.

We'll have plenty of cookies available for sale, too.

Flipper Fanny at New Leaf

Look for our Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies at the New Leaf Market on 41st Avenue in Capitola. Also, our Peanut Butter bites are featured in the Gluten Free section. We hope to be in the other New Leaf stores by the end of the year.

Catherine is geared up to fill you holiday orders. Whether it's a bunch of thank you gift baskets for your clients or a dozen cookies to your favorite niece or nephew, let us make your holiday shopping easy.

Despite the economy, nothing brings cheer like a surprise batch of home baked treats.

Flipper Fanny hits Bulgaria

Thanks to the internet, we get lots of new customers from around the country who want to send a dozen cookies or a custom cake to a friend in the Santa Cruz area. BUT, we were thrilled and surprised to get an Email from a woman in Sofia, Bulgaria who ordered the biggest chocolate cake we could make to be delivered to a friend in Santa Cruz.

Belarus....what are you waiting for?

Grahams in the San Francisco Chronicle

Graham trades 'Backroads' for basketball court

Peter Hartlaub

Friday, August 29, 2008

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Jerry Graham was between jobs in 1985 when he was approached by KRON production manager Bob Klein to host a short travel segment for the station. That turned into "Bay Area Backroads," and after the show's first eight successful years, he was one of the most recognizable faces in local television.

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Now retired and living in Santa Cruz, Graham, 75, is still busy, helping his wife, Catherine, with her baking business (Flipperfannyscookies.com) and spending time with his 17-year-old daughter, Lily, before she heads off to Reed College in Oregon. He also works out every day, plays basketball and reads whenever he can.

We talked to Jerry by phone last week.

Q: Did you keep track of "Bay Area Backroads" after you left?

A: Actually, I didn't, for no other reason that I moved to Santa Cruz when we left, and our Direct TV does not carry Channel 4. Every once in a while, and this is way back, someone would say, "Hey, I saw you on TV!" And I would say, "You did?" They were running some repeats. ... When I retired, I retired. My main interests right now are my wife's baking business and basketball. I'm preparing for the Senior Olympics.

Q: Describe Jerry Graham's basketball game. Are you an outside shooter? A hard-fouling power forward? A scrappy low-post man?

A: I have an all-around game. I'm a little over 6 feet. The captain on our team told me I'm the fastest guy on the team, so they rely on me to guard whoever is the fastest on the other team. I'm a pretty good outside shot. When I was a kid, I was a center. Now I'm an outside shooter, trying to avoid as much physical contact as I can.

Q: How do your basketball skills rate against your baking skills?

A: Catherine is the skill person. I'm a lifter. (When) we have to unload the car, I'm very good at that. If I'm told exactly what to do, I can bake and I can mix and I can do everything. But when it comes to a wedding cake, Catherine is a great decorator and designer. I'm the lifter. I can't do any of that.

Q: How much time do you spend traveling the Bay Area backroads in retirement?

A: Very little. In fact when moved here, one of the reasons we picked Santa Cruz after looking at all kinds of places was that it was an hour and a half from the Bay Area. Now I'm amazed how infrequently I get to the Bay Area, even though we have friends all over. I'm not that into travel anymore.

Q: How many tickets did you get during your eight years on the show?

A: None. I was stopped once in Monterey because I made an illegal turn. A patrolman pulled me over, and recognized me, and we talked a little bit. He just told me what I did wrong and that was it. ... Part of the whole concept of the show was to slow down. I was rarely in a hurry.

- Peter Hartlaub

Flipper Fanny's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies and peanut butter bites (gluten free) are now available at People's Coffee, corner of 17th Avenue and Brommer in Capitola. Perfect with their espresso drinks.

Also, if you've been having trouble finding our cookies at Shopper's Corner, they are on the counter at the Butcher's shop.

Thanks to food writer Donna Maurillo for this rave in the July 2nd Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Flip for Flipper Fanny

If you remember the delightful Catherine Graham of "Bay Area Backroads" fame, you'll be happy to know that she has opened a successful baking company. It started with her chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, which she developed and brought to pot lucks. Her baking fame grew, and soon she was selling her cookies as fast as she could pop them out of her oven. And that's how Flipper Fanny's Cookies, Cakes and More was born.

I first tasted them at the Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival earlier this year, and I thought they were outrageously good. Not only is the oatmeal variety addictive, so are the Mexican wedding cookies - also known as Russian tea cakes - and my very, very favorite, a chocolate ball that couldn't possibly get any darker. Well, it could, but then it would be charcoal.

Catherine also makes elegant celebration cakes and cupcakes, as well as brownies. And she has vegan and gluten-free creations such as a flourless chocolate torte, gooey chocolate cupcakes, "peanut butter jobbies" and a peanut butter oatmeal cookie.

So, how did the company get its name? In the 1940s, Catherine's mother was in Miami, where she was photographed in a swimsuit and fins. A newspaper ran the photo and called her "Flipper Fanny" even though her name was Mary Lou. When she started her business, Catherine named it after the famous photo.

For more info, visit www.flipperfannyscookies.com or call 234-0562.

Where to find Fanny's products

Our fabulous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are selling like hotcakes at Verve, the popular new coffee house on 41st Avenue at Portola Drive in Capitola. They roast their beans right on the premises and make wonderful coffee drinks which go perfectly with our baked goods. Also, look for our muffins, peanut butter bites and breakfast bites.

Dads and Grads

It's not too late to order your special treat for graduation and/or Father's Day. Whether it's a special cake or a batch of brownies, Flipper Fanny is ready to fill your order. Check out our menu on the website or let us know if you would like a special order.

Passover treats

A perfect way to end a Seder or any Passover week meal is with our chocolate truffles. Choose from plain deep, dark chocolate, or citrus-infused or lavendar truffles. Have a combination of all three...they're small. Of course, they are wheat-free.

Flipper Fanny meets the Easter Bunny

Easter comes early this year, on March 23rd. Catherine is creating some special cookies for the holiday. You will love her lemon-infused egg shaped shortbread as well as lavendar shortbread in the shape of an Easter bunny. Of course, all of our other goodies are available for an unforgettable Easter basket. We can even provide the basket. Just give us a call at 831 234-0562 or Email us at Flipperfanny@gmail.com

St. Patrick's Day specials

Growing up at Notre Dame, where her dad was a professor, gave Catherine a feel for all things Irish. So while others may think of corned beef an cabbage, the baker at Flipper Fanny's has come up with two new offerings to celebrate St. Patrick's Day: Lime Shortbread and Shamrock shaped butter cookies.
Plan your holiday parties around these festive and delicious treats. Just contact us and everything will be made to your order.
By the way, we now accept Visa, Mastercard an Discover credit cards.

Flipper at Mint

Our famous Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are now available at the new cafe at Mint in Scotts Valley. Mint, on Scotts Valley Road, is a new destination for unusual home furnishings and other items, plus a lovely cafe serving coffee specialties breakfast and lunch. Stop in and tell them Flipper Fanny sent you.

By the way, can anyone explain the sudden popularity of Chocolate Red Velvet cakes. We have had orders for three in the last week or so. Ours come with a luscious cream cheese frosting. All cakes are made to order.

Valentine's Day at Shopper's Corner

Flipper Fanny will be handing out treats and selling last minute Valentine's Day gifts, Thursday from 3 to 5pm at Shopper's Corner, Soquel and Branciforte, in Santa Cruz. Stop by and say hello and go home with a gift to please the gang at home. Pick up specially packaged Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, Truffles with conversation hearts and Lavender shortbread.
By the way, it was wonderful seeing so many of you at the Roudon-Smith Winery event last Saturday. We'll keep you posted on our appearances.

Oops!

We have a change in schedule. The tasting at Shopper's Corner, mentioned in the previous post, has been postponed until Valentine's Day. Flipper Fanny (alias Catherine) will be on hand at Santa Cruz's favorite grocery the afternoon of February 14th. This is a perfect way for you to pick up a last minute Valentine's sweet for your sweets, or vice versa.

Saturday double header

This Saturday, February 9th is going to be a busy day for us with two simultaneous events. In addition to the festivities at Roudon Smith Winery, we will also be at Shopper's Corner in Santa Cruz from noon to 3pm, handing out samples of our Valentine's Day truffles and heart shaped butter cookies. We will also have plenty of goods on sale, including special Valentine's packaged oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. We hope to see you at one of both of these events.

Chocolate and wine

Come join us for an afternoon of wine and chocolate tasting at Roudon Smith Winery in Scotts Valley, this Saturday, February 9th, from noon to 5pm. We will be offering tastes of our wonderful oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, brownies, truffles and heart shaped cookies. All will be available for sale as well.

This is a good way to take care of your Valentine's Day shopping and enjoy the pairing of chocolate and wine while doing it.

After last Saturday's huge turnout at the Chocolate festival fund raiser at The Attic, we are baking like crazy and raring to go.

Roudon Smith winery is at 2364 Bean Creek Road in Scotts Valley. You can get more info on their website:
Roudon Smith.com.

This Saturday, February 2nd, Catherine will be offering samples of treats and selling her famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and Kahlua brownies at the Chocolate Festival at the Attic in Santa Cruz. Visit with us from 2 to 5pm for a celebration of all things chocolate, a fund raiser organized by the UCSC Women's Club to raise funds for re-entry student scholarships.

Admission is free. Then it's $5.00 for three tastings, $10.00 for 8 tastings, and $15.00 for all tastings. There will also be a silent auction (we're providing a luscious gift basket), and a demonstration on making truffles and tempering chocolate. Also, Kuzanga Marimba will provide live music.

We hope to see you there.

We are in full production for Valentine's Day. Heart shaped sugar cookies are about to be decorated, truffles are being formed and topped with candy hearts, special wedding and party cakes are being designed. Let us know what we can do for you.

Valentine's Day

Now that the big holiday rush is over, we are getting ready for Valentine's Day. Watch this space for word of Valentine's Day specials, including the introduction of our new truffles. Sweets for your sweetie.