tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37023577281788929202024-02-21T06:18:43.870-08:00Cupcake RaceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-65386879944612053292009-05-09T09:03:00.000-07:002009-05-09T09:05:33.256-07:00The best cupcake recipe everThanks to <a href="http://theofficialsiteofgrantmiller.blogspot.com/2008/09/who-likes-cupcakes.html">Grant Miller</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-35634770242098257612008-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:002008-12-25T15:20:52.328-08:00more cupcakes1 E. Delaware Pl., Chicago, IL<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi_nICHl7aHplWiCylYbLHidpQ9KInPPQLGg10eDFgP3nEbTqBD3O9ttZM-RCTIXU3WHOv35qPpA7sx_5N_uvUMTIjyR4dvlZ97Wzecoa5VQ33exWNTwE4klT7SGhO6nonQB1kN1cZjk/s1600-h/more_sm1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi_nICHl7aHplWiCylYbLHidpQ9KInPPQLGg10eDFgP3nEbTqBD3O9ttZM-RCTIXU3WHOv35qPpA7sx_5N_uvUMTIjyR4dvlZ97Wzecoa5VQ33exWNTwE4klT7SGhO6nonQB1kN1cZjk/s400/more_sm1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283861189426757138" border="0" /></a>Chocolate cake with chocolate ganache frosting and marshmallow creme filling<br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Price: $3.58</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 2 7/8 oz (83g)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $1.245/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The chocolate ganache is rich and creamy, like eating a good piece of chocolate from a box. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 8.0/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Moist, soft, really nice flavor. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The marshmallow creme filling in the cake is moist and fluffy. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 9.25/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRrXRvnN81hi6LlwKLY71vJjqNNLx9PzLVYS1oGS-x7dow2DKlxeYlcEbeehIF0mbH5aiuHr-NkXs6k15KVtlmtfKMp-rWJ31o1wip7B86MVwz89d6guQ9NiK9TapSa_mjpIxyMzN1V4/s1600-h/morebox_sm2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRrXRvnN81hi6LlwKLY71vJjqNNLx9PzLVYS1oGS-x7dow2DKlxeYlcEbeehIF0mbH5aiuHr-NkXs6k15KVtlmtfKMp-rWJ31o1wip7B86MVwz89d6guQ9NiK9TapSa_mjpIxyMzN1V4/s400/morebox_sm2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283866091196296210" border="0" /></a><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I don't know the reason for the Chinese takeout containers. Maybe because after you eat the cupcake you're hungry an hour later? I have to say though that I like the fact that they have an insert in the box that is perfectly sized to fit the cupcake, and you can get the cupcake home without even the slightest damage to the frosting. And even more, there are finger holes that let you pick up the cupcake out of the box without even having to touch the top of the cupcake. So if you're looking to give a cupcake as a gift and want to keep it looking as good as it did in the shop, this is the place for you. Oh, and the cupcakes aren't bad either. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 8.75/10.0<br /><br />* <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I usually just average the ratings for the frosting and the cake for the Overall rating, but I'm giving it a higher Overall rating because the marshmallow filling really did give it the flavor and nostalgia of a Hostess cupcake. Nicely done.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-28682972958530082782008-12-25T09:59:00.000-08:002008-12-25T10:00:51.030-08:00Cross-bloggerizationCheck out the famous <a href="http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2008/12/guest-blogger-justin-from-cupcake-race.html">Cupcakes Take the Cake</a>. Cupcake Race wrote an article for their blog.<br /><br />Oh, and Merry Christmas.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-45642798662795696262008-12-05T00:00:00.000-08:002008-12-04T21:36:12.726-08:00CostcoDamen, Clybourn & Diversey, Chicago, IL<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzy0hjGzmEzvvp0yae9T3u2HR9S3GapNk8X3aMFWAMDYj9yUqJe2DmQQsqtJvczXHFsMV0qhGbd-XIaeB_MprXFVEcVCFZ_02iwGxifyh3XX1Su5ITjlJtQa2trRUeX9wKgLSm9FPK2M/s1600-h/Costco2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzy0hjGzmEzvvp0yae9T3u2HR9S3GapNk8X3aMFWAMDYj9yUqJe2DmQQsqtJvczXHFsMV0qhGbd-XIaeB_MprXFVEcVCFZ_02iwGxifyh3XX1Su5ITjlJtQa2trRUeX9wKgLSm9FPK2M/s400/Costco2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276165928037474882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chocolate cupcake with chocolate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">buttercream</span> frosting</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $16.99 for 20 (before tax)</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 5 7/8 oz (165g) each</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $0.145/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Slight hint of graininess, buttery, with a fudge chocolate flavor. It has a thick consistency, but it's not particularly heavy -- more like a really thick mousse, maybe</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. I don't really like the richness of the fudge flavor, but it was good enough to enjoy. The plain frosting on the yellow cupcakes was better. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 6.5/10 (chocolate) 7.5/10 (vanilla)<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Moist, soft, but slightly bland, but still a respectable cake. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 7.0/10 (chocolate) 7.5/10 (yellow)</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What can you say about a cupcake that costs less than 85 cents, weighs more than 1/4 pound, and tastes pretty darn good? I declare it officially America's favorite cupcake of the 2008-2009 Recession. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 6.75/10.0 (chocolate) 7.25/10.0 (yellow) </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-65640823575303255282008-11-20T17:25:00.001-08:002008-11-20T17:45:04.020-08:00And the winner is.....<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">Shari C. !<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeEY1owfGOsZBFDyF_hP83q-cZ2P5-LdN7N5HaS0yJHcuBizWDNBFzXpi8GvsXkgnrIGwh6GbrrYw2PMrtqVl0RBFAKFxC51m1mAR9fRDkJfnHLm0UFmGJyZxz_NhU_7o6JNaQ51Epk0/s1600-h/B.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeEY1owfGOsZBFDyF_hP83q-cZ2P5-LdN7N5HaS0yJHcuBizWDNBFzXpi8GvsXkgnrIGwh6GbrrYw2PMrtqVl0RBFAKFxC51m1mAR9fRDkJfnHLm0UFmGJyZxz_NhU_7o6JNaQ51Epk0/s400/B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270916037768346050" border="0" /></a><br />Congratulations Shari! You won the Cupcake Race contest for the readers' favorite cupcake art! All of the finalists were really great, but with 48% of the vote, the Cupcake Race readers voiced a clear favorite!<br /><br />The Grand Prize winner, Harper, will be receiving a t-shirt with his cupcake drawing on it, and Shari will receive a $10 gift certificate to <a href="http://www.cupcakerace.com/2008/04/sweet-honey-bee-bakery.html">Sweet Honeybee Bakery</a>, on Montrose Ave. (one of our favorite bakeries!). We'd love to hear from you and Harper if you would like to write something on the blog about what inspired your idea and why you like art...or anything you'd like to write.<br /><br />And finally, congratulations are in order to everyone who participated in the contest to create some really fun, inspired and interesting art! We had a lot of fun with the contest here, and we hope you did too.<br /><br />Keep cupcaking!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-61206945732907038042008-11-12T20:12:00.001-08:002008-11-14T05:09:20.385-08:00Don't forget to vote your favorite!There is still one more prize to give away! The Grand Prize went to Harper F., whose drawing of a cupcake on the rampage can be seen in the previous post. But there is still First Prize to award, which will be determined by the winner of the online poll (see sidebar). Voting ends at 11:59pm on November 19th.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.cupcakerace.com/2008_01_01_archive.html">Click here to view the finalists and vote.</a></span><a href="http://www.cupcakerace.com/2008_01_01_archive.html"><br /></a><br />The winner of First Prize will get some suitable award -- probably a gift certificate for a couple of cupcakes -- and, of course, have his or her drawing featured on cupcakerace.com.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-44512567129317844472008-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:002008-11-10T10:41:36.757-08:00The entries are in, and the winner Is....The entries for the Cupcake Race Art Contest are in! If you recall, the kids at Pilgrim Lutheran School in Chicago were invited to create original cupcake-themed artwork for the contest. You can see all of the excellent drawings by clicking on the Flickr link on the sidebar at the right.<br /><br />Before announcing the winners, let me remind you how the contest works. Cupcake Race will select the top five (5) drawings from among all the entries. From these, one Grand Prize winner will be selected by Cupcake Race. The Grand Prize winner will receive a t-shirt in addition to having his or her art featured on cupcakerace.com. In addition, his or her entire class will receive cupcakes!<br /><br />Of the remaining four (4) finalists, a First Prize winner will be selected by readers (you!) in an online poll. The First Prize winner will also have his or her artwork featured on cupcakerace.com.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.cupcakerace.com/2008_01_01_archive.html">Vote for your favorite!</a></span><br /></div><br />And now, Grand Prize in the Cupcake Race Art Contest goes to.....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Harper F.!<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP28lS3-TgTkV6Uk46tJKNWnMAZSarm7JbdSOLqdmPff5Vd3nbZqqjB0OwJTPScG99slFGo7CpTQjt5S7tp6JHAUHjiOGWalIjy0tfJt6aK0vVdjsTB05OGGdW3r3Owz0z0xXBFqvkeuo/s1600-h/A-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP28lS3-TgTkV6Uk46tJKNWnMAZSarm7JbdSOLqdmPff5Vd3nbZqqjB0OwJTPScG99slFGo7CpTQjt5S7tp6JHAUHjiOGWalIjy0tfJt6aK0vVdjsTB05OGGdW3r3Owz0z0xXBFqvkeuo/s400/A-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266893186939139906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Peter People Eater<br /></span></div><br />Congratulations Harper! I just love that angry, determined look on Peter People Eater's face! It says, "Payback time, people!" Thank you for sharing your art with us!<br /><br />Now, for the online poll...<br /><br />The remaining 4 finalists' artwork is shown below. Please vote for your favorite at the <a href="http://www.cupcakerace.com/">top of the page</a>. The online poll closes at 11:59 PM on November 19th.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >(Click to enlarge any of the drawings below)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNAZ2JCDBv0XUKkye-gqhZe_5P7A-PQflhwBACQAFsLxmUXgkTsqqMGqojR0psDMG1qaFincRIqYkbBbZOs6Rd9p2fNFzQFmSQqira_l7nNnmT2KYS0HkBnPRrd_2zXXVeenhXQGldx8/s1600-h/A+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNAZ2JCDBv0XUKkye-gqhZe_5P7A-PQflhwBACQAFsLxmUXgkTsqqMGqojR0psDMG1qaFincRIqYkbBbZOs6Rd9p2fNFzQFmSQqira_l7nNnmT2KYS0HkBnPRrd_2zXXVeenhXQGldx8/s200/A+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266899674141802322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrB7hAvSIFf3j2kOcpiUXz72hxKLlTZXRTzwnjXuliFh8FRmjkATPmxRBbRsH4Fkpjo6J7i1nUwddRq5Q-_dcjMKJjWKBwJqMS4bHpPnEocT6FzxIHgp5I-bRP8FYdLF03QyaCxKzYVhk/s1600-h/B+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrB7hAvSIFf3j2kOcpiUXz72hxKLlTZXRTzwnjXuliFh8FRmjkATPmxRBbRsH4Fkpjo6J7i1nUwddRq5Q-_dcjMKJjWKBwJqMS4bHpPnEocT6FzxIHgp5I-bRP8FYdLF03QyaCxKzYVhk/s200/B+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266899592615419378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgpmOOBlu7u7lEMrBeRaXdF9-fRHAdJAl6BAnVWJH0ZCQBHne1hiYxePQqJPkIgUsoP_9YV_lVHF03sZaJ7kDDpjArypcGSK5eN6ktu5DK4NPqxCcK0ZbcXpvqUzULYPaCxZ9VKcWDFM/s1600-h/C+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgpmOOBlu7u7lEMrBeRaXdF9-fRHAdJAl6BAnVWJH0ZCQBHne1hiYxePQqJPkIgUsoP_9YV_lVHF03sZaJ7kDDpjArypcGSK5eN6ktu5DK4NPqxCcK0ZbcXpvqUzULYPaCxZ9VKcWDFM/s200/C+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266899427568497282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQKLa6rXMcGovhwapx1xd97iQtSMMtt8K4z8pYzQGZLBwEJusTMu8fItjCY5_7Cqr2qlXcCdgfjzlYcbJjV8NjdWtyNp_G6X68yqRwlZTvkp8FbG4xlFRJVwpfKySdnMagRUmSBFMvcg/s1600-h/D+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQKLa6rXMcGovhwapx1xd97iQtSMMtt8K4z8pYzQGZLBwEJusTMu8fItjCY5_7Cqr2qlXcCdgfjzlYcbJjV8NjdWtyNp_G6X68yqRwlZTvkp8FbG4xlFRJVwpfKySdnMagRUmSBFMvcg/s200/D+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266899358237883730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cupcakerace.com/">Cast your vote now!</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-89779756827495488152008-11-02T18:05:00.000-08:002008-11-02T18:14:28.544-08:00Announcing the Cupcake Race Art Contest!Cupcake Race is sponsoring its first ever contest! The kids at <a href="http://www.pilgrimchurchandschool.org/">Pilgrim Lutheran School</a> in Chicago will be creating original art that represents some idea they have that involves cupcakes. It might be their concept of what the "perfect" cupcake would look like. Or maybe their interpretation of what a cupcake's worst nightmare would be. What would a family of cupcakes do for vacation? Whatever concept or idea regarding cupcakes they wish to convey. The basic guideline is that it has to be original and it has to cupcake-themed.<br /><br />Cupcake Race will narrow the contestants down to the top five (5), and choose one (1) Grand Prize winner. The winner will receive a t-shirt and have his or her art featured on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cupcakerace</span>.com. In addition, the winner's ENTIRE CLASS will receive cupcakes!<br /><br />The remaining four (4) finalists will participate in an online poll, where readers get to vote for their favorite of the four. The winner of the on-line poll will also have their art featured on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cupcakerace</span>.com.<br /><br />Both the Grand Prize winner and the winner of the online favorite will get to write on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cupcakerace</span>.com about what inspired their idea and anything they want to share about their art, if they so desire.<br /><br />The students will be submitting their entries by November 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span>, and the entries will be posted online as soon thereafter as possible. Voting for the online poll will run for ten (10) days.<br /><br />Finally, I want to thank my blogger friend <a href="http://beckanstee.blogspot.com/">Beck</a> for collaborating and making this idea possible! Way to go Beck!!<br /><br />Okay kids, go forth and cupcake!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-27646576733618850722008-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:002008-10-30T20:36:29.688-07:00Su Van's Bake Shop3351 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONYcX0uufEzGzoNUJ3-RzmxiapHMb9GSw3MX0v6n4DNhCFcHufbr1lsfI0xJFAQmFh7gOGKQuqNSnoXVmjzQJX0HZuYOC-FqXZFc1BSWnTR9ojKkTA2cLdpBoWKuAvyR8QJp8585QDxY/s1600-h/suvans_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONYcX0uufEzGzoNUJ3-RzmxiapHMb9GSw3MX0v6n4DNhCFcHufbr1lsfI0xJFAQmFh7gOGKQuqNSnoXVmjzQJX0HZuYOC-FqXZFc1BSWnTR9ojKkTA2cLdpBoWKuAvyR8QJp8585QDxY/s400/suvans_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263143428898649490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chocolate cupcake with plain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">buttercream</span> frosting</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $2.77</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: n/a</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: n/a</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The nice lady at the counter explained to me that the frosting was made with a "rue," which I learned was a mixture of flour and milk added to the buttercream. This, she says, enables you to make the buttercream real light and helps keep it from being too sweet. It worked. The frosting was super-light, almost like a whipped cream, and not too sweet...and still had the graininess that I like so much. The only drawback was that it just seemed a little "lumpy" or coagulated. I had to knock it down half a point for that. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 8.0/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Good substance, for the most part moist, but a little bit on the dense side so in some places it tended to seem just a little dry. Chocolate flavor was really good</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> though. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 8.0/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Su Van's is just 1/2 block north of Dinkel's, so it has formidable competition. (But Su Van's is really more of a brunch/lunch place, which Dinkel's is not.) The thing I noticed about the cupcakes here is that they all look great without trying to be perfect. They just seem to me to look like what a cupcake should look like, if that makes any sense. I find that a lot of times cupcakes that have that "perfect" look are the ones that don't necessarily taste that great</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. But these were well put-together, good proportions of frosting to cake, and just looked really clean. And the one I had tasted really good. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 8.00/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-52486598482366666342008-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:002008-10-25T00:07:11.751-07:00Cupcake Race Goes to Austin, TX!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs8UgH0lX2_oqPQcFKdOU6gTn9UHnN70BDEhXneWdB72nBqr-loMrBenO7CxqrMp0GVbuo5endnj3hqb8f7aGOO0n0DHCk1siIDKzGKWB5dPxF_nx30mlToU7fIOihEaogjGH-5j8tQQ/s1600-h/texas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs8UgH0lX2_oqPQcFKdOU6gTn9UHnN70BDEhXneWdB72nBqr-loMrBenO7CxqrMp0GVbuo5endnj3hqb8f7aGOO0n0DHCk1siIDKzGKWB5dPxF_nx30mlToU7fIOihEaogjGH-5j8tQQ/s400/texas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260902458308511682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hey Cupcake!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1600 S Congress, Austin, TX</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaF9pBSbz5vCuO7W53Ix0pST_rOQ0ggUbLaaFHT5KoUQ-IXJMktBL4MqgEVuByQFPePoQyyBKwhvw3cgjcUkCy-172m_9bqjMl0UG0ITTbwX-GzzMD8OVEohwTgCqHQEGY3CJcYDskiE/s1600-h/heycupcake_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaF9pBSbz5vCuO7W53Ix0pST_rOQ0ggUbLaaFHT5KoUQ-IXJMktBL4MqgEVuByQFPePoQyyBKwhvw3cgjcUkCy-172m_9bqjMl0UG0ITTbwX-GzzMD8OVEohwTgCqHQEGY3CJcYDskiE/s400/heycupcake_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260830634793148930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Chocolate cupcake with plain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">buttercream</span> frosting</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $2.00</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: n/a</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: n/a</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The frosting was light and very lick-able, and the best way I can describe the texture is that it had a chalky</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> or powdery feel -- which is not to say I didn't like it. I liked it very much. It was perhaps just a tiny little bit too sweet, but overall, it was a very respectable frosting. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 8.25/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The cake was perfectly moist and tender, and it had a dark/bittersweet chocolate</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> flavor, which paired nicely with the sweet frosting. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 9.25/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I did some Googling for cupcakes in Austin and came across Hey Cupcake!</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> On my way, I envisioned a cupcake stand, but I didn't picture a cupcake stand fashioned out of an Airstream trailer parked in an empty lot. But, hey, it's Texas afterall.<br /><br />I was staying at the Four Seasons (love those corporate rates!) and asked the concierge for the address of Hey Cupcake! With the same seriousness and professionalism as if I had just asked for reservations at the finest steakhouse in Austin and orchestra prime seats at the opera, he found the information and printed it for me. Then, although I had asked for a mere taxi, the valet instead called the hotel driver. So there I am, being chauffeured in a shiny black Lincoln Continental, to a gravel parking lot where there sits only a cupcake trailer and a couple of patio tables. I can only imagine what people thought as they watched me step out of the limo, walk up to the trailer and order a cupcake. The driver offered to stay and wait for me, but, feeling slightly embarrassed, I told him I'd just try to find a taxi on the way back.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />So the cupcake: I thought this was a really great cupcake. The frosting was just a little too sweet for my taste, otherwise I'd probably give the cupcake a 9.25 overall. But as it was, it couldn't have been much better. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 8.75/10.0<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYn8vpiv-WfPFJgajGsnS8nJDM5lStvF1EVIZMzHNgQcCVLZnNctoHJlfDnpGsFD9hV2HS3nmaTdtAMiovCcaY154EIMwF5OK9OpdAbvQYm1zqpW488XndvNGdNtkktCpJ0SHc0yg9kI/s1600-h/heycupcaketrailer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYn8vpiv-WfPFJgajGsnS8nJDM5lStvF1EVIZMzHNgQcCVLZnNctoHJlfDnpGsFD9hV2HS3nmaTdtAMiovCcaY154EIMwF5OK9OpdAbvQYm1zqpW488XndvNGdNtkktCpJ0SHc0yg9kI/s400/heycupcaketrailer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260831300694889058" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-63752551725874045032008-10-19T12:14:00.000-07:002008-10-19T12:15:27.307-07:00New T-Shirt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7XuMtHU_2KoCW_xqlC-nMfdubDvsLGHyTAkQudDhgcbVYh2dCi4fx8EXp6djcEwMZhzgJd4OTEN0bOq9sSRJ5vvmYkoPDyV-LKr2O3GAA0Ra_hSPULwHN31OI8AihZSMYD1EbzExoYU/s1600-h/tshirt1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7XuMtHU_2KoCW_xqlC-nMfdubDvsLGHyTAkQudDhgcbVYh2dCi4fx8EXp6djcEwMZhzgJd4OTEN0bOq9sSRJ5vvmYkoPDyV-LKr2O3GAA0Ra_hSPULwHN31OI8AihZSMYD1EbzExoYU/s400/tshirt1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258945722034453762" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-10761034143842129682008-10-10T13:00:00.000-07:002008-10-11T16:38:40.210-07:00Flourish Bakery Café1138 W Bryn <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mawr</span>, Chicago, IL<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGXHdNh9VcfgbT2SSIWBI_9Lw0CsrqiOXqa-rfDimW7KVIqTlzymxJ10uoy5B1WDrWtJP4ig2b56-1Lr1IhnrjJQs_cAJwjGDzeIlUONKSbOP5cJ9tuJEjcBXHFfB3ikRjNwKEb-qGY4/s1600-h/flourish_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGXHdNh9VcfgbT2SSIWBI_9Lw0CsrqiOXqa-rfDimW7KVIqTlzymxJ10uoy5B1WDrWtJP4ig2b56-1Lr1IhnrjJQs_cAJwjGDzeIlUONKSbOP5cJ9tuJEjcBXHFfB3ikRjNwKEb-qGY4/s400/flourish_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255576984488336818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yellow cupcake with plain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">buttercream</span> frosting</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $1.49</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 3 3/4 oz (106g)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $0.397/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The frosting is so light, soft and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pillowy</span> that </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">you can literally lick it off the cupcake like you're eating an ice cream cone, rather than having to bite into it</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Like my favorite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">frostings</span>, it has a grainy texture and only a very slightly greasy feel </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 9.5/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Normally I try to get a chocolate cupcake with plain frosting, but they didn't have any this day. (They had chocolate/chocolate, but I decided to go for the plain frosting rather than the chocolate cake.) The yellow cake was very soft and moist. It had a nice flavor, but the only possible negative thing I would say is that it tasted perhaps a <span style="font-style: italic;">little</span> too much like a cake you might get from a Duncan Hines cake mix, and it still had a somewhat "batter-like" taste</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 8.0/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I just recently discovered this bakery/cafe while driving around in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Edgewater</span>. My first trip back was to have a sandwich (turkey, bacon & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Swiss</span> on cranberry-pecan bread, with fruit chutney, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">which was <span style="font-style: italic;">excellent</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">), and I drooled over the pastries and baked goods.<br /><br />I really like this place. It's large, bright, clean and happy, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I'm only somewhat familiar with the area, but I think the stretch of Bryn <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mawr</span> where Flourish is located, between Broadway and Sheridan, has gone through a little renaissance over the past few years. (I'm told Flourish has been there for about 3 years.) The neighborhood still has some lingering elements of its former "sketchiness," but aside from the wandering local half-way house residents, for the most part it seems to be well into the up-side of up-and-coming.<br /><br />As for the cupcake, overall it was very, very nice. I especially liked the frosting, and there's no doubt I'll be going back try the chocolate version. Probably today. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 8.75/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-49986980152858006022008-10-03T00:00:00.000-07:002008-10-02T22:12:52.617-07:00Sweet Cakes Bakery935 N <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Damen</span>, Chicago<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zeRQnNEYrJorOUcIK9CeEXpAh4ORUMz7pts5L5b_DDoBpBXuM1Ym0UE25Ghe15c9p2Nqnbwbl_OvBWG1JWcypCZ6xCJolTiDwwIWA5Hl4YHaI5Sz7DBW5UJLDHPKKtmlf6Qu4hDQRxE/s1600-h/sweetcakes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zeRQnNEYrJorOUcIK9CeEXpAh4ORUMz7pts5L5b_DDoBpBXuM1Ym0UE25Ghe15c9p2Nqnbwbl_OvBWG1JWcypCZ6xCJolTiDwwIWA5Hl4YHaI5Sz7DBW5UJLDHPKKtmlf6Qu4hDQRxE/s400/sweetcakes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251231153155046866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chocolate cupcake with white chocolate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">buttercream</span> frosting</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $2.21</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 4 5/8 oz (131g)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $0.478/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The frosting is smooth and greasy, with no hint of graininess. Regarding the taste, I have to say that after having tasted a few white-chocolate flavored <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">buttercreams</span>, I have decided that there is no place in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">buttercream</span> frosting for white chocolate. The flavor combination just doesn't seem to work in my opinion, and here is why I think so: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Buttercream</span> is made with butter, right? And despite the name, white chocolate isn't actually chocolate at all. It's actually a substance that is extracted from the "chocolate liquor," a thick liquid of fermented cacao seeds that have been ground up. By pressing this liquid, it separates into cocoa solids and cocoa butter, which is also known as white chocolate. The cocoa butter is essentially the vegetable fat of the cacao bean. So you're really just mixing two fats together with a white chocolate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">buttercream</span>; it's kind of like making the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">buttercream</span> frosting with part butter and part Crisco. The white chocolate flavor doesn't even really seem come through the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">buttercream</span> or give it any distinctiveness, other than perhaps to make it a little greasier. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The taste and texture of this frosting was kind of like biting into a cool stick of butter. There was some sweetness, but it was mostly bland. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So let's just agree on this one thing: bakeries should just cease and desist on the white-chocolate flavored <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">buttercream</span>.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 5.0/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Oh, the cake. After the experience with the frosting, I wasn't expecting this</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Possibly the best chocolate cake I have ever tasted. The chocolate flavor was rich, deep, sublime. The texture was moist, chewy and substantive. It is just so unfortunate that they paired it with a mediocre frosting. It merits a perfect rating. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 10.0/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I might have to re-evaluate my rather simplistic rating system. Basically, my Overall Rating is just the unweighted average of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">individual</span> ratings of the frosting and cake. I guess I can't decide if I like that method in this particular case. I liked the chocolate cake on this cupcake more than any other so far -- in my view it was almost off the charts. But the frosting was disappointing. In the end, my Overall rating is 7.5, but I'm left wondering would I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> prefer this cupcake -- this <span style="font-style: italic;">particular </span>cupcake<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span> -- over, say, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Dinkel's</span> cupcake (7.0) which I like very much and which doesn't have any drawback like this one did?<br /><br />So, I didn't like the frosting on the Sweet Cakes cupcake, but while it was a distraction to the overall experience, it wasn't totally awful. This is where the numerical rating just doesn't do a very good job, because if I had a choice between this particular cupcake and the average <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Dinkel's</span> cupcake, I would take <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Dinkel's</span>. Sure, I could always lower the frosting score so that the Overall Rating would be lower than 7.0, but I didn't feel that the frosting deserved a 4.0 rating, for example.<br /><br />Oh well, I'm too lazy to come up with anything more sophisticated, so I guess I'll settle for imperfect. Besides, it's only a cupcake. And I can't believe I've even written this much. Is anyone still reading?</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > Overall Rating</span> 7.5/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-65476453467326492102008-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:002008-09-26T22:06:10.924-07:00A Taste of Heaven5401 N Clark St, Chicago<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEe3Pqf6-CYMsVNqhWf2WpXMkfRfKsc6pJZWQkptxMZGcN3EqAqXsWbobZc-teGDFraEuR_ofto-OoxZNvwhSUfsVYTJ-XoBEcQ-JdM6pcbFG6hgbA-VRH0Vh7c9hTGal_ryguyMwD2Y/s1600-h/heaven_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEe3Pqf6-CYMsVNqhWf2WpXMkfRfKsc6pJZWQkptxMZGcN3EqAqXsWbobZc-teGDFraEuR_ofto-OoxZNvwhSUfsVYTJ-XoBEcQ-JdM6pcbFG6hgbA-VRH0Vh7c9hTGal_ryguyMwD2Y/s400/heaven_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249814398153370306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chocolate cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting and chocolate ganache</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $2.70</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 4 1/2 oz (128g)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $0.600/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The ganache covering the buttercream frosting is rich and way-super-chocolaty. The flavor in the chocolate buttercream itself, however, was a little hard to discern. The buttercream was a little dense and seemed to have more the consistency of a paté than a frosting</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Without the ganache, I would probably give the frosting a 7.0.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 8.5/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The texture of cake was chewy, substantive and moist, with a larger crumb</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. The chocolate flavor was fine -- not too subtle, not overbearing. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 8.5/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> This was overall a very nice cupcake</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. A word of warning, however: The ganache is so rich and chocolaty that this really should be a 2-person cupcake. I have a pretty high sugar tolerance, but even I felt light-headed and dizzy after eating this whole cupcake (and <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">that</span> says something).<br /><br />Apart from the cake, however, I have to say I have been disappointed more than a couple of times with the service at A Taste of Heaven. The last time I went there was about 3 years ago, and I actually had stopped visiting because of the service. Previously, it seemed that the employees were more interested in talking to each other than they were waiting on the counter; this time, it seemed like I waited an unnecessarily long time for service, which was made to seem even longer by the fact that there was an employee just standing next to the counter doing nothing while another worker was helping the person in front of me. My friends will say that I have perhaps an abnormally low tolerance for poor or even mediocre service, so in fairness I should point that out; I do tend to be overly critical about such things.<br /><br />Okay, I'm a diva. I'll admit it.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 8.50/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-85941670834765138302008-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:002008-10-26T19:42:50.353-07:00Cupcake coutureNo review this week....just a shirt my friend Jason got me, in Taiwan of all places.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnqsCM0bp822Ktuh6l4fXtbauU7lV4GLxr-vNP6jahFQUmnmrJDa95pRxVMRE0n4iJmy4n-LfFZlekjwRZWorCyvlidou1jZdhg8NRe7CVYYe_RE0bSXT3aKUxDty-hN-v3qJjqrnYHM/s1600-h/tshirt_war.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnqsCM0bp822Ktuh6l4fXtbauU7lV4GLxr-vNP6jahFQUmnmrJDa95pRxVMRE0n4iJmy4n-LfFZlekjwRZWorCyvlidou1jZdhg8NRe7CVYYe_RE0bSXT3aKUxDty-hN-v3qJjqrnYHM/s400/tshirt_war.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261658542139374706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BNNgdCJ2AXycIb8zwRXgttFGbvteBooFkUOiS8hQ9hCeFuIEts9nWfw1YQHkIu47UzU3UvXvuQIz3_niOpDrj1NOwcnsAAJmBCvCJ4aR3WaJtNb0JNgaMmldssaF-TAhcsmV5Edx7l0/s1600-h/tshirt.jpg"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-67585381361781918382008-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:002008-09-26T22:06:25.188-07:00Lutz Café & Pastry Shop2458 W Montrose, Chicago, IL<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_lkHUQzgKC7Ui3mlPiizYew3g1yHxt6z4Hq48BPgdE6H_ph3Zg6Q6_WB4cqITel3W_LPjml-0Y9VGTREl1xlyg5T74axvY3PW0Snbf2S7QKs0un7WFtHuB8DiRlIu-g-hlLyZD6ANp4/s1600-h/lutz_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_lkHUQzgKC7Ui3mlPiizYew3g1yHxt6z4Hq48BPgdE6H_ph3Zg6Q6_WB4cqITel3W_LPjml-0Y9VGTREl1xlyg5T74axvY3PW0Snbf2S7QKs0un7WFtHuB8DiRlIu-g-hlLyZD6ANp4/s400/lutz_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245237542284648594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chocolate cupcake with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">buttercream</span> (?) frosting</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $2.56</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 2 3/4 oz (77g)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $0.931/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The frosting was light and marshmallowy. The lady at the counter said it was a buttercream, but I really don't think it was -- the texture and taste was just too much like a stabilized whipped cream. Also, speaking of taste, it seemed to have absorbed the flavor of something else in the display case, because it had a slight tiramisu-like flavor. Finally, it was rather bland. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 5.0/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> If the frosting was disappointing, the cake was a disaster. The bottom third of the cupcake was soggy and had an alcohol flavor</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, like it had been saturated in vanilla extract (maybe this is what the frosting was picking up). The top of the cake was okay. It had a delicate chocolate flavor and a spongy texture. If not for the soggy mess at the bottom I might have rated the cake a 6.0, but I just can't make any excuses to give it a good rating. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 2.0/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> There is just nothing more to be said -- there is no excuse to sell a cupcake of this quality. I've had other sweets and pastries at Lutz, and none were as bad as this, so hopefully this was just a fluke</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 3.50/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-11454706451159096422008-09-05T00:00:00.000-07:002008-10-13T09:22:54.533-07:00Café Selmarie4729 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoPL9JsIHcO2-2_OLv_3DM5wKVXxX7QTwj3MQTdnSnBfOe7BEc6UI_hz16GZrNSCcBAxN5GLo-_U0EMStlfjHcb_Zt11YRpOHk4URPu5qh6d1_QLPYk1Wj6H76EzqKVJanr5puEFVe0o/s1600-h/selmarie_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoPL9JsIHcO2-2_OLv_3DM5wKVXxX7QTwj3MQTdnSnBfOe7BEc6UI_hz16GZrNSCcBAxN5GLo-_U0EMStlfjHcb_Zt11YRpOHk4URPu5qh6d1_QLPYk1Wj6H76EzqKVJanr5puEFVe0o/s400/selmarie_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242367276563703554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chocolate cupcake with white chocolate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">buttercream</span> frosting</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $2.37</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 3 1/4 oz (91g)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $0.729/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Smooth and slightly on the heavy side. The frosting was rich and creamy, but mixed on the white chocolate flavor. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 7.0/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Slightly dry and crumbly, which is unfortunate because it really detracts from the decent chocolate flavor that would otherwise make for a pretty good cupcake. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 6.0/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I really didn't expect that I'd enjoy this cupcake from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Café</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Selmarie</span> at all. A lot of the other cakes and desserts here seem to me to be very bland. However, they always looked so good that for a couple of years I would convince myself to try them just one more time, thinking that the next one will taste better. However, each time I was disappointed, and each time I would say to myself, "Never again." Alas, I found myself there the other night with some friends and I noticed that they have cupcakes, so I decided I'd have to at least give them a chance. (For the record, the banana eclair I had that night once again disappointed - it was just so bland to me that the only thing that saved it was the banana).<br /><br />Although my expectations were pretty low with the cupcake, it didn't turn out to be bland like the other desserts I've had. Though the white chocolate didn't really add flavor, but at least the frosting was actually sweet, creamy and rich. And the cake had a decent chocolate flavor. All in all, while it wasn't a bad cupcake, I thought it was just little bit below the <a href="http://www.cupcakerace.com/2008/03/blog-post.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dinkel's</span></a> standard, mostly due to the density of the frosting and the slightly dry cake. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 6.50/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-12845768455511616272008-08-29T00:00:00.000-07:002008-09-26T22:06:47.042-07:00Bennison's Bakery<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1000 Davis St, Evanston, IL</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ULMSnGHmKEqlRR63QRYmnFomOKbahBVjzCX1ymetuUTleGiI-kKG37GMTmX7P6oXdMkar-EYrghGhyphenhyphenlMPzXexer0VnVH2QXrX500Sx1zVugcK17PVuH-Eoo5c4LE2GAOjEE-z1dUGZc/s1600-h/bennisons3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ULMSnGHmKEqlRR63QRYmnFomOKbahBVjzCX1ymetuUTleGiI-kKG37GMTmX7P6oXdMkar-EYrghGhyphenhyphenlMPzXexer0VnVH2QXrX500Sx1zVugcK17PVuH-Eoo5c4LE2GAOjEE-z1dUGZc/s400/bennisons3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239791590944694498" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $1.30</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 2 3/4 oz (78g)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $0.473/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> There are really 2 frostings on this cupcake. The white frosting is less grainy and slightly greasy; the blue frosting has a sweeter, sugary taste and a grainy, thick consistency. If the white frosting can be described as moist, the blue might be described as having a somewhat dry texture (while not <span style="font-style: italic;">actually</span> being dry). I liked the combination of textures, although I have to say I was partial to the grainer blue frosting. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 9.25/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The cake has a superb chocolate flavor and a soft, chewy texture that has some substance to it. An excellent cake. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 9.25/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Another fantastic cupcake. I don't know if I'm just being too easy of a judge lately, or if it really takes a special talent to make a bad cupcake.<br /><br />I liked the fact that there were essentially 3 textures and 3 flavors here: the chewy chocolatey cake, the smooth plain white buttercream frosting, and the sweeter, grainer blue frosting. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 9.25/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-9655923021558818502008-08-22T00:00:00.000-07:002008-08-22T17:40:42.405-07:00RecapThe <a href="http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_bcgmatrix.html">BCG</a> Cupcake Portfolio Matrix<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3FFAis1GUTcf1j85JMrhiHLUboa6u9WJ2_ZFVbk9LMXkPjWT7QPsiGeoM88_7S4WQxxFIHROhtSyJinNBUQL6ZOki18n7Cd8ajjYrDkBR6fZFG664odDrw4wXy1VFVrcZkSJ4OGNiU4/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3FFAis1GUTcf1j85JMrhiHLUboa6u9WJ2_ZFVbk9LMXkPjWT7QPsiGeoM88_7S4WQxxFIHROhtSyJinNBUQL6ZOki18n7Cd8ajjYrDkBR6fZFG664odDrw4wXy1VFVrcZkSJ4OGNiU4/s400/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237506502061724226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxwYf6eja2odkH7EICx2t7BYLvDTCA0e3dQMm4Viemlm58ukA6UmOJw-l-FnbpQDRotQdH4Dcuisf56X2UV5V5NjzND3h8oqiqcatclQarW3VK9urIdUzyLtE1L9rH9Uk7HKSxRfh3dc/s1600-h/Cupcake+Graph.png"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-30972262311413838782008-08-08T00:00:00.000-07:002008-08-07T22:09:57.398-07:00JewelVarious locations around Chicago<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79J_ckIPwIehBEQfHXRXd2e6AVJj9nPwAOpT195ggSJaI1y-pc53nzglGZm9MDvpqKwdlo6qTxLbyWakD8G36b2nuodmOYqbJ9Uy8HfY1u9-o7-NiguoYDioiobXSFFB0T5Qen2F1RD0/s1600-h/jewel_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79J_ckIPwIehBEQfHXRXd2e6AVJj9nPwAOpT195ggSJaI1y-pc53nzglGZm9MDvpqKwdlo6qTxLbyWakD8G36b2nuodmOYqbJ9Uy8HfY1u9-o7-NiguoYDioiobXSFFB0T5Qen2F1RD0/s400/jewel_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231982208874036850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $3.78 for 6</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 2 3/8 oz each (67g)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $0.265/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The frosting is thick, slightly grainy and has a candy-like sweetness, though not overly sweet. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 8.5/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The chocolate cake has a nice flavor and a moist, soft crumb. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 8.5/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> That's right, Jewel the grocery store. We've all had grocery store birthday cake -- some are so sweet and overbearing that even those of us with the most dedicated sweet tooth can't finish even a single slice, and others are so tantalizingly good we keep going back to the fridge to sneak just one last slice, again and again</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. This cupcake is like the good birthday cake. I bought a pack of six, and they were gone in 24 hours. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cupcake purists might roll their eyes when I say this,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> but in my opinion this cupcake rates near some of the best. Actually, I have to admit I wasn't really all that surprised. There are certainly better cupcakes out there, but when you can get SIX really good cupcakes for the price of one very good cupcake, you have to wonder if what you're paying for at some of those fancier bakeries is worth it. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 8.5/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-84667932630541828392008-08-01T00:00:00.000-07:002008-08-01T17:11:23.053-07:00Fox & Obel401 E Illinois, Chicago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZlRIkDBh9RsdrRDzHjNm44OUA-6bAdSAX2Rh1Wt0MLTSyMR6zXzdlWSN6tji7GodSel6UDEzYP8inKLzQu-sPZ1zWroVZwMWFJxlpJMhToEf0tmZHGYBoMuX1Q72iO5c936_9kLP97g/s1600-h/foxobel_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZlRIkDBh9RsdrRDzHjNm44OUA-6bAdSAX2Rh1Wt0MLTSyMR6zXzdlWSN6tji7GodSel6UDEzYP8inKLzQu-sPZ1zWroVZwMWFJxlpJMhToEf0tmZHGYBoMuX1Q72iO5c936_9kLP97g/s400/foxobel_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229339438817771330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Price: $3.06</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Weight: 4 5/8 oz (130g)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Value: $0.662/oz</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The frosting is smooth, sweet, and chocolate fudge-like. I would also say it had a quality that can only be described as....well, wet. It was like frosting you would get out of a can at the grocery store. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 6.0/10<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The cake was a little bit dry on the edges, but toward the center it was fairly moist. I know this will sound strange, but it also seemed like there was some kind of spice or herb in the cake -- I kept tasting something that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I can't say it was bad necessarily, but I wish I could place it. Even though the texture was a little dry, I was intrigued. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rating</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 6.0/10</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Overall</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I've heard people rave about the cupcakes at Fox & Obel, but I couldn't help thinking the frosting was something from Duncan Hines. The store seems like a nice place though. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I would describe it as a grocery store with mood lighting.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I didn't look around a lot, but my initial impression is that of a more upscale Whole Foods (if that means anything). Even so, I was impressed that the cupcake, for as big as it was, wasn't more expensive. It's a decent cupcake, and worth the price overall -- in other words, I wouldn't turn it down. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Overall Rating</span> 6.0/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-38667355193695938942008-07-25T00:00:00.000-07:002008-08-09T08:14:12.187-07:00Molly's Cupcakes2536 N Clark, Chicago<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLoRuefRrh-Lho1ZhftK0LZkfwxWP0uRJ9XVCBM4tSJccNTq-rHIiYdezDGZ7OmDFchIwBdZH1coe4jDfMausy3caQYwDRhVA0UICcDXCrqBo78xAj9WdkIvEyGUck0amN6igj55AIG0/s1600-h/Mollys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLoRuefRrh-Lho1ZhftK0LZkfwxWP0uRJ9XVCBM4tSJccNTq-rHIiYdezDGZ7OmDFchIwBdZH1coe4jDfMausy3caQYwDRhVA0UICcDXCrqBo78xAj9WdkIvEyGUck0amN6igj55AIG0/s400/Mollys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226763497005351810" border="0" /></a><br />Chocolate cupcake with vanilla French buttercream frosting<br />Price: $2.20<br />Weight: 2 3/4 oz (79g)<br />Value: $0.800/oz<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span> The frosting is smooth, creamy and very light -- so light that it was almost more like a thick Chantilly cream. While it is certainly sweet, you actually sense the richness and body first as it hits the taste buds in the middle of your tongue. This is one of the best, most sublime buttercreams I think I've had. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating</span> 9.5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span> The cake is exceptionally moist, soft and light. The chocolate flavor is superb, coming through full and flavorful -- neither faint (like a lot of cupcakes) nor overbearing. Simply excellent. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating</span> 9.5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span></span> Hands down, this is the best cupcake overall that I've tasted so far. The frosting is so unlike most buttercreams you'd find on a cupcake, and combined with the moist, chocolaty cake it creates such a full, rich flavor. Not only should you go out and try this cupcake, but you should eat it while sitting on one of the playground swings in the shop. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Rating</span> 9.5/10.0<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Update:</span> If you go here, pay close attention to the price of what you are getting if you don't want to be shocked at the register. Apparently, $2.00 is the basic cupcake only. For the "build your own" cupcakes, prices can go up to $4.50 -- which the price boards explain. But be aware that even pre-made cupcakes from the display case may be priced at the "build your own" prices (they don't show prices next to the cupcakes in the case). Hence my shock when a friend and I selected 2 cupcakes from the display case, and paid $8.82. The cookies & cream cupcake I got just looked like a simple chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting and a 1/2 Oreo stuck in the top. It turned out to be $4.50! I have to admit, after questioning the price at the register and the reaction I got from the cashier, I was a little turned off by this place. To top it off, my Oreo cupcake turned out to be wet and soggy inside, like it was a sponge that had been soaked in water. And it took all of 4 bites to finish. So, after such a great initial review, I'll just say I have reservations now. If you don't mind the gimmicks, then you may like this place.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-84912571816594209372008-07-18T00:00:00.000-07:002008-07-17T20:53:25.236-07:00House of Fine Chocolates3109 N Broadway, Chicago<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqMb7q09AWJBMyx2d-Yeem51PlB4j4NFG3chbrWzZcOw_e8AL6YhPPKb9o7mpsCvS9nWQeeUsMhle7eHKVHQ56W6J0ghL3TxGmSj5E4Gp0kp0wWvozIOmtJbE9AzVvF4LIHRUSq96BDo/s1600-h/housefine_sm1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqMb7q09AWJBMyx2d-Yeem51PlB4j4NFG3chbrWzZcOw_e8AL6YhPPKb9o7mpsCvS9nWQeeUsMhle7eHKVHQ56W6J0ghL3TxGmSj5E4Gp0kp0wWvozIOmtJbE9AzVvF4LIHRUSq96BDo/s400/housefine_sm1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224169591091676578" border="0" /></a><br />Chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting<br />Price: $1.53<br />Weight: 2 1/4 oz (65g)<br />Value: $0.680/oz<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span> The frosting is smooth, milk-chocolaty, light and flavorful. The texture is just right for a cupcake. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating</span> 9/10<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span> Moist, soft and light. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating</span> 9/10<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span></span> With a name like House of Fine Chocolates, you'd probably think truffles before you would guess that they also have cupcakes. At least I did. This is another one of those unexpected gems. They may not make fancy cupcakes with bizarre or clever flavor combinations, but there's a lot to be said for a really good cupcake at a reasonable price. So if you're walking up Broadway on your way to get a fancy cupcake at Cupcakes, and you just can't wait the 5 more minutes it will take you to walk there, duck into this shop and get one to go. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Rating</span> 9.0/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-20166356035282724232008-07-11T00:00:00.000-07:002008-07-10T20:41:53.052-07:00Bleeding Heart Bakery1955 W Belmont, Chicago<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jH-Ddl6-BnKKKuHJd1rbbEJ_wR4AOqlwrJ0zuv-I6qw5VBj7ANJc9QtML3MplpDgJF_EehY52WMQy99dC2RG6iVqL3vVHlbGpJWNMJ-1KssYXuU2B8rlhPhKeC3cbN49NlWTc84kNY8/s1600-h/BleedingHeart_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jH-Ddl6-BnKKKuHJd1rbbEJ_wR4AOqlwrJ0zuv-I6qw5VBj7ANJc9QtML3MplpDgJF_EehY52WMQy99dC2RG6iVqL3vVHlbGpJWNMJ-1KssYXuU2B8rlhPhKeC3cbN49NlWTc84kNY8/s400/BleedingHeart_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221187289489147986" border="0" /></a><br />Chocolate cupcake with plain frosting and chocolate shavings<br />Price: $3.59<br />Weight: 3 3/8 oz (97g)<br />Value: $1.064/oz<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span> Grainy, buttery but not greasy, and a slightly chalky texture...which is not necessarily a criticism. The frosting has a little density to it, and I generally prefer something that feels lighter and more whipped. The chocolate shavings added a nice bittersweet flavor. It was a solid performer, but didn't knock my socks off. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating</span> 7.5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span> The cake also has some substance to it that you can really bite into. A cupcake this dense without sufficient moistness would have been a disaster, but this cake was very moist. Great chocolate flavor too -- rich without being overbearing. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating</span> 9/10<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span></span> I'm afraid to say anything bad about this bakery, because the people who run the place look like they would hurt me. I really don't know how to describe them: a mix of biker/punk/hipster/urban and....I don't know. Heavily pierced, thoroughly tattooed and colorfully dyed.<br /><br />But none of that should distract you from checking out this bakery. It may be a little pricey, but it by far has the most character of any bakery/cafe I've been to, and based on this cupcake alone I'd say it's a pretty good one at that. Plus, I don't know anywhere else you can get chocolate covered bacon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Rating</span> 8.25/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702357728178892920.post-19601545384938287782008-06-20T00:00:00.000-07:002008-06-19T20:48:56.495-07:00Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Café1114 W Belmont, Chicago<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixERUIrmrH46sTAthN_-TmOqENpvpVocJisJ2SXOyL8E8nzLrk6pyERk1nf6igxLf4oyxyqsm82feEu4B8H3AKC9ra2WJfBkV551muVVlP2f2xe0qB0laUGzlSJAPCHY5GGczDow3ck4/s1600-h/bittersweet_sm1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixERUIrmrH46sTAthN_-TmOqENpvpVocJisJ2SXOyL8E8nzLrk6pyERk1nf6igxLf4oyxyqsm82feEu4B8H3AKC9ra2WJfBkV551muVVlP2f2xe0qB0laUGzlSJAPCHY5GGczDow3ck4/s400/bittersweet_sm1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213748342053347602" border="0" /></a>Yellow cupcake with hazelnut buttercream frosting and milk chocolate filling<br />Price: $3.55<br />Weight: 3 1/8 oz (89g)<br />Value: $1.136/oz<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frosting</span></span> Smooth, light and creamy; no graininess. Just the right amount of flavor. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating</span> 9.0/10<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span> Moist and rich, with a flavorful filling. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating</span> 9.5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span></span> This cupcake has an excellent combination of flavors. Normally I try to get a chocolate cupcake with plain vanilla frosting so that my comparisons are meaningful. However, Bittersweet did not have any chocolate cupcakes this day, but when it comes to cupcakes, I happily take what I can get.<br /><br />When the clerk at the shop told me it was hazelnut with milk chocolate buttercream, I assumed that the cake was hazelnut flavored and the frosting was milk chocolate (though I thought the color was a little light even for milk chocolate). So when I bit into the frosting and tasted hazelnut, I was a little puzzled. It wasn't until I bit into the cake that I discovered the (surprise!) milk chocolate buttercream filling.<br /><br />I'm usually skeptical of pricey cupcakes. I have a rule of thumb that says the most expensive and/or the best-looking cupcakes are usually the most disappointing in terms of taste (see <a href="http://www.cupcakerace.com/2008/04/sarahs-pastries-candies.html">Sarah's</a> and <a href="http://www.cupcakerace.com/2008/05/caf-bombon.html">Café Bombon</a>). However, this cupcake was, as the saying goes, the exception that proves the rule. I was thoroughly pleased and impressed, and it got extra credit for cleverly hiding the chocolate buttercream . <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Rating</span> 9.25/10.0Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3