The Cupcake Explosion
Have you noticed that cupcakes have exploded recently? Sure, they've been popular already for quite some time, but in recent months it seems like we're moving away from cupcake caterers with websites to cupcake specialists with brick-and-mortar stores. And I'm not talking about places like House of Sweets which has a location in Delray but requires minimum orders of one or two dozen and advance notice. I mean places that have cupcakes ready and waiting for you to walk right in and fulfill a sugary craving. Yes, it seems a little ridiculous paying so much for a cupcake, but have you seen cupcake menus lately? These bear little resemblance to the cupcakes you made for your kid's birthday party. Here's a rundown of some recent additions to the storefront cupcake scene:
• Lola's Cupcakery opened just about a week ago and is definitely trying to capture the high-end cupcake market. They're a bit pricier than most at $3.25, but oh my goodness do they look amazing. Check out the photos on Lola's site and try not to drool.
• Cupcakes Nouveau is another recent newcomer that touts its high quality ingredients and is also trying to market the cupcake as an upscale treat. Check out the Romeo & Juliet: a guava-filled cupcake with a hint of almond and a cream cheese frosting.
• You've probably seen Misha's cupcakes around at local cafes, but the company took it a step further with Misha's Cupcakes Cafe, which has been open since October. Cupcakes are always on the menu, but sometimes the bakery also offers scones, coffee cake and brownies.
• Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee has been around for almost a year now in Coral Gables. It's a nice spot to relax over a mid-afternoon cupcake with a cup of coffee. It offers six standard flavors every day in addition to two rotating flavors. For example, show up on a Wednesday and you can get chocolate oreo or red velvet.
• Le Vinois Bakery has been showing up at farmer's markets this season in Normandy Village, Surfside and the Upper Eastside. The mobile bakery offers sandwiches, bread and other pastries besides cupcakes, which I hear have excellent frosting-to-cake ratio.
• Sweetcakes, with a store at 84th and Biscayne in Miami, offers lots of different options for cake and frosting combinations, in addition to my favorite "drunken cupcakes:" cupcakes soaked in your liqueur of choice.
Photo: Lola's Cupcakery
Comments
Don't forget 'The Spider Web' in Dania Beach has a outsourced cup cake baker called 'Secret Baker'.
Posted by: Edwin | February 4, 2009 07:11 PM