Cakespy Seattle: Bakery & Dessert Sleuth

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May 13, 2008

Save The Date: Chocolate Salon July 13!

We received a press release about this today, and boy, it sounds like our type of event: a CHOCOLATE SALON on Sunday, July 13th, 20087 at the Bell Harbor Conference Center.

Why go? Well, you'll be able to taste & experience the finest in artisan, gourmet & premium chocolate in one of the world's great culinary metropolitan areas. Other highlights feature chocolate tasting, demonstrations, chef & author talks, wine tasting and ongoing interviews by the hosting company, TasteTV.

A sample of salon participants includes Amano Artisan Chocolate, Kekau Chocolatier, Cocoa Chai Chocolates and many more, Le Creuset, Swissmar, Putumayo World Music, Chocolate Television, and much, much more.

Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
July 13, 2008
11am-5pm
Bell Harbor Conference Center

For more information and tickets ($20), visit SeattleChocolateSalon.com.

Posted by at 5:00 p.m. | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 12, 2008

Wink Wink, Nudge Nudge: Wink Cupcakes Under New Ownership!

Cakespy's got a new tip for you--wink, wink.

Looks like Seattle's own custom-order cupcake bakery, Wink Cupcakes, is under new ownership!

Deanne Ederer Emmons is the proud new owner of the business, which we previously featured when we met former owner Zoe-Ann Bartlett at the Queen Anne Farmers Market last year.

So what is Deanne going to bring to Wink? Well, some new recipes, for one thing (woohoo!), as well as smaller minimum orders--half-dozens will be available; also, a line of gift items like T-shirts are in the works! And of course, more than just material things, she brings a passion for cake to the mix: having baked for many years, she's come to love the individuality (ok, to us that's the "Mine!" aspect) and creativity in terms of flavor and decoration that cupcakes offer.

Sounds like the beginning of a sweet friendship, indeed!

Check out the new Wink at the upcoming Crave Party; more info at craveparty.com. For more info on Wink Cupcakes, visit winkcupcakes.com.

Posted by at 11:47 p.m. | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 9, 2008

(S)mothered: A Few Sweet Ideas for the Overbearing Mom

Before anything else, we're going to admit that at Cakespy, we're all total brats about Mother's Day. While we like the idea of celebrating dear mom, something about the whole Laura-Ashley-and-tea-party image of the holiday just doesn't sit right with us. Because really, doesn't that make grand assumptions about mom--that she's a meek little lady who just wants some tea and lace? What about those overbearing, in your face, powerhouse moms? The controlling, sometimes calculating ones, who call you four times a day? Certainly something else is in order for those moms.

And so, it's these moms that we choose to celebrate this Mother's Day: following are just a few ideas about how to mom how you really feel about her this year, with some subliminal messages that are sweet nonetheless:

Idea 1: Empty Nester Cupcakes

Made for the mom who just can't let go, how about Empty Nester Cupcakes? These cupcakes have a mini "nest" --we made ours out of crumbled up Shredded Mini Wheats-- with "eggs" -- ours are jelly beans--sitting just outside. Why outside? Well, sometimes it's just time to move on. Mom still having trouble with you having, you know, your own life? Well, this is the perfect way to say "hey mom, I'm gone and I'm never comin' back!".

Idea 2: (s)Mother's Day Cake

This one's perfect for the overbearing mom who clearly just wants to take credit for everything you do, or who likes to suck the joy out of your achievements. Stage moms, soccer moms, moms who steal your boyfriend--we think you know what we mean. This cake actually has a cupcake buried within, so that the bigger layer cake completely obliterates the cupcake. However, once it's cut into, there's your subliminal message: "Hey ma, you've officially smothered me! Thanks a lot!". A bit heady, sure, but you like feeling smart and in the know, don't you?

How we did it: Make a cake (any type you choose, really); if it is a shallow pan, make it a two layer cake so that its height matches that of a frosted cupcake (in fact, you can use the leftover batter, if any, to make the cupcakes--that's what we did). Once the cake has cooled, if two layers, attach them with a dollop of frosting, but do not frost the top. Scoop out a ball from the center, and insert the frosted cupcake; the height should be slightly lower or even with the height of the cake. Frost just as you regularly would, making sure to cover the cupcake so that the frosting doesn't betray the secret within. Garnish to cover up any imperfections. Serve, and enjoy the confused faces as you get a massive amount of joy at your naughty little secret.

Idea 3: No Cake

Show your true colors this Mothers Day with an IOU--you know, something to the tune of "Sorry ma, meant to make you a cake, but I was out all night and stayed with that person I casually date--you know, the one you so clearly disapprove of. I owe you one! Thanks again for, you know, giving birth to me and everything"

Of course, if you must be kind to mom, here are some ideas that we've seen around:

Zabar's is offering a 7" Mother's Day Red Velvet Rose Cake, which is topped with cream cheese icing and filling surrounded with red cake crumbs and a cute little red rose topper. And, they'll ship it anywhere in the US--it Requires 2-day shipping, but wouldn't most things at this point, procrastinator? Available at zabar.com.

Dangerous Pies, whose wares we drooled about on Bmoresweet, is now shipping pies within the US--depending on which side you're on in the pie vs. cake revolution, this might be a nice choice for mom. Our vote goes for the Custard Pie--the owner refers to it as a "White Trash Cr�me Br�l�e "--a midwestern comfort food on crack, if you will? We like the thought of that. Available at dangerouspies.com.

Scary White Girl Mini Crocheted Cupcakes: Supercute crocheted cupcakes that can be used as a pincushion or voodoo doll? Perfect. These �ber-affordable ones ($5 each for a crocheted cupcake a little larger than the size of a real-life one) are available at scarywhitegirl.etsy.com.

Posted by at 8:47 a.m. | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 30, 2008

Chocolate Dreams: The Chocolate Drop from Three Sisters in Pike Place Market

The first time we ever went to Three Girls Bakery in the Pike Place Market, after ogling at the offerings for about ten minutes, we approached the counter with our selection: "Just a chocolate drop, please".

We'll never forget the employee's response: "That is not just a chocolate drop".

What it was, truly, was love at first bite. This is a cookie deceptively simple in stature, but its flavor transcends its humble appearance. The first thing you taste is the soft, slightly crumbly, shortbread-y base, which is deliciously rich and buttery, with just the slightest hint of saltiness to balance out the sweet. But things get even better when you take bite #2 and reach the chocolate core, which is satiny, creamy, and extremely dense--while it might be too strong a taste on a cake, the amount on the cookie is just right. When the two tastes--crumbly cookie and sweet chocolate--collide in your mouth, it's not a moment quickly or easily forgotten.

No indeed, these are not just chocolate drops.

Three Girls Bakery, 1514 Pike Pl Ste 1, Pike Place Market; (206) 622-1045.

Posted by at 6:48 p.m. | Permalink | Comments (4)

April 22, 2008

Cupcakes for a Cause: hello, cupcake donates to the Pierce County Aids Foundation

Cupcakes are sweet, but even sweeter when they promote a good cause!

Tacoma's hello, cupcake recently announced its participation in the Dining Out Program, which supports HIV/AIDS advocacy and care. They'll be donating a dollar to the Pierce County AIDS foundation for every Red Velvet cupcake sold on this Thursday, April 24!

That's sweetness we can share!

For more information, visit hello-cupcake.com.

Posted by at 6:53 p.m. | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 21, 2008

Better than Clown College: Chocolate University by Theo Chocolate!

Have you taken the Theo Chocolate Factory tour and found yourself wanting more? We hear you. Happily, they've started a series of classes based on the scientific and technical aspects of chocolate making--why not sign up for one of thsee cool classes? As a bonus, unusual samples that are not on the tour will be available!

Chocolate 202
Cacao origins, Cacao genetics and the fermentation process
Three major varietals of TheobromaCacao (the Cocoa tree) are recognized in chocolate making: Criollo, Forastero and Trinitario. Analysis of the DNA of Cacao suggests that there are actually more than 14,000 varieties, implying that the genetic diversity is very high, although the majority of Chocolate is blended to improve consistency. In many ways varietal and vintage trends in chocolate making resemble trends in the winemaking industry. We investigate the genetics and diversity of Cacao and discuss how the origin, genetics and fermentation process influence the flavor of Chocolate. May 1, 6 pm �8pm

Chocolate 203
The Chemistry of Chocolate Making
Recent advances in analytical techniques have provided insight into the molecular composition of chocolate. The chemistry of chocolate changes significantly during the fermentation, roasting, milling and conching processes of chocolate making. We review the steps of industrial chocolate making in detail and investigate how modern analytical techniques have provided a unique insight into the 400 or so molecules that make up the exquisite and complex flavors in chocolate. May 15, 6 pm-8 pm

All sessions hosted by Dr Chocolate

Necessary info: Each session is $25.00. You must be 21 years of age or older. Reservations are required since space will be limited to a small group so please call 206-632-5100 to hold your spot. Each session will be held at the Theo Chocolate Factory, 3400 Phinney Avenue North and includes chocolate tastings.

Posted by at 7:11 p.m. | Permalink | Comments (2)

April 16, 2008

Mid-week Sweetness

Word is that Sprinkles Cupcakes is planning on opening a Seattle-area location in 2009. But oh, how we wish they were here already with upcoming offerings like these:

For Seder, they have a flourless Belgian Dark Chocolate Cake topped with a Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean Glaze, adorned with the Star of David. Yes please!

For Earth Day, they'll be offering a vanilla cupcake decorated with a tree--but the real sweetness comes from the donations from each sale of said cupcake, which will go toward local tree planting and environmental care organizations.

But really, what we hope some of our Seattle cupcake joints will offer is something like this: the Choco Loco Cupcake, a Belgian Dark Chocolate cake with a Bittersweet Chocolate and Mexican Cinnamon Frosting. Perfect with tequila, we think!

Seattle bakeries, are you listening?

Check them out online at sprinklescupcakes.com.

Posted by at 10:25 a.m. | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 8, 2008

Cake Byte: Cupcakes at Michou!

Today, while taking a walk through the market, a most pleasant surprise awaited us in the most unexpected of places.

Michou, a wisp of a deli in the Pike Place Market, is usually a destination for salads, moon-shaped sandwiches, and crazy-delicious calzones. But now, there's a whole new reason to go there: Cupcakes!

Available in an alternating cast of flavors like Coconut Buttercream, Lemon, and classic chocolate and vanilla, the cupcakes are $2.50 and nearly perfect--creamy frosting, moist, rich cake, and so jauntily decorated that you can't help but smile. A sweet find indeed.

Looks like the Pike Place Market just got sweeter!

Michou, 1904 Pike Pl.; (206) 448-4758.

Posted by at 9:42 a.m. | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 27, 2008

Cakewalk in Queen Anne, Seattle

Queen Anne is a neighborhood in Seattle which is defined by a few things: its killer views, its killer "Counterbalance" hill, and of course, the fact that it is the neighborhood in which the Cakespy Headquarters is located. And what a sweet 'hood to call home: from the lower part of the hill with its Danish-inspired pastries, to the top of the hill, where doughnuts and carbohydrates reign, there are plenty of places to get your dessert on in Queen Anne. Here are some of our personal favorites:

Caffe Ladro: Though mostly known for its coffee, Ladro is an established bakery in its own right: they have their own commercial bakery in West Seattle, at which baked goods are made daily for all of their Seattle locations. Ranging from dense vegan oat bars with a tart rhubarb layer to buttery scones and a gorgeously crumbly cardamom coffee cake, it's worth a visit even for non coffee drinkers. Two Queen Anne Locations: 600 Queen Anne Ave. No., and 2205 Queen Anne Ave. No.; online at caffeladro.com.

Crow: When Head Spy Jessie moved to Seattle on a whim and found herself jobless, she waited tables at Crow in lower Queen Anne. Though no longer waiting tables there, we all still enjoy their house-made desserts which will range seasonally--offerings might include a house-made strawberry ice cream, rustic cobbler � la mode or a sinfully rich chocolate cake. We like to sit at the bar where it's OK to order dessert only! 823 5th Ave. No., (206) 283-8800.

Eat Local: Desserts made with no artificial sweeteners, no refined sugar, and all-local ingredients? Sounds suspect, we know, but as proven by our recent week-long Eat Local Challenge, sometimes local is a good thing: ranging from the surprisingly light honey-lemon cheesecake to crumbly shortbread and toe-curlingly delicious chocolate decadence in their "takeaway" dessert case, Eat Local offers some treasures on Upper Queen Anne. 2400 Queen Anne Ave. No., (206) 328-3663; online at eatlocalonline.com.

El Diablo Coffee Co.: Aside from serving a spicy mocha made with Mexican chocolate that would make even a black coffee drinker a believer, they've got some killer desserts--Tres Leches Cake, Red Velvet, and a rotating cast of tarts, pots de creme, and other delectable treats. The desserts are supplied by another Seattle Bakery, Bella Dolce, but the ambiance is far better at El Diablo, with a warm, lived-in interior and cute hipster employees. 1811 Queen Anne Avenue N., (206) 285-0693; online at eldiablocoffee.com.

Macrina Bakery: Macrina can be a strange beast, inspiring either fierce love or instense disdain amongst Seattleites. It's an acquired taste for certain--their cakes aren't as sweet as some of their other commercial counterparts, and their "short" scones do tend to crumble differently than the sweet ones you'd find at say, Starbucks. And to put it bluntly, their coffee is...not good. But while our Cakespy crew doesn't love everything at Macrina, the good stuff is truly, genuinely good: rich cupcakes that blur the line between cake and truffle; beautiful iced shortbread, and perfect buttermilk biscuits with jam in the morning. Queen Anne Location, 615 W McGraw St., (206) 283-5900; online at macrinabakery.com.

Metropolitan Market: Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and Metro Market is that place for us. Located one block away from Cakespy Headquarters, this is the place that fuels our immediate sugar needs, with a surprisingly good on-site bakery, and also a large selection of pastries, ranging from local bakers like Alki Bakery, EATS Market, Essential Baking, Macrina--to baked goods and pastries from the likes of Poil�ne Bakery and Cheesecake from Junior's in NYC. Swoon. Two Queen Anne Locations: 100 Mercer Street, and 1908 Queen Anne Ave. No.; online at metropolitan-market.com.

Morfey's Cake Shoppe: True, Morfey's is a special-order cake bakery (alas, no rows of cake slices or cupcakes for those just walking by), but is certainly worth mentioning. They've been around forever, and it shows, with light-as-air cakes topped with whipped buttercream frosting which invoke instant taste nostalgia. Just walking inside will give you a buzz--with just a tiny meeting area in front of the large commercial ovens, the air is thick with the smell of cakes baking. 110 Denny Way, (206) 283-8557; online at morfeyscake.com.

Nielsen's Pastries: Though this one can be hard to hit due to their bankers hours (7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Mondays, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. the rest of the week, 8:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, and closed on Sunday ). Nonetheless, if you find yourself here during a trip or if you're local taking a "mental health day" from work, it's worth a visit, with rich, cream filled pastries, Danish specialties and cookies like mom made--but better. Our picks are the oozy, glazey, fantastic cinnamon rolls (picture top), and the "Potato"--think of a creamy, rich, custardy eclair, then top it with a marzipan jacket and a dusting of cocoa. One Sweet Potato indeed. 520 2nd Ave W, (206) 282-3004; online at nielsenspastries.com.

Pasta + Co.: When you see the the gorgeous pasta displays and splendid array of olive oils just keep on walking--they'll only divert you from the wonderful (made in-house!) lemon tarts, as well as creamy, dreamy cupcakes and sweets supplied by excellent local baker T.M. Dessert Works. 2109 Queen Anne Ave. No., (206) 283-1182; online at pastaco.com.

QFC: Yes, QFC is a grocery store chain and part of the Kroger family. But we're not scared to admit that their bakery has what in our opinion is a surprisingly toothsome and tasty nanaimo bar. You'll also always be able to find a pink frosted cookie here, but not much else in their baked goods case is worth a mention in our opinion. Queen Anne Location, 500 Mercer St., (206) 352-4020; online at qfconline.com.

Teacup: This bulk tea shop is a mecca for tea lovers, ranging from tame Northwest Mint to exotic (and expensive) Pu'Erh blends and exquisite green teas. However, tea isn't the only thing that keeps us coming back--we also love their tiny tea cookies and homemade scones--supplied by Blue Dog Baking; biscotti from Dilettante is also on hand. 2207 Queen Anne Ave No.,
(206) 283-5931; online at seattleteacup.com.

Top Pot Doughnuts: Continuing their slow but steady quest in taking over the doughnut world, Top Pot just opened a new location on Upper Queen Anne, which can be teeming with families on the weekends, but is rather pleasant on weekday afternoons. While we won't say they're the best we've ever tasted, they are very, solidly good, and very dependable; also, their displays, with doughnuts like the "Pink Feather Boa", never fail to brighten our mood. But if you prefer Mighty-O's vegan donuts, they have them across the street at Caffe Fiore. 325 West Galer St, (206) 728-1986; online at toppotdoughnuts.com.

Uptown Espresso: Like Ladro, Uptown Espresso's baked goods are their own creations. While we can take or leave their scones, we've had very good experiences with their iced "loaf" cakes (try the pumpkin if it's available) and with their buttery, shortbready sugar cookies. Good Americano too--in the mornings, barista Kelly (on the right side) always makes us smile. 525 Queen Anne Ave No., (206) 285-5663; online at uptownespresso.net.

Posted by at 10:50 p.m. | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 26, 2008

Trophy Cupcakes and Martha Stewart--BFF!

It's official! Our own Trophy Cupcakes is going to be on the Martha Stewart Show!

As Trophy's friendly Maggie reports:

Next week is "Cupcake Week" on Martha, and we are so excited and proud (and downright giddy) that our owner, Jennifer Shea, will be on the show Thursday, April 3rd, for two segments. Jennifer will bake our Chocolate Graham cupcake with toasted marshmallow meringue, AND! demonstrate for Martha how to pipe our signature Trophy flowers.

We got the call from Martha's producers last month, asking us if we could ship Martha some of our cupcakes to try. Ship cupcakes!?! Of course, everyone knows that cupcakes are horrible little travelers, but that didn't faze Jennifer. She hopped on a plane and commandeered the kitchen
of a friend of a friend to bake fresh for Martha, so that she would experience nothing less than what our customers enjoy at Trophy every day. We think Jennifer and Martha are going to get along quite well.

But wait, there's more! Next Thursday, April 3rd, at 5:00pm in their Wallingford store, they'll be hosting a viewing of the episode during a Martha Happy Hour. They'll be providing FREE mini cupcakes and bubbly libations during the viewing too!

What a lovely celebration--we're so there, and hope you will be too--but if not, check out the Martha Stewart Show next Tuesday on King 5, at 2 p.m.!

Trophy Cupcakes and Party is located at 1815 N. 45th Street, in the Wallingford Center
Seattle; online at trophycupcakes.com.

Posted by at 11:23 a.m. | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Jessie Moore (Jessie Moore Oleson)

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