Cupcake adventures

Whipple Scrumptious cupcake from Sprinkled Pink Cupcake Couture.

Santa Barbara has been behind on its cupcake scene, but this past year, it is finally catching up to other civilized, cupcake-satisfied societies.

Karen and I have been conducting our fair share of cupcake research the past couple of weeks. For you. Yes, yes, it’s hard, hard work. But we’re thoughtful and giving like that.

We have thus far hit Crushcakes and Sprinkled Pink Cupcake Couture. Also, while not a cupcake joint, Fresco has long made an aMAZing vanilla cupcake slathered with chocolate frosting, so is definitely worth mentioning.

Bella Dolce, long respected as the source in town for wedding cakes, is supposedly opening a retail shop this summer a block away from Crushcakes, according to the sign on the door. Alas, as of last week, it still is not open, and the last day of summer is but 10 days away.

In a nutshell, my first trip to Crushcakes was unimpressive. I had a lemon drop cupcake, which was dry and not flavorful. However, I did appreciate the fact they serve mini cupcakes, enabling one to try a whole host of flavors. Karen convinced me to return to give it another try.

I’m glad I did.

Or maybe not.

Because I am now addicted to their red velvet cupcake.

I had red velvet for the first time ever from Fresco, and I SO did not like it. It was an unnaturally red color with pink frosting, and I detected absolutely no chocolate flavors of any kind.

Crushcakes red velvet is a whole other animal or, rather, cupcake. The cake is not scary red, and has clear - but not cloying - chocolate flavors. And the frosting is a simple white sour cream frosting.

I did determine from the mini cupcakes I sampled that those which were liquor themed (lemon drop, mojito,…) all tasted dry.

Sprinkled Pink Cupcake Couture (SPCC)… well, they have lots of scary colors BUT their red velvet version was also yum, particularly the cream cheese frosting. Both my and Karen’s cupcakes were impressively moist. When I ordered one to-go, I was asked if I wanted ribbon on it. Not quite sure what to expect, I said “yes,” of course. Who turns down ribbon? Anyway, they turned my packaged cupcake into a jewel! Karen was compelled to ask if she could simply hold the festooned package for a short while.

That was the best part of the SPCC experience. It was otherwise over-the-top pink and gimmicky in its girly-girl-meets-Willy-Wonka preciousness. If they just stop trying so hard, they’ll have a good thing going. AND, they gotta start serving coffee & tea, not just milk.

So, I had not intended to really write anything about these cupcake adventures of late, as Karen is going to be blogging about her cupcake adventures as she seeks out the best cupcakes across the country. (Or at least SoCal.)

What compelled me to mention anything at all is an email I received today from Sweet Buttercup, a place that will make cupcakes to order, but from what I can tell, has not had a retail shop presence.

How frickin’ ridiculously amazing does that Black Cherry sound?! *drool* And I can’t wait to try their Lemon Burst, described as a light lemon cake topped with a tangy lemon frosting. I love me some lemon. What time should I pick you up, Karen?

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Felted endorphins

Sooo excited! FELT CLUB is coming up (Becky)! I can feel my metabolism start racing just at the thought of such crafty gluttony.

FELT CLUB: HOLIDAY 2008
Sunday, NOVEMBER 16, 11am-7pm
@ Shrine Auditorium Expo Center
700 W. 32nd St., LA CA 90007

And I’m very excited about the presence this year of Swap-o-rama-rama, described as a truly incredible clothing swap where you can drop off and pick up clothing and alter it on the spot with sewing, applique, silkscreening & more.

Don’t know that I’ll get there early enough this year to be one of the first 250 in line to grab a swag bag. Last year’s was awesome, but the line was crazy-long over an hour before the doors opened. In fact, the whole place was packed wall-to-wall with crafty souls… so much so, they’ve moved it to the Shrine Auditorium this year.

Just as I prepare for attending a concert by listening to every album I own of the artist(s) I am going to experience, my mind is currently racing at all of the crafts I want to tackle, psyching myself up for the extravaganza.

**Calming self down, because I know damn well I’d be lucky to complete even ONE project before then. Ms.-Procrastinator-with-a-toddler-who-is-part-monkey am I.**

Wheeeee!

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