Pre-Cupcake Warmup: Dessert at Serendipity 3
Frozen Hot Chocolate (on the right) and a gigantic brownie Sunday. Two other people were celebrating birthdays at midnight, so we got to sing to Liz twice.
A Hearty Breakfast
We stopped at the Columbus Bakery for a quick breakfast before hitting the town.
The First Stop
We got our first cupcakes from the Buttercup Bake Shop, selecting lemon and golden flavored cupcakes. Next time, I’d try the German Chocolate. While there, I picked up a pamphlet on franchising — I think Minneapolis could use a Cupcakery.
[click to enlarge]
Next Up: Crumbs
We tried the cupcake of the week and a Snickers cupcake.
Crumbs came in last in the New York Daily News survey of NYC cupcake shops, but we disagreed. Of the three that we sampled (and of all of the cupcakes that Liz prescreened) we thought these were the best of the day. See, they didn’t last long enough to get a picture.
Just look at the beautiful (and huge!) cupcakes.
[click to enlarge]
Crumbs also sells birthday cakes made out of cupcakes, which would have been perfect for Liz.
Final Round of Cupcakes
We picked up cupcakes at Billy’s Bakery to take home for dessert after our dinner at Rain. A few hours later, we ate the cupcakes and were very disappointed in their quality. The yellow cake was bland and dry, and the chocolate tasted like it had been frozen. But, we did get to watch the cupcakes being frosted and sprinkled, so I learned a new technique.
Our day of cupcakes had a few non-cupcake food detours, including:
Detour #1:
We waited in a line outside the store for a cream puff at Beard Papa’s. It was good, but pushed us over the sugar edge.
Detour #2:
Finally, a savory treat! Natural popcorn at Popcorn, Indiana. I got to sample the Peanut Butter Popcorn, and on any other day, it would have been wonderful.
Detour #3:
Margaritas and guacamole on the outdoor deck at The Heights.
Thanks for posting the pics. Great commentary, too…you’re such a good blogger…want to hide in my suitcase so you can help me post while i’m in israel?!
Our NY convention inspired me to do 2 things. First, I bought an i-pod (mega, not mini). And, second, I made cupcakes. My assessment: The cake part was a little too dense. At first I didn’t like the frosting because I thought I could taste the corn starch. But now I’m addicted and have eaten a LOT. They were also very pretty. I took some pictures but can’t download them at the moment, I’ll send them on to Sarah when I can. I’m going to have to try baking again soon. Any idea where I can get powdered sugar minus the cornstarch? Or the sprinkes that look like confetti?