more safari cupcakes

So I was strolling through the impenetrable depths of Kenya today, when I happened upon the rarest of sights! An endangered cheetah cupcake resting on a tree branch alongside one of its mates, no doubt after feasting on zebra or antelope or perhaps a couple of hippopotami. I was fairly confident that my benign presence would barely pose a threat--especially with their being so thoroughly sated on delicious delicious wildebeest--so I stole a photo.

stand back and be amazed.

Have you seen what our masterful bakers can really do? These are some examples of cupcakery at its most extravagant. Pull-away: I dub thee fantastical.







Speechless? That's okay, words don't work as well when your mouth is stuffed with CUPCAKE!

we are women of words

Some Thoughts on Lent and the Undeniable Power of Cupcakes...
from our own Especially Emilie

Born and raised Episcopalian (the slightly less fervent, more rebellious, but perhaps equally self-righteous cousin of the Catholic) I have come to embrace all --well, most-- of the Episcopal traditions. And every year, my mother, my sister and I participate in Lent together. Now, let me give you a little background on Lent: Traditionally, one gives up something, usually food related, as a sacrifice in recognition of the time Jesus spent fasting in the dessert directly before his crucifixion. It begins on Ash Wednesday, forty days before Easter, actually, I take that back, it really begins on Shrove or Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras in New Orleans. On this day, everyone eats as much rich food, drinks as many alcoholic beverages as possible and dances as irreverently as Jerry Lee Lewis before the forty days of deprivation to follow. This way, they can hopefully begin Lent with penitence in their hearts, and a hangover in their heads.

Each year I see Lent as a self-reflective time to exercise self-discipline. I look forward to cleansing my body and spirit by giving up all junk-food and sometimes even a couple bad habits. Usually, the process is relatively easy, and even enjoyable ...usually... It was easy before I was surrounded by CUPCAKES EVERYDAY! Now, I know you're thinking, "It's just forty days." Yes, it is only forty days, but forty days is a loooooong time, my friends. Forty days surrounded by luscious chocolate, scintillating snickerdoodle, and that conniving carrot cake is a very long time. Yes, these along with virtually dozens of other alluring flavor combinations are enough to make the strongest, the most dedicated fall. It is more than a mere mortal can stand, and with great shame I must admit that I, too, have succumbed to these evil seductresses, these saccharine sirens, clothed in frosting and sprinkles. But, in my defense, may I just say, I believe that if the Devil had come armed with cupcakes while he tempted the weak, starving Jesus fasting in the dessert...I think even Jesus could not have said no to a chocolate Guinness Stout cupcake with Bailey's Irish butter-cream frosting, and frankly, the whole story would probably have turned out a lot differently. I'm just sayin'...

this cupcake knows how to work it

Maria is an evil frosting genius!!! She thought this outfit up last night, and I swear to holy goodness that our lemon strawberry sales were up 513% (don't quote me on that). Whatever the case, this little baby can work the camera. Damn, cupcake, you're lookin' fine! Not to mention the super cute 50's candy dish it's sittin' pretty in. Emilie noted the serving size of such a snack bowl, and commented "No wonder people were skinnier back then if this is the serving size of a snack." It's an excellent observation--I don't think I've ever served chips and salsa in anything more diminutive than a 5-gallon tub (with an abundant backstock of refill). But then again, this is filled with one dense and completely devastating cupcake. That changes things a bit I suppose. Unless I were to serve cupcakes in a 5-gallon tub, with dipping butter on the side. That sounds more like a 21st century serving, no?

rabbits in top hats? how about hi-hats!

Oh boy, looks like we've got another round of holiday cupcakes coming up! I don't know if my waistline will be able to withstand the onslaught. This Easter weekend we have two scrumptious specials gracing our growing lineup: a twist on our triple coconut cupcake, but with PINEAPPLE CURD in the center (do I stutter? you read me correctly, see picture), and the absolutely devastating introduction of a hi-hat: our already decadent valrhona chocolate cupcake capped with a pooling pillow of marshmallow fluff and drapped in chocolate ganache. The heavenly heaping of immaculate marshmallowly goodness with devilishly, sinfully sumptuous chocolate puts me in purgatory...but I'm happy to stay there indefinitely. Here's a naked hi-hat:
You might be asking yourself, how can it possibly taste as amazing as it looks? Well let me assure you, this cupcake delivers in spades. This cupcake is so DAMN good that we baristas were forced to lick the leftover marshmallow fluff from the bowl. Insanely jealous? Yea, I thought so. Where are the pictures from that??? Just wait til we get our hands in that chocolate ganache. It will be a licking fingers extravaganza!