This is an old(er) show, but I've been home sick for ages now and spend too much time watching Food TV Network (as well as CNN, MSNBC, TLC and NY1). Last night I was excited to see Bobby Flay do a cupcake throwdown. Cupcakes! Yes!
Bobby went up against Terry Wahl of Auntie Em's Kitchen in Eagle Rock, California. Terry offers four cupcake flavors: Coconut, dark chocolate, carrot, and best-seller red velvet. Terry's throwdown cupcake was her restaurant's favorite, the red velvet (recipe here). Bobby and team went with a gingerbread cupcake with caramelized mango buttercream (recipe here).
Terry's Red Velvets
I have to say, even though gingerbread is not my favorite, the caramelized mango buttercream looked to die for! Terry's cupcakes were very moist (something that was mentioned at least ten times during the show) but are not traditional chocolate red velvet cupcakes. They are buttermilk cupcakes with a touch of cocoa powder. Also, they are heavy into food coloring. I prefer natural coloring, like beet powder. But I will say the red velvets looked very good. The frosting was piled up with pretty sprinkles on top. A perfect picnic cupcake, in my opinion.
Bobby Flay and team's Gingerbread Cupcakes with Caramelized Mango Buttercream
The judges were Clare Crespo and Sprinkles executive pastry chef Candace Nelson.
(Spoiler alert!)
Shockingly, to me at least, Bobby Flay won. I am not a Bobby Flay fan, sorry to say. I've met him a couple of times, not that he'd remember me, but he's never been a particularly nice man in my opinion. Regardless, he's an excellent chef and I have respect for his skills.
His cupcake was pronounced "unique and unusual" by the judges as opposed to a more traditional old-school cupcake like Terry's modified red velvet.
I think the cupcakes were judged on 3 factors: moistness, flavor (combo), and frosting.
I would love to know what Clare and Candace really thought and how the show really went down. I've been behind the scenes for enough reality-style TV shows to know that what you see is not always what occurred. So, Clare and/or Candace, if you are reading this, write in and let us know what the truth is. Enquiring minds want to know!
Bobby went up against Terry Wahl of Auntie Em's Kitchen in Eagle Rock, California. Terry offers four cupcake flavors: Coconut, dark chocolate, carrot, and best-seller red velvet. Terry's throwdown cupcake was her restaurant's favorite, the red velvet (recipe here). Bobby and team went with a gingerbread cupcake with caramelized mango buttercream (recipe here).
Terry's Red VelvetsI have to say, even though gingerbread is not my favorite, the caramelized mango buttercream looked to die for! Terry's cupcakes were very moist (something that was mentioned at least ten times during the show) but are not traditional chocolate red velvet cupcakes. They are buttermilk cupcakes with a touch of cocoa powder. Also, they are heavy into food coloring. I prefer natural coloring, like beet powder. But I will say the red velvets looked very good. The frosting was piled up with pretty sprinkles on top. A perfect picnic cupcake, in my opinion.
Bobby Flay and team's Gingerbread Cupcakes with Caramelized Mango Buttercream
The judges were Clare Crespo and Sprinkles executive pastry chef Candace Nelson.
(Spoiler alert!)
Shockingly, to me at least, Bobby Flay won. I am not a Bobby Flay fan, sorry to say. I've met him a couple of times, not that he'd remember me, but he's never been a particularly nice man in my opinion. Regardless, he's an excellent chef and I have respect for his skills.
His cupcake was pronounced "unique and unusual" by the judges as opposed to a more traditional old-school cupcake like Terry's modified red velvet.
I think the cupcakes were judged on 3 factors: moistness, flavor (combo), and frosting.
I would love to know what Clare and Candace really thought and how the show really went down. I've been behind the scenes for enough reality-style TV shows to know that what you see is not always what occurred. So, Clare and/or Candace, if you are reading this, write in and let us know what the truth is. Enquiring minds want to know!
Comments
Jenn McKinlay
SPRINKLE WITH MURDER
Berkley Prime Crime
March 2010
Regarding the show... it's actually very rare that he wins the competition, so it was a shocker that he one that one. I definitely could not vote against red velvet! :-D