Usually, in cupcake reviews, we hear about the frosting as being the part that makes the cupcake, or the frosting/cake combination, or when we do hear about the cake, it's often overly dry (I'd say that's the biggest complaint we hear about cupcakes in general). So I was intrigued by this Gaper's Block review of the newly-launched, $1.5-million venture capital backed Phoebe's Cupcakes. (Can I also just say I'm dying to go to Chicago and try the myriad cupcake offerings there? I'm sad that when I was in town for BlogHer in 2007 I didn't get to try Cupcakes, and they've now closed.)
This is where Phoebe's is blowing my hair back: the cake. Both cupcakes had a very, very moist and flavorful base; Phoebe's peers should take a page from her book, as I think what sets Phoebe's apart is the spot-on attention they pay to this part. I was impressed. But because it seems every cupcake I taste has some sort of drawback, I found that the frosting had a difficult texture--a whispy Italian buttercream that made me think I had bought a melting cupcake. Be definition, Italian buttercream is meringue made with a hot, sugary syrup: Phoebe's was right in line with the standard recipe, and the flavors of their buttercream were good and equal to that of the cake's, but the overall product didn't work out too well for me. But all was not lost as I watched the buttercream fall off its tasty podium and leave a sloppy heap on my plate. It was a good cupcake, but I soldier on.
This is where Phoebe's is blowing my hair back: the cake. Both cupcakes had a very, very moist and flavorful base; Phoebe's peers should take a page from her book, as I think what sets Phoebe's apart is the spot-on attention they pay to this part. I was impressed. But because it seems every cupcake I taste has some sort of drawback, I found that the frosting had a difficult texture--a whispy Italian buttercream that made me think I had bought a melting cupcake. Be definition, Italian buttercream is meringue made with a hot, sugary syrup: Phoebe's was right in line with the standard recipe, and the flavors of their buttercream were good and equal to that of the cake's, but the overall product didn't work out too well for me. But all was not lost as I watched the buttercream fall off its tasty podium and leave a sloppy heap on my plate. It was a good cupcake, but I soldier on.
Comments