Cupcake Obsession

Since cupcake shops are popping up all over the country, there are so many blogs dedicated to the subject. Which leads me to the "Cupcake Crawl" that I read about on www.wearenotmartha.com.. Some Bostonian foodie, fashionistas decided to find the best cupcake in Chicago. Incidentally, I had know idea that I had already started the crawl long before I read the blog. Since I was eating all of these cupcakes, I thought that I should use my knowledge for good.

First Stop was their Last
I was out one night on the Northside (which I don't frequent anymore since I live on the Southside, boo!!) and while I was looking for a bar, I saw it in bright lights, "Molly Cupcakes." I didn't go in that night because we were on a mission to find the NBA playoffs in some bar (Good luck with that in Cubbie land). So the next day, I went back alone. The decor is all over the place. You have swings as bar stools(cool idea), with the ever so trendy gray and white marble counter tops, plastic tin wall coverings, and art reminiscent of Andy Warhol pop art in a soft pastels. However the most import design element are the cupcakes. Since my first visit, I've tried a variety of the flavors that they have to offer. My favorite is the vanilla, only because I like vanilla, but I am by any means a vanilla person. When it comes to sweets, I don't like all the fuss. It was simple, and the right balance between icing and cake. The cake does have a cornbread texture, but I don't mind that. These cupcakes unlike many cupcakes are a bit heavy, but I couldn't just get one. So every time I go I get a vanilla and a new flavor. So let's just their red velvet and carrot cake's are not my favorites. The red velvet is almost there, but the icing is no where in the vicinity. Same thing goes for the carrot cake, although there's some weirdness going on with the cake that I can't put my finger on. It's a flavor that I'm not used to having in carrot cake. The chocolate decadence is "muy" rich. I like it, it's just not my favorite, because I'm just a vanilla type of sister. Now second favorite is the pumpkin spice. Muy yummster. It would be my favorite, if I was into all the fuss, but I like to keep it simple with my sweets. It is so rich, with a mascarpone cream sauce infused in the center, topped with a brown sugar butter cream frosting. It would be perfect for the fall, but cool for any season ,because I had it in the Spring. I spoke to pastry chef and she had the same feeling that I have, that things can be served in any season. Your cravings can't distinguish the seasons. My cravings crave a Molly Cupcake at least twice a week. (BTW. Molly Cupcakes is a great alternative to coffee shops and drive by dates for adults. They have board games and wi-fi)

Second on My Stop, But Not Second in My Heart
Swirlz, is the cutiest little shop, and the cupcakes are actually pretty good, but not outstanding. The decor is very simple, streamlined and modern (A lot of white). About six people can actually sit in their with their laptops and access their wi-fi. Now let's get down to the business of FLAVOR!!! First up was the vanilla (of course). I must say I used to think that I only like butter cream, but now I'm finding that what I really like is frosting. Butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla, milk, and whatever flavoring that makes it unique. Authentic butter cream, is close to tasting like whipped cream icing, which I loathe!!!! I judge cakes and cupcakes first and foremost by the icing period. Then I pick apart the cake. Sad but true, there are few cakes that I will throw away. Scratch that, there are many cakes that I won't touch. What I trying to say is...Swirlz butter cream was not may favorite by any means. The cake was similar to Molly Cupcakes. I tried the chocolate malt cupcake. Ehhh, it was o.k., but remember I don't like all the fuss. If it's going to be fussy, it better be damn good, and it was just fair.
Third Was Memorable
Since I don't like all the fuss, next on my list was right up my alley. The Southport Grocery and Cafe in the every so trendy Lakeview. The ladies on wearenotmartha.com thought that the cake tasted like cornbread, but I beg to differ. Since the focus of this place is not cupcakes, they don't have much variety. They have no frills chocolate and vanilla, so you know which one I had. It was a white cake, with an uber rich vanilla buttery frosting. It reminded me of the butter cookies that my grandmother would by in the navy blue tin can. The cake was very light almost flavorless, but the icing picked up the slack. After having it, I kept thinking about that icing. If gas wasn't off the charts, and if I wasn't trying to watch my wait, and bank account, I would've gone back for another.

Next on my travels is going to be Sensational Bites. Stay tuned.....