Is that Velvet?

I will admit that the subject of "Red Velvet" is fairly new to me. I remember, the first time I saw a red velvet cake, I was watching "Steel Magnolias." Julia Roberts character Shelby had a red velvet armadillo cake at her wedding. I believe it was the groom's cake. Anyway, the thought of a red cake used to gross me out. Somehow, somewhere down the road I tried it, and loved it. Never have I made anything red velvet, I do like it. Is it just chocolate with red dye? Or is it more complex than that. Without going into the scientific details, I'll just leave at it's more complex. I mentioned that in a previous blog that Molly Cupcakes has a red velvet cupcake. Also I did mention that the frosting was not to my liking. Frosting makes or breaks any kind of cake for me.
There is a bakery in Chicago that I frequent called the Alliance Bakery on Division about a block and a half west of Ashland in Wicker Park. They have a decent red velvet cupcake that's served wrapped in paper, unlike the traditional cupcake cup. Beware that it is not consistent. sometimes it's perfect, sometimes it's alright, and sometimes it's just plain dry. The frosting is better than Molly's, and that's all I can say about it. The consistency is kind of weird, as if there's shortening in it. I'm not an official baker, I just play one on t.v.. I merely, go on intuition, on most things.
Now the next place, that I'm going to mention, may not help any of you readers who don't travel outside the city limits. Long BUTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!! There's a restaurant in Lombard called "Claim Jumper" and it has the most wonderfully most and great frosting served on a plate with swirly chocolate and white chocolate shavings on top. It's right off of I-88 in the newly revamped Yorktown Shopping Center. Claim Jumper is also a good restaurant for hefty portions, and good drinks. They have Cheesecake Factory helpings. It's a good date or family restaurant. That concludes my red velvet discussion, for I'm not educated enough to talk further about it.