Cupcake wars ignite in Orange CountyNow, I sense a huge cupcake war is heading our way. Every where I turn, I see cupcakes. There?s mini cupcakes. Gourmet cupcakes. Super-size cupcakes.
Heck, there?s even vegan-cakes, according to cupcake aficionado and blogger Tara Settembre.
The Los Angeles-based foodie runs a cupcake group that meets and eats at a different cupcake shop twice a month. Dubbed LA Cupcakes, the group is in search of the best cupcakes Southern California has to offer. She documents the group?s dessert travels on her When Tara Met Blog.
Though, her group has a long list of cupcake shops to hit in Los Angeles, Settembre said she?s noticed many more cupcakeriescropping up in Orange County.
To name a few: Sprinkles Cupcakes, SusieCakes, Wonderland Bakery and Dolcissimo. Also, I've noticed many traditional pastry shops are jumping on the bandwagon by adding cupcakes to display cases often at a much cheaper price. Poul's Bakery in Orange sells cupcakes for 75 cents each. Not bad considering most cupcakeries sell fancy treats for about $3.
So, forget New York.
SoCal is definitely owning the cupcake craze now,? Settembre said.
In fact, this post was inspired by a cupcake shop set to open in Old Towne Orange later this year.
That?s telling, considering that most of the boutique dessert shops have been sprouting up in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.
A sign on the window (at, right) of the Orange shop says, ?Cupcakery.? But, city officials say that?s not the real name of the independent shop, located on the 100 block of North Glassell Street.
The mystery cupcake shop will open in early summer, according Orange city officials.
Settembre said her cupcake crew is noticing the new temptations in Orange County. Members are now asking her to schedule more outings to the O.C., she said.
That?s great. Come on down. Just, don?t forget to invite me!
Also, click here to see the results of a May 18 Cupcake Challenge held in Los Angeles, where Tara Settembre was a judge.(Photo above courtesy of Tara Settembre)
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