Bittersweet Pastry

HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE DAY!

Name: Bittersweet Pastry and Cafe 

Neighborhood: Lakeview
Address: 1114 W Belmont Ave

Map (link above): yellow pin

Nearest El Transit Locations:

Belmont Stop: Purple, Red and Brown Lines

Hours: 

Tue - Fri  7am - 7pm

Saturday  8am - 7pm

Sunday  8am - 6pm

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Prices: $2.75-3.25

Boxing/Packaging: Box without inserts

What makes this bakery special: 

Particularly for celebrating National Chocolate Cupcake Day: their chocolate cupcakes are actually fudge cupcakes! That's right, chocolate here is fudge!! Also, they have gluten-free chocolate or red velvet available (your choice of filling and/or frosting!).

Cupcake Purchased and Reviewed:

Princess

Cake: Fudge

with Vanilla Buttercream

Appearance: 2.5

Size: Average

Bite #: 3

Moisture: 3

Price: $2.75

Additional Notes:

Their fudge cake is absolutely fantastic! You can definitely tell the difference between this fudge cake and a regular chocolate cake. It's slightly more dense, softer, and richer. The light and fluffy buttercream matched with it is superb. 

They have a cupcake calendar available for pick up in store. Each day of the month they have three cupcake flavors available. Attached to the calendar are detailed descriptions of all their cupcake flavors... I can't wait to go back to try the chocolate stout, rocky road, key lime pie, and/or tiramisu! Wowza! 

In addition to a fabulous cupcake, check out how it is packaged. There is an adorable ribbon wrapped around the box. No, I didn't have to ask or pay extra; that's just how they come! So dainty!

Along with the (fabulous) bakery/display Bittersweet has a handy gift shop, complete with baking accessories, to the right and a cafe to the left. Talk about one stop shop, especially if you're bringing someone there for an occasion like, say, National Chocolate Cupcake Day (or their birthday...).

Chicago Cupcake (Truck)

Name: Chicago Cupcake
Chicagoland area
See twitter for weekly truck locations.

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:
Cupcake Price: $3.25
Boxing/Packaging: Fitted clam shell


Red Velvet 

Cake: Red Velvet
with Cream Cheese Icing and Chocolate Wafer Crust
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3

Pumpkin Patch

Cake: Pumpkin
with Vanilla Italian Buttercream and (Graham Cracker?) Crust
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3

Comments: Ok, so I've been absolutely dying to try some Chicago Cupcake. Essentially, I've been trying to "hunt" the truck down for about a month now. You're right, I'm not supposed to hunt cupcake trucks for the purposes of this project but you have to understand that Chicago Cupcakes are different. Way different. I actually wasn't on the hunt today and guess what...There was the beautiful red truck, on my way to the train station, waiting for me. My excitement was so noticeable it was embarrassing. Oh well.

So, a "Chicago cupcake" has three parts: the fabulously unique crust, the ultra moist dairy-infused cake, and the airy icing/frosting. See in the photos? THREE DISTINCT LAYERS! Brilliant.

I'll take this layer by layer. First, the crusts for both cupcakes absolutely added a unique texture and flavor to the cupcake experience. Both were like delicious sugar-packed pie crusts. Then the cake. Oh, the cake. So, Chicago Cupcake "infuses" their cake with dairy, creating a extra, extra moist cake which creates the texture similar to that of fluffy cheesecakes. FABULOUS! Last comes the icing. The cream cheese icing on the red velvet was the perfect balance of cheesy, creamy, and sweet. The buttercream on the pumpkin patch was so light it created the illusion that I was eating pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top. To make this even better, they don't use preservatives, food coloring, etc. ALL NATURAL, BABY! I mean, I love this stuff! It's too bad that I shared! Ha! To sum up, this is something I can't really put into words. You'll have to hunt them down and try a cupcake (or two or three) to see for yourself. Enjoy!

Phoebe's Bakery

UPDATE:  Sadly, Phoebe's has closed since this posting.

Name: Phoebe's Bakery and Espresso Bar

Neighborhood: Lakeview
Address: 3351 N Broadway Street

Map (link above): dotted light blue marker

Nearest El Transit Locations:

Belmont Stop Red, Brown, Purple Lines

Hours: 

Mon - Sat  6am - 10pm

Sunday  8am - 8-pm

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Price: $2.95

Boxing/Packaging: Fitted clam shell

What makes this bakery special: 

They have super creative cupcakes--candy corn and root beer float, anyone?--and have a new menu each week. One week gives enough time to get there for the unique flavor you have your eye on, but also is short enough that new flavors are constantly being introduced! Sweet!

Cupcake Purchased and Reviewed:

Malt Ball

Cake: Chocolate

with Malt White Chocolate Italian Buttercream, plus a malt ball!

Appearance: 2

Size: Average

Bite #: 3

Moisture: 3

Candy Corn

Cake: Candy Corn

with Honey Buttercream

Appearance: 2

Size: Average

Bite #: 3

Moisture: 3

Additional Notes:

First, I would like to give a shout out to Kevin! Kevin, who works at Phoebe's, said the Malt Ball was delicious and was super excited about this cupcake blog! Thanks, man!

Like he said, the Malt Ball was fantastic. For someone who likes malted milkshakes but usually avoids malt balls, I enjoyed this cupcake. The moist chocolate cake left no doubt that it was fresh and the super creamy malt frosting had just the right amount of malt flavor to it--not too much, but noticeable. 

The Candy Corn cake was moist and fresh as well. I didn't necessarily find that "candy corn" taste in there, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless and is one fall flavor you don't usually see outside of regular candy corn. Nice touch!

Many people have asked me if I've been to Phoebe's yet and I am so glad to have finally visited here! Definitely worth the wait.

Super friendly staff, who obviously love the products they sell.

Indoor seating.

Coffee and espresso (obviously).