ICM:CANDY - Sweet Success

Friday night, sweet delight! It was finally time for our amazing cupcake challenge with best-selling authors Karen Tack & Alan Richardson! Several hundred people were on hand, there was candy EVERYWHERE.



We had bakers dressed as Willy Wonka, the Candyland gang, Cowboys, Baseball players, Silent film stars and more. All using candy on their cupcakes and enjoying candy everywhere we turned! Candy shots, Do-It-Yourself Cupcakes (I missed the name of our winner, if it is you let me know), chocolate, Jelly Bellies, gummies, mints, lollipops, sprinkles, jimmies, sugars crystals, m&m's, gum, licorice; you name it, it was on hand. Thanks so much to Karen and Alan for raiding the Sweets & Snacks Show in Chicago to bulk up our sugar overload!



Friday was our first challenge where our new media partners, 99.1WMYX were present to run the show. WHAT A TREAT! Van McNeil, their fantastic afternoon on-air personality hit a homerun with the crowd! So excited to have them join us for our fun. Also on hand were our friends from Next Chapter Books - selling cupcake books and Downtown Dough - sharing their cupcake supplies — shout out to the Northern suburbs!



Karen and Alan were blown away by the amazing creations of all of our bakers. It was super hard for them pick just two to award as their celebrity picks for the night. Each of their winners took home a collection of goodies including Karen & Alan's books, tshirt, decorating supplies and more. After all of the deliberation was done the were able to narrow it down to:
Jean, Mary and Jake's Sew Yummy Cookies & Creme Cupcakes were inspired by White Chocolate Buttons using Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme Candy Bar.



Their other choice was Jennifer's incredible Freedom Fusion Cupcake. A Ginger ale and candied baby ginger root cupcake topped with Chinese five spice buttercream frosting and then accented with a delicate buttermint. Her display was an amazing concoction that was all candy but looked just like a big pot full of baked beans with cornbread!


All night long, people were so excited to meet Karen & Alan, get their books signed, pose for pictures. We were sooooo lucky that they decided to come visit our little cupcake party. So very lucky.



For my Queen's choices, I could not resist the Sarah's Peanuts and Cracker Jacks cupcakes; a peanut butter cupcake with caramel buttercream sprinkled with peanuts. But the kicker...the Racing Sausages on display. So cool. Sara took home my infamous queen's septor, a cupcake canister, a set of great coupon coasters from City Tins and an AJBomber's gift card.



The winners of the popular vote were Christine's Turtle-riffic Treat, a chocolate cupcake with caramel filling, topped with chocolate frosting, chocolate and caramel syrup and a sprinkle of ground pecans. All of this in an aquarium scene of adorable little turtles.



The other popular choice was Kathy & Sarah's Cupcake Caliente! Sweet and hot cinnamon cupcake with vanilla buttercream and cinnamon flames! Both teams went home with a gift card from Water Buffalo, Downtown Dough and a massive tool kit complements from the fine folks at McCormick Spices!

This was a big event, and that would not have been possible without all of the incredibly generous friends of IronCupcake:Milwaukee, including:

• Karen Tack & Alan Richardson
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  
• Van McNeil & 99.1 WMYX
• Harley-Davidson Museum
• James Conway Photography
• Too Much Metal/Smac Design
• Joe Sorge and his fantastic restaurants - AJBombers, Swig and Water Buffalo
• Streetza Pizza
• Next Chapter Books
• Downtown Dough
• Goldi Shoe Parlor
• A Woman's Touch
• MilwaukeeSportsGeeks.com
• City Tins
• the authors of Twitterworks
• Media Sandwich
• Karen Cooks It
• Bleeding Heart Bakery
• Dorie Greenspan
• TLC's CakeBoss/Carlos' Bakery
• McCormick
• Reynolds
• 
• and all of our volunteers

So many great images to share, check them out on our ICM:Candy slide show, complements of Jim Conway!

Sweet Success

I haven't had a chance to get the blog post together yet, but FOX6 did a great little piece on Fridays event. Check it out! (Thanks Brian!)

ICM:Restaurant Challenge - Eat Local!

EAT LOCAL! RESTAURANT CHALLENGE!

"Cupcakes inspired by Milwaukee's Great Eateries"

Monday, June 21 - 6 p.m.!

This month we are joined by the fine folks at Milwaukee Food Tours to create and taste "Cupcakes inspired by Milwaukee's Great Eateries" — Think Sciortino's Cannoli Cupcake, Kopp's Grasshopper Fudge Cupcake, The Real Chili Cupcake.

IronCupcake:Milwaukee CARES We will be joined by the awesome folks from Slow Food of S.E. WI, who will tell us about their programs including the Kitchen Table Project.

BAKERS: There is a NEW INFORMATION to be a baker for IronCupcake. Please visit our new REGISTRATION LINK for all of the information!*

TWO WAYS TO GET TICKETS
Order in advanced and pay only $8 or pay $10 at the door (cash only, correct change preferred) gets you cupcake tasting, drink specials, and LOTS of giveaways! ONLINE tickets will go on sale on Monday, May 31st and will be available until midnight on Saturday, June 19th. Tickets will be limited - based on the amount of bakers who register *

LAKESIDE LOCATION
This month's event will be along the lake at the beautiful Discovery World. Lake breeze, sweet cupcakes, cool drinks, friends new and old. What could be better?

TEXT VOTING!!
Keeping up with the technology and the times, we are pleased to welcome TooMuchMetal/Smac Design and their CONTEXT-VOTE online text voting! PLUS, the new EGGS, FLOUR, SUGAR, IRON! IronCupcake t-shirts will be available!!

PHOTO AWESOMENESS
Complements of Jim Conway of JamesConwayPhotography.com


MEDIA PARTNERS!
IronCupcake:Milwaukee is THRILLED to announce that 99.1 WMYX will be joining us as our media partners. We will be joined by on-air personalities as well as promoted by their events and marketing departments! WOW!

The JUNE challenge will take place on MONDAY, JUNE 21st at 6:00 p.m.
Bakers spots fill up fast, sign up today!

IronCupcake:Milwaukee
LOCAL RESTAURANT Challenge
MONDAY, JUNE 21st at 6:00 p.m.
Discovery World
500 N Harbor Drive | Milwaukee, WI 53202

IronCupcake is open to all ages, but please keep in mind that this is a bar setting and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

*See an open letter to IronCupcakers

Today is the Day! Meet Karen Tack & Alan Richardson!

TONIGHT!
Friday, May 28th!

If you have EVER looked at a cupcake, considered baking one, or even walked through a book store; you are familiar with Hello, Cupcake! by best-selling authors Karen Tack & Alan Richardson. To celebrate the release of their sequel What's New, Cupcake? They will be joining us live as our special celebrity judges.

GET TICKETS
$10 at the door (cash only, correct change preferred) gets you cupcakes galore, candy, candy and more candy, celebrity demonstrations and LOTS of giveaways!

PRE-IRONCUPCAKE AT MOTOR!
Check out MOTOR before and after the IronCupcake challenge for a delicious dinner by the Milwaukee River, shop in the Harley-Davidson store, enjoy the museum grounds.

CELEBRITY JUDGES!!
IronCupcake:Milwaukee is excited to announce that the CELEBRITY JUDGES for our MAY challenge will be best selling authors Karen Tack and Alan Richardson. Visit their website, http://www.hellocupcakebook.com, to see just a sampling of the amazing cupcakes they have developed.

TEXT VOTING!!
Keeping up with the technology and the times, we are pleased to welcome TooMuchMetal/Smac Design and their CONTEXT-VOTE online text voting! PLUS, the new EGGS, FLOUR, SUGAR, IRON! IronCupcake t-shirts will be available!!

PHOTO AWESOMENESS
Complements of Jim Conway of JamesConwayPhotography.com


MEDIA PARTNERS!
IronCupcake:Milwaukee is THRILLED to announce that 99.1 WMYX will be joining us for the next 6 months as our media partners. We will be joined by on-air personalities as well as promoted by their events and marketing departments! WOW! Remember when...??

IronCupcake:Milwaukee
CANDY Challenge
with Karen Tack & Alan Richardson
FRIDAY, MAY 28 at 6:00 p.m.
THE GARAGE at the Harley-Davidson Museum
400 W Canal St • Milwaukee, WI 53201

IronCupcake is open to all ages, but please keep in mind that this is a bar setting and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

You Don't Want to Miss This!

Our buddy Karen, from KarenCooksIt.com has been keeping a secret...her husband is an amazing videographer! He put this awesome video together after our last event. Now, if I am lucky, I will get him to help me finally build that dream video I have been wanting for over a year now. But, back to Karen for a moment. She has a great site, too...AND she is a personal chef, so if you are lookin' she is the place to go!

THIS WEEK! An IronCupcake Like No Other!

Karen Tack and Alan Richardson of WHAT'S NEW, CUPCAKE? will be at IronCupcake:Milwaukee THIS FRIDAY! In addition to all of our usual fun, they will present a demo and we will have an D.I.Y. cupcake station where you can enter our on-the-spot challenge! Tickets available to the left until 12 midnight on Wednesday. Be sure to join us!

The (Cupcake) War is ON!

We saw a pilot late last year and now it's back for a summer season. Check the list, you will see some familiar names. Judging will be Candace Nelson (owner of Sprinkles Cupcakes) and Florian Bellanger (chef and co-owner of online macaroon company MadMac) along with a third rotating judge each week, and Justin Willman as host.

Episodes include:

"SeaWorld Birthday Bash"
Premieres Tuesday, June 15th at 9pm ET/PT- SERIES PREMIERE!
Four creative cupcake bakers go head-to-head in hopes of having their sweets featured at a seaside birthday party. Contestants include: Lindsay Morton of Dollhouse Bakeshop Shoppe (Santa Monica, Calif.), Brett Thompson of Milk (Los Angeles), Allyson Fiander of Daddy Cakes (Topeka, Kan.) and Tracey Buchanan of Sweet Bakery & Café (Ellicot City, Md.).

"Match Making Party"
Premieres Tuesday, June 22nd at ET/PT
Four artistic cupcake bakers battle it out in an aphrodisiac-inspired challenge for the opportunity to have their mouth-watering treats featured at a star-studded magazine party. Contestants include: Chloe Coscarelli of chloecoscarell.com Chef Chloe (Los Angeles), Shannon Normand of Crushcakes Cupcakery (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Shayrin Badillo of Cupcakes Nouveau (Coral Gables, Fla.) and Jeff Bonilla of Cups (La Jolla, Calif.).

"Ace of Cakes 100th Episode Celebration"
Premieres Tuesday, June 29th at 10pm ET/PT
Four talented cupcake bakers vie for the chance to have their sweets displayed at an anniversary party for Ace of Cakes' 100th episode. Cake-master Duff Goldman shares his expertise as a guest judge and contestants include: Jessica Cuff of The Coffee Shop (Gilbert, Ariz.), Michael Centimore of Cupcake Charlies (Mashpee, Mass.), Alyssa Magliato of The Perfect Circle Cupcakery (Orange, Calif.) and Erica Tucker of Sweet E's Bake Shoppe (Los Angeles).

"Survival of the Fittest"
Premieres Tuesday, July 6th at 10pm ET/PT
Four creative cupcake bakers battle it out for the chance to have their over-the-top sugar displays featured at an L.A. museum. Contestants include: Lisa Cowden of Lulu's Cupcakes (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Wendy Jones of Whodidily Cupcakes (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Maria Tonko of Cupcakes & Co (Burbank, Calif.) and Jeff Martin of Smallcakes (Overland Park, Kan.).

"George and Ann Lopez Charity Golf Tournament"
Premieres Tuesday, July 13th at 10pm ET/PT
Four talented cupcake bakers vie for the chance to have their delicious displays featured at a charity golf challenge hosted by comedian George Lopez and wife Ann Lopez. Contestants include: Hollis Wilder of Sweet! (Orlando, Fla.), Karla Jennings of Sugar Cupcakery (Milford, Ohio), Catarah Hampshire of Southern Girl Desserts Delivery (Los Angeles) and Todd Becker of Beckers Bakery (Manhattan Beach, Calif.).

"Cupcakes for a Cause"
Premieres Tuesday, July 20th at 10pm ET/PT
Four artistic bakers vie for the chance to have their cupcakes featured at a charity event. Contestants include: Rebecca Ybarra of Suite 106 Cupcakery (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Kara Haspel of Kara's Cupcakes (San Francisco), Ivey Childers of Ivey Cakes (Franklin, Tenn.) and Lisa Donahue of For Heavens Cakes (Thousand Oaks, Calif.).

"Film Festival Face-Off"
Premieres Tuesday, July 27th at 10pm ET/PT
Four talented cupcake bakers battle it out for the chance to have their over-the-top sugar displays featured at a film festival. Contestants include: Arleen Scavore of Sweet Arlenes (Westlake Village, Calif.), Stefanie Gaxiola of Red Velvet Stefanie (Los Angeles), Zoey Devail of Bee Sweet Bakery Cupcakes (New Orleans, La.) and Johnny Mangamiotis of Mr. Cupcakes (Clifton, N.J.).

"Classic Cupcake Challenge"
Premieres Tuesday, August 3rd at 10pm ET/PT
Four creative bakers vie for the chance to have their cupcakes on display at a vintage-inspired event. Contestants include: Eileen Kerbel of Molly's Cupcakes (Chicago), Farshid Hakim of La Provence Patisserie Café (Beverly Hills, Calif.), Lindsay Esparza of Cupcakes (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Jasmine Frank of Jazzy Cakes (Sherman Oaks, Calif.).

For more information on Cupcake Wars, visit: www.foodnetwork.com/cupcakewars (launches 5/27).
CUPCAKE WARS PREMIERES ON FOOD NETWORK THIS JUNE! Released by Food Network The preceding article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.

Do You Know the Bacon Man?

This post would not be possible without my awesome friends Thomas and Megan from Nueskes Bacon. I was their guest today at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago. Some things that I learned today? Well, hotdogs are making a comeback. Yes, hotdogs. Don't get me wrong, I love a good dog, but that surprised me. Other overly represented foods...coffee, tea and sweet potatoes. Seriously.

There was an awesome Food Truck pavilion and our friend Scott from Streetza Pizza had the newly decked out truck on display.

It was also had quite a big weekend with their debut of their new book #twitterworks. I nearly choked when I saw it at the shows bookseller this morning. Congrats Scott, Joe and Phil! So. Damn. Cool!

But we all know why I really wanted to go to a show full of restaurant pros. THE CHEFS! And I got a couple of good ones. Sometimes nasty on TV, but so sweet in person was Chef Ludo Lefebvre -- you have seen him on both seasons of Top Chef Masters. We talked food trucks (his is called Ludo Bites) and cupcakes...he once made a bacon chocolate cupcake (easy) but his twist...a foie gras buttercream. Sounds oddly delicious. And definitely intriguing.

One of my mom's all time favorite posts on my blog is the one where I met Rick Bayless, chickened out in getting the photo and then lost my camera anyway. My solution was that I DREW all the images that would have happened if I hadn't lost my nerve and lost that camera anyway.

Well, I finally got my second chance. Just mere days after being the Chef at the 2nd State Dinner for President Barack Obama, there he was...Rick Bayless. This time he was primed and ready to sign autographs and take photos, even if he had totally lost his voice in the recent excitement.

"smells like hell but tastes like heaven"

MANILA, Philippines (The Philippine Star)

Seaweed and durian fruit, baked together, make a nutritious cupcake.

The food item was the product of a research project done by Arlyn Omboy, Graciela Caballero, Milagros Subaldo, Dr. Nila Nanette Revulla, and Dr. Delia Grace Bacaltos of the Southern Philippines Agribusiness and Marine and Aquatic School of Techonology (SPAMAST) in Digos City (Davao del Norte).

The seaweed-durian cupcake technology was among the finalists in the 2010 Aquatic Technology Competition and Marketplace (ATCOM) sponsored by the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (DOST-PCAMRD).

The seaweed-durian cupcake, a bakery product made from seaweed powder with processed durian jam, uses as raw material locally available Eucheuma spinosum and durian, an exotic fruit “that smells like hell but tastes like heaven.”

“Making seaweed-durian pastry follows the usual baking process for bread and pastry,” the researchers said.

The cupcake's shelf life is five days.

In a consumers' feedback evaluation done by the researchers, the majority of the respondents from Digos City and neighboring towns rated the cupcake as “most acceptable.”

Through the support of the Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP) sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Region 11, the technology was further improved and even extended to various seaweed-growing communities in the Island Garden City of Samal and Puntao Biao, Cogon, Digos City.

Arrangements are being made with the DTI and Department of Education (DepEd) for the display of the cupcake in ‘Pasalubong’ centers and school canteens.

Rain, Rain...

...don't go away, because then we won't be able to wear these extra cute boots!

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland cupcakes :), originally uploaded by Three Baking Sheets.

Frost Outside the Lines!

Old School Sweets in Beantown

Due to a few mis-directions with the GPS, we did not get to visit the cupcake shops I had on my calendar for our week in Boston. But fear not, fabulous pastry was on the menu. Thankfully, our hotel was just a couple of blocks from the infamous North End -- little Italy if you will. This place is 2 things...restaurants and bakeries and the occasional restaurant. (good eatin', by the way).



We made three stops one morning. The first was Mike's Pastry. Several people had recommended that we check it out.



Mike's is a classic italian bakery; not really known for their cupcakes, but we bought one anyway. It was alright...too much frosting for my liking, but what was really rockin' was the pine-nut cookie right next to it. YUM!

Mike's Pastry
300 Hanover Street
(between Parmenter/Richmond and Prince Streets)
Boston, MA 02113 USA
617.742.3050

Our next stop was Modern Pastry. Had never heard of it and saw only a week later that it was featured as the #1 MOST BODACIOUS BAKERY on the Travel Channel...and I totally agree! Another classic Italian bakery, we stayed away from the cupcakes, even though they were irresistibly cute. What we had instead was INCREDIBLE.



What we had was called a Sfogliatella — A traditional Italian pastry that is handmade, crispy light and has flaky layers. Filled with homemade yellow cream, semolina, cinnamon, and citrus flavoring. Messy and delicious. The best part about this place was the personality. CHARACTERS, that is all I can say for the woman eating her morning pastry, the men of the neighborhood catching up between projects for the day. The bakery staff coming in and out with massive boxes of treats for delivery. Mom and I both loved this place...so much so, we went back for cannoli later that night.

Modern Pastry
257 Hanover Street
Boston · MA 02113 (North End)
617.523.3783