« A Cupcake Update »
Monday, August 24, 2009 at 10:13AMThe only problem with publicly announcing that you’re going to enter a local cupcake contest is that it seems only reasonable to share the results, good or bad, afterward.
I’ll save you the suspense: The Horace Williams Memorial Cupcake Festival at the Horace Williams House on
The competing baked goods. Friday night was a blast, but no CHM staffer went home with the gold. Or an honorable mention. Or even much dignity, I’m sorry to say.
Associate publisher Megan Haven’s cupcakes were, unfortunately, non-starters. She arrived home on Thursday night ready to bake, but her power was out. It was 9:30pm — too late to call up friends and ask to borrow their kitchen. She politely bowed out of the race. But I can attest that her sweet tea cupcakes (that’s lemon cake with sweet tea frosting) were delicious. She’d made a batch the day before for a co-worker’s birthday, and they were a big hit around here.
My cupcakes were ready to go on Friday morning. I made margarita cupcakes — a white cake with tequila, triple sec, margarita mix and lime zest mixed in the batter. The frosting was a lime buttercream. After performing my own taste test, I topped them with granulated sugar — and salt. I mean, isn’t the salty rim the best part of a margarita? I love that sweet and salty combination. Some things just work well together.
I took the extra cupcakes I made to the office on Friday, and everyone seemed to enjoy them. And this is a pretty honest crowd when it comes to food, so I was feeling fairly confident.
Cut to Friday night. I didn’t expect to win the contest. And I’m not a very competitive person, so I was just happy to participate. There were 25 entries. The youngest baker was 8, and the oldest was 80. This was the kind of community event that truly crossed demographic boundaries. After all, who doesn’t like cupcakes? There were mint chocolate cupcakes, hot fudge sundae cupcakes, lemon cupcakes. The judges were Chapel Hill mural artist Michael Brown, novelist Michael Malone and WRAL traffic reporter Brian Shrader. They took their responsibility seriously, judging on taste, appearance and originality.
The winner of the “Most Luscious Cupcake Award” was Agnieszka Stachura. A worthy honor. She’s baked for Whole Foods for the past 13 years. Her “Midsummer Night’s Dream” cupcakes were decadent yet refreshing on a hot night: an orange chiffon cake filled with mascarpone cheese and topped with orange curd and fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and kiwi. Honorable mentions went to Kelley Gill for her peaches and cream cupcakes, Marissa James of Sugarland for her banana Nutella cupcakes and Michele Chavis of Sugarland for her black forest cupcakes. Tough competitors.
As I was about to leave the event, satisfied that all but one of my cupcakes had been consumed by what
Here I am proudly displaying my margarita cupcake, prior to hearing one judge's unfavorable rating. I assumed to be happy customers, I was stopped by Brian Shrader.
“Did you make the margarita cupcakes?” he asked me.
“Yes! Did you like them?” I replied, excitedly.
“No!” he answered, with just as much excitement. He then made a face that no baker should ever have to see.
I thought he was teasing. I learned that he wasn’t. OK, he doesn’t like margaritas, for one thing. He really didn’t like the salt on top of them, but he said he gave me points for originality (in this case, I’m sure “original” is code for “terrible”). I must say, I was taken aback. I’m no Martha Stewart, but I’m a decent baker. I mean, a few weeks ago, I won a chocolate chip cookie throwdown, Bobby Flay style.
In the end, Brian and I shared a good laugh. I assured him he would end up on this blog, and he said that he was more than prepared to defend his argument against my cupcakes (a tip for future participants in case he judges again next year: He goes for the light cupcakes. So stay away from rich chocolates, peanut butter, etc.)
If I can work up the courage, I’ll try to redeem myself at next year’s contest. Until then, take some free advice: Don’t salt your cupcakes.
To see photos from the event, including one of the winning cupcake, go to our People & Places page.
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Reader Comments (17)
As Bill Cosby said, "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
In the meantime, ma'am, will you pass the salt? I usually like a full tablespoon atop my cupcake.
I'd like to attest that Brian Shrader, whom I'm sure has redeeming qualities, doesn't know anything about cupcakes.
Dan Shannon,
Publisher
Chapel Hill Magazine
How can you go wrong with a MARGARITA in CUPCAKE form? I loved the sweet and salty combo. I guess some palates just aren't as advanced as others:)
Summertime + Margaritas = Awesome...putting it into cupcake form is amazing! Andrea's cupcakes were both tasty and creative. Sorry Brian, I have to say, I must disagree with you.
Mr. Shrader's gracious comment notwithstanding, his behavior towards Andrea trafficked in offensiveness. He could have used a heavy delay to think about what he would say in order to bypass his egregious remarks. I'm surprised he didn't moon Andrea, since just by his name I can tell he knows how to Brandish Rear. Tequila baker's dream with such denunciation can batter her self esteem.
Oh what a night! Cupcakes rock! Chapel Hill rocks!
I was overwhelmed by the cupcakes, the crowd, the generousity of our local businesses, and most of all...everyone's enthusiasm. Thank you Chapel Hill.
Andrea...just for the record my dear friends Carol & Keith Douglas loved your margarita Cupcakes. You got their vote for "Crowd Favorite". I did not get a chance to sample any of the cupcakes on Friday night. So we are going to have to repeat the event, same time next year...
Good luck next year and thanks to Chapel Hill Magazine and all cupcakes lovers!
Sherril Koroluk
Assistant to the Director
Preservaion Society of Chapel Hill at the Horace WilliamsHouse
Thanks, Sherril, for the kind words and for your work on this event. For the record, who did win crowd favorite?
Will milk be available next year?
My chronic inattention to detail is rearing its head this morning. After a careful rereading of the blog post, I do have to take strong exception with the way our encounter was reported here. I'm a Southern gentleman, and my honor has been sullied.
After the winners were announced and the crowd dispersed, Andrea and I chatted about the contest on the porch. I didn't know Andrea made the margarita cupcakes until *after* I trashed them. I was telling her about weird cupcakes in there, namely the margarita cupcakes, and she then informed me that she made those. I was given plenty of rope with which to hang myself. It was a textbook example of foot-in-mouth disease.
If I had known she was responsible for those cupcakes, I certainly wouldn't have been as forthcoming. As an "Andy Griffith Show" aficionado, I've seen "The Pickle Story" episode enough to know how to handle situations surrounding suspect food. I would have provided selective praise without lying. But the die was cast, so I continued with my candid critique.
In other news... "Tequila baker's dream with such denunciation can batter her self esteem." Now, that takes the cake!
Quibbling, Brian, quibbling. Take the blog butt whipping you're getting like a man; learn some diplomacy and don't speak badly about someone's cupcakes.
The Margarita Cupcakes were one of the most original ones there, and so perfect for a hot and steamy night. I was really full by the time I got to them, but couldn't resist trying one, and it turned out to be husband's and my favorite!
While driving by a local pizza eatery just yesterday, a colleague of mine recommended that I should try the establishment's "margarita pizza." She went on to explain its contents of fresh bay leaf, ricotta cheese, fresh tomatoes, etc. A little strange, I thought, but I like to try new things, and I made a mental note to order a margarita pizza soon. Now I read about margarita cupcakes. Again, interesting, and probably not as strange as margarita pizza. So the next time I see you, Andrea, can you bring me some margarita cupcakes? I would like to try them; I would like to awaken my taste buds! ! I see Andrea's reporting as light-hearted and making fun of herself, which makes her writing humorous. Remember, Mr. Shrader, that Shakespeare once said, "Methinks thou dost protest too much."
Kevin: It would be quibbling if this was a minor detail. But it's an inaccurate portrayal that makes me look like a first-rate heel. Ms. Griffith's account makes it sound like I knowingly and willfully sought her out to berate her cupcakes.
I would never do that to anyone.
The real story here is that while talking about my experience at the cupcake festival, I unknowingly panned her cupcakes. It was embarrassing, and we had a laugh about it.
This whole affair would be funny if my character weren't in the bull's-eye.
Mr. Shrader:
"Methinks thou dost protest too much! Lighten up! Have a cupcake!
Had to get in on the lively fun -- Mr. Shrader, the only thing making you look like a heel is the constant defensive comments! Andrea posted an accurate, fun post about her quest for cupcake glorydom. It was light-hearted and has now blown up into a he-said/she-said cupcake battle of epic proportions. Lighten up! It's cupcakes!
Brian,
Seems to me like you spontaneously dissed Andrea's excellent cupcakes, and now rue the moment. Well, good. And a Southern gentleman, by the way, would compliment, not criticize, a lady's dessert.
Dan Shannon
Publisher
Chapel Hill Magazine
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