Iz just like Friends, but with cupcakes, at McDonald's and ...
April 5, 2010 3:10 PM Subscribe
When do you know the cupcake fad is dead? When Germans start selling them at McDonald's with names inspired by New York City neighborhoods.
This post was deleted for the following reason: poster's request -- cortex
"Huh I wonder if Chelsea is gonna be a gay sterot-oh yah."
posted by The Whelk at 3:14 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 3:14 PM on April 5, 2010
Ich bin ein CupCaker!
posted by gomichild at 3:16 PM on April 5, 2010 [13 favorites]
posted by gomichild at 3:16 PM on April 5, 2010 [13 favorites]
I now play Andy Warhol once and tell everything what I like to art.
Words for the ages.
posted by ob at 3:17 PM on April 5, 2010 [5 favorites]
Words for the ages.
posted by ob at 3:17 PM on April 5, 2010 [5 favorites]
After a spree breath through your town a bit and draw the view once again small.
Also profound.
posted by ob at 3:18 PM on April 5, 2010
Also profound.
posted by ob at 3:18 PM on April 5, 2010
Macaroons are the new cupcakes.
posted by Keith Talent at 3:18 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Keith Talent at 3:18 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
No "Berliner" jokes? For shame.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 3:18 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 3:18 PM on April 5, 2010
I predict that cake-balls will become the indie cupcake, then eventually gain a cult following and then if all goes well, exported to replace and homogenize all regional deserts in the world.
I for one welcome our new sugary overlords.
posted by fontophilic at 3:21 PM on April 5, 2010
I for one welcome our new sugary overlords.
posted by fontophilic at 3:21 PM on April 5, 2010
Seriously where is the Inwood cupcake?
posted by Lutoslawski at 3:22 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by Lutoslawski at 3:22 PM on April 5, 2010
* enjoys cupcakes oblivious of fad *
posted by everichon at 3:23 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by everichon at 3:23 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
What is that East Village guy doing to his crotch?
Just as when that question arises in real life, it's probably best not to know.
posted by gurple at 3:24 PM on April 5, 2010
Just as when that question arises in real life, it's probably best not to know.
posted by gurple at 3:24 PM on April 5, 2010
Cupcakes are a fad? What's the next big thing? Oxygen???
posted by Sys Rq at 3:26 PM on April 5, 2010 [19 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 3:26 PM on April 5, 2010 [19 favorites]
No Howard Beach?
The Howard Beach Cupcake is spray-tan orange and tastes like steroids and mother issues.
Inwood?
The Inwood cupcake has somehow been deep fired.
posted by The Whelk at 3:27 PM on April 5, 2010 [5 favorites]
The Howard Beach Cupcake is spray-tan orange and tastes like steroids and mother issues.
Inwood?
The Inwood cupcake has somehow been deep fired.
posted by The Whelk at 3:27 PM on April 5, 2010 [5 favorites]
When do you know the cupcake fad is dead?
Like any fad.... I heard about it, ergo it's dead. :)
posted by Malor at 3:27 PM on April 5, 2010 [5 favorites]
Like any fad.... I heard about it, ergo it's dead. :)
posted by Malor at 3:27 PM on April 5, 2010 [5 favorites]
The fact that there are now three hipster/designer cupcake shops in Saskatoon Saskatchewan suggests that the fad is lumbering towards Jerusalem to die.
When they hit Prince Albert we can officially declare it dead.
posted by jrochest at 3:29 PM on April 5, 2010 [6 favorites]
When they hit Prince Albert we can officially declare it dead.
posted by jrochest at 3:29 PM on April 5, 2010 [6 favorites]
What is that East Village guy doing to his crotch?
Hint: He's got a cupcake you can't see in the picture.
posted by longsleeves at 3:29 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Hint: He's got a cupcake you can't see in the picture.
posted by longsleeves at 3:29 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Coming Soon: the Park Slope. Fair trade, toddler-sized, with a surcharge for the decorative biodegradable wrapper that's somewhat shocking, but you love this planet and your children, don't you? Don't you?
posted by gompa at 3:31 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by gompa at 3:31 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Well fuck.
Divert all energies to salted caramel ice cream fad.
posted by Artw at 3:31 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
Divert all energies to salted caramel ice cream fad.
posted by Artw at 3:31 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
Where did this start? we have "hey cupcake" here in austin, and i have seen cupcake stores on movies about LA, but where did it begin?
posted by djduckie at 3:34 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by djduckie at 3:34 PM on April 5, 2010
Next fad? Donuts? Where was some abortive attempt at mac & cheese or grilled cheese. I almost want to say ...gelato. There was a tiramasu fad a while back too, but none of them had the legs cupcakes had.
It would have to easy enough to cook to be cheap but not so easy you could make them at home instantly, small enough to be eaten with your hands, sugary-fried-whatever enough to be thought as a 'treat" but without negative class assumptions and it'll need to be variable enough to have complex arguments about what makes a "good" one and lots of variety.
posted by The Whelk at 3:36 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
It would have to easy enough to cook to be cheap but not so easy you could make them at home instantly, small enough to be eaten with your hands, sugary-fried-whatever enough to be thought as a 'treat" but without negative class assumptions and it'll need to be variable enough to have complex arguments about what makes a "good" one and lots of variety.
posted by The Whelk at 3:36 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm gonna recommend putting two bullets into the sickly sweet frosting just to be sure.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:38 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:38 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
No Coney Island cupcake?
posted by klangklangston at 3:41 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by klangklangston at 3:41 PM on April 5, 2010
Dare I ask why there isn't a Williamsburg cupcake?
It's made of PBR and frosted with cocaine.
posted by acb at 3:42 PM on April 5, 2010 [7 favorites]
It's made of PBR and frosted with cocaine.
posted by acb at 3:42 PM on April 5, 2010 [7 favorites]
Ideally the Coney Island Cupcake would be a mix of fried funnel cake and camphor and rye whiskey but really it just tastes like cornmeal and broken dreams.
Also Coney Island Cupcake is my new drag name.
posted by The Whelk at 3:43 PM on April 5, 2010 [17 favorites]
Also Coney Island Cupcake is my new drag name.
posted by The Whelk at 3:43 PM on April 5, 2010 [17 favorites]
Next fad? Donuts?
Starbucks has been doing cupcakes and donuts for a while now (and both rather poorly in my humble opinion). Let's leave the baked goods to the professionals. Or at least someone that doesn't have to mass-produce and ship them frozen.
Remember when Starbucks used to highlight food items from community bakeries?
posted by erstwhile at 3:43 PM on April 5, 2010
Starbucks has been doing cupcakes and donuts for a while now (and both rather poorly in my humble opinion). Let's leave the baked goods to the professionals. Or at least someone that doesn't have to mass-produce and ship them frozen.
Remember when Starbucks used to highlight food items from community bakeries?
posted by erstwhile at 3:43 PM on April 5, 2010
Dare I ask why there isn't a Williamsburg cupcake?
As it happens, people don't think beards make cupcakes more delicious.
posted by thivaia at 3:43 PM on April 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
the Williamsburg cupcake?
The Williamsburg Cupcake Delivery service was a grass service with a tasty, self-eating cover.
posted by The Whelk at 3:44 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Williamsburg Cupcake Delivery service was a grass service with a tasty, self-eating cover.
posted by The Whelk at 3:44 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Kitteh-shaped bacon cupcake. I was hoping this one particular Google image search would not work. alas.
posted by longsleeves at 3:47 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by longsleeves at 3:47 PM on April 5, 2010
waffles are the next big thing. There are two waffle shops within walking distance of my house.
posted by vespabelle at 3:49 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by vespabelle at 3:49 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
When I visited New York over the summer, I specifically sought out Magnolia Bakery to buy mack on some cupcakes due to the line in the SNL Lazy Sunday video.
And damn good they were too.
posted by djgh at 3:50 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
And damn good they were too.
posted by djgh at 3:50 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
It would have to easy enough to cook to be cheap but not so easy you could make them at home instantly, small enough to be eaten with your hands, sugary-fried-whatever enough to be thought as a 'treat" but without negative class assumptions and it'll need to be variable enough to have complex arguments about what makes a "good" one and lots of variety.
New fad proposal, inside out fried churros with fillings such as: cardamom-orange zest-cream cheese, vanilla-nutmeg-custard, and maple-bacon-butter?
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:50 PM on April 5, 2010
New fad proposal, inside out fried churros with fillings such as: cardamom-orange zest-cream cheese, vanilla-nutmeg-custard, and maple-bacon-butter?
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:50 PM on April 5, 2010
Where's the Not Everyone Thinks NYC Is So Great Cupcake? You know, the one made out of green cake with green frosting and green sprinkles?
posted by mullacc at 3:50 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by mullacc at 3:50 PM on April 5, 2010
Mini tacos! bite-sized and filled with wondrous things!
posted by The Whelk at 3:51 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 3:51 PM on April 5, 2010
One of my trendster friends was facebooking from SF's eggettes, which is allegedly an asian take on waffles.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:52 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:52 PM on April 5, 2010
Some people like cupcakes exclusively, while myself, I say
There is naught nor ought there be nothing so exalted on the face of gods grey
Earth as that prince of foods... the muffin!
posted by Slothrup at 3:53 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
There is naught nor ought there be nothing so exalted on the face of gods grey
Earth as that prince of foods... the muffin!
posted by Slothrup at 3:53 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
THE MUFFIN IS JUST A SMALL CAKE WITH NO FROSTING. IT IS NOT A BREAKFAST FOOD.
posted by The Whelk at 3:54 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:54 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
butter. I rarely eat buttons anymore.
posted by The Whelk at 3:55 PM on April 5, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:55 PM on April 5, 2010 [8 favorites]
Right now, I am enjoying a gooey, oily Gowanus cupcake.*
it's a Twinkie dipped in gonorrhea
posted by deliquescent at 4:03 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
it's a Twinkie dipped in gonorrhea
posted by deliquescent at 4:03 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
waffles are the next big thing.
Starbucks is (also) on it. So how long before the McWaffle?
posted by erstwhile at 4:06 PM on April 5, 2010
Starbucks is (also) on it. So how long before the McWaffle?
posted by erstwhile at 4:06 PM on April 5, 2010
My family and I were visiting Vancouver, and my sister happened to be in town too. She came over to our hotel room and brought cupcakes as a snack. They came from a trendy cupcake shop off of Robson. The shop sells big cupcakes, as well as boxes of mini cupcakes.
My sister went out with my wife and the kids while I did something or other. I returned to the hotel room, saw the box of cupcakes, and had a snack.
When my sister returned she screamed "What did you eat???"
Apparently, I had eaten the box of cupcakes she had bought as a souvenir for her workmates in the small rural town where she lives - far away from Vancouver's trendy cupcakes.
No problem, I said. I'll just go around the corner and get you some more. I went two blocks to the store, and asked for a box of mini-cupcakes. The 16-year-old girls at the counter (and their friends who were waiting for them to finish work when the store closed for the night) giggled and said "we're sold out!"
You don't have any mini-cupcakes? All of the girls in the shop giggled again.
I need mini-cupcakes!
They said the shop on Denman might have them. So I left the giggling girls behind and made the 25 minute trek to Denman and Davie, hoping they wouldn't sell out of mini-cupcakes before I got there.
I made it.
But trendy cupcakes? WTF?
posted by KokuRyu at 4:09 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
My sister went out with my wife and the kids while I did something or other. I returned to the hotel room, saw the box of cupcakes, and had a snack.
When my sister returned she screamed "What did you eat???"
Apparently, I had eaten the box of cupcakes she had bought as a souvenir for her workmates in the small rural town where she lives - far away from Vancouver's trendy cupcakes.
No problem, I said. I'll just go around the corner and get you some more. I went two blocks to the store, and asked for a box of mini-cupcakes. The 16-year-old girls at the counter (and their friends who were waiting for them to finish work when the store closed for the night) giggled and said "we're sold out!"
You don't have any mini-cupcakes? All of the girls in the shop giggled again.
I need mini-cupcakes!
They said the shop on Denman might have them. So I left the giggling girls behind and made the 25 minute trek to Denman and Davie, hoping they wouldn't sell out of mini-cupcakes before I got there.
I made it.
But trendy cupcakes? WTF?
posted by KokuRyu at 4:09 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I predict that cake-balls will become the indie cupcake
fontophilic, I have just spent the last 15 minutes googling around "cake-balls" and ... my God. That's astounding. It fills a hole in myself and my cake-eating habits that I didn't even know I had. Thank you/curse you for that.
posted by penduluum at 4:10 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
fontophilic, I have just spent the last 15 minutes googling around "cake-balls" and ... my God. That's astounding. It fills a hole in myself and my cake-eating habits that I didn't even know I had. Thank you/curse you for that.
posted by penduluum at 4:10 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I like the idea of a macaroon fad, but we'll also hafta start a Hollandaise sauce fad or something, because otherwise we're gonna end up with a bunch of egg yolks, and that's just wasteful.
Wait, wait, wait. I've got it. Angelfood cake balls filled with chocolate mousse.
Did I mention that they're AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD AND DEEP-FRIED?
I'm gonna be rich.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:14 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
Wait, wait, wait. I've got it. Angelfood cake balls filled with chocolate mousse.
Did I mention that they're AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD AND DEEP-FRIED?
I'm gonna be rich.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:14 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
I often imagine that trendy cupcakes are the sole form of sustenance for ukulele-playing YouTube girls.
posted by sourwookie at 4:15 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by sourwookie at 4:15 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
(Cake) donut holes are close enough to cake balls for me. They're fried instead of frosted, but that's OK. Dunkin' Donuts provides plenty of Munchkins that fill that mold for me.
But if they ever come dunked in frosting/chocolate, I think it may be dangerous superstimulus for the dessert part of my brain. I'd become a shut-in, ordering frosted donut holes by the pallet.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:15 PM on April 5, 2010
But if they ever come dunked in frosting/chocolate, I think it may be dangerous superstimulus for the dessert part of my brain. I'd become a shut-in, ordering frosted donut holes by the pallet.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:15 PM on April 5, 2010
In LA, the next big thing is food from trucks.
posted by sideshow at 4:15 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by sideshow at 4:15 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm unpersuaded by this "proof" of the proposition that the cupcake craze is over. You'll pry my cupcake recipes and cupcake wrappers from my cold, dead hands.
Divert all energies to salted caramel ice cream fad.
Ah, you must be unaware of the deliciousness of the salted caramel cupcake.
In closing, cupcakes forever!
posted by bearwife at 4:15 PM on April 5, 2010
Divert all energies to salted caramel ice cream fad.
Ah, you must be unaware of the deliciousness of the salted caramel cupcake.
In closing, cupcakes forever!
posted by bearwife at 4:15 PM on April 5, 2010
But I don't want to be exposed to Gowanus!
posted by loquacious at 4:17 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by loquacious at 4:17 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Let's just have a dessert fad and have everyone try to make the best and most crazy dessert they can think of, period. The cupcake fad has too many walls. It HAS to be single serving, it HAS to be cake, it HAS to be frosted, it HAS to be expensive and it HAS to have a paper liner. And one of those rules (including possibly this one) must be broken.
I want to see pot de creme stands battling with banana's foster on waffles emporiums. I want to see lines wrapped around the block for hipper variations on cobbler. I want a custard shop that brags they do to custard what Lady Gaga did to clothes.
And I want Metafilter to overthink the hell out of all of it.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:20 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
I want to see pot de creme stands battling with banana's foster on waffles emporiums. I want to see lines wrapped around the block for hipper variations on cobbler. I want a custard shop that brags they do to custard what Lady Gaga did to clothes.
And I want Metafilter to overthink the hell out of all of it.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:20 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
If McDonald's can't kill it, Taco Bell will. Plus, their cupcakes are mediocre. Mediocrity kills things faster than awesomeness or sheer terribleness.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:21 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:21 PM on April 5, 2010
Dare I ask why there isn't a Williamsburg cupcake?
It's made of PBR and frosted with cocaine.
...and detested by everyone around it.
posted by nevercalm at 4:22 PM on April 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
It's made of PBR and frosted with cocaine.
...and detested by everyone around it.
posted by nevercalm at 4:22 PM on April 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
Let's just have a dessert fad and have everyone try to make the best and most crazy dessert they can think of, period.
Twee trendy bakery near me does "Candy Pizza" ...a layer of flat cake, then chocolate, then frosting, then various candy toppings. It tastes exactly how you think it would taste.
posted by The Whelk at 4:26 PM on April 5, 2010
Twee trendy bakery near me does "Candy Pizza" ...a layer of flat cake, then chocolate, then frosting, then various candy toppings. It tastes exactly how you think it would taste.
posted by The Whelk at 4:26 PM on April 5, 2010
Taco Bell Cupcakes, Smoothies Coming Soon?
At first glance I thought that headline was talking about cupcake smoothies, which actually sound kind of awesome.
posted by brain_drain at 4:26 PM on April 5, 2010
At first glance I thought that headline was talking about cupcake smoothies, which actually sound kind of awesome.
posted by brain_drain at 4:26 PM on April 5, 2010
The Dunkin Donuts waffle sandwich is good, in a McGriddle kind of way. In other words, in a "Eat it for breakfast once a year" kind of way.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:27 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:27 PM on April 5, 2010
So...many...possible...jokes
Head...asploding
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 4:27 PM on April 5, 2010
Head...asploding
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 4:27 PM on April 5, 2010
waffles are the next big thing.
We had the great waffle war of 2008.
posted by cazoo at 4:29 PM on April 5, 2010
We had the great waffle war of 2008.
posted by cazoo at 4:29 PM on April 5, 2010
70s New York cupcakes:
French Connection - Irish Whiskey infused chocolate cake with a Heroin glaze
Studio 54 - Cocaine and semen whipped into a frenzied meringue with a KY Jelly center
CBGB - A fine pasty white vanilla cake swirled with cigarette ash and vomit, topped with Codeine cough syrup frosting.
posted by doctor_negative at 4:33 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
French Connection - Irish Whiskey infused chocolate cake with a Heroin glaze
Studio 54 - Cocaine and semen whipped into a frenzied meringue with a KY Jelly center
CBGB - A fine pasty white vanilla cake swirled with cigarette ash and vomit, topped with Codeine cough syrup frosting.
posted by doctor_negative at 4:33 PM on April 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
OK, do y'all mean macarons or macaroons? Totally different things. Macarons have been doing the foodie-blog shuffle for a couple of months now - those pretty little discs with the fabulous colours that are a total fucking arse to bake yourself. Macaroons, the lumpen misshapen bumpy looking golden things, can be whipped together very easily. I can see macaroons taking off but when you've got food bloggers having three or more disasters before succeeding to make macarons, you decidedly don't have a phenomena like cupcakes. Because cupcakes are piss easy to make, have a billion variations and can be fixed with slatherings of toppings.
posted by geek anachronism at 4:41 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by geek anachronism at 4:41 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
No Coney Island cupcake?
It tastes like old Russian men and sadness.
posted by contessa at 4:52 PM on April 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
It tastes like old Russian men and sadness.
posted by contessa at 4:52 PM on April 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
Macaroons are the new cupcakes.
The Creature with the Black Macaroons will be happy to hear that. (Can't believe I couldn't find an image of that sketch anywhere)
posted by wildcrdj at 5:04 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Creature with the Black Macaroons will be happy to hear that. (Can't believe I couldn't find an image of that sketch anywhere)
posted by wildcrdj at 5:04 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
No Coney Island cupcake?
It tastes like Godspeed.
posted by MysteriousMan at 5:10 PM on April 5, 2010
It tastes like Godspeed.
posted by MysteriousMan at 5:10 PM on April 5, 2010
The NYU. You bring one home and pretty soon it owns the whole kitchen.
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:14 PM on April 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:14 PM on April 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
Biscuits are the new cupcake in Denver, weirdly enough...two biscuit shops opened within days of each other. Cupcakes were the new bacon, and biscuits are the new cupcake.
posted by mynameisluka at 5:16 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by mynameisluka at 5:16 PM on April 5, 2010
I had a fun time with this fad, spending about a year trying cupcakes everywhere I traveled. My favorites were MORE Cupcakes in Chicago and Cake + Art in Los Angeles.
posted by stevil at 5:19 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by stevil at 5:19 PM on April 5, 2010
These are not inspired by New York City neighbourhoods. These are inspired by Manhattan. For instance, we have this whole borough called Queens going on.
posted by Captaintripps at 5:20 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Captaintripps at 5:20 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Djduckie:Where did this start? we have "hey cupcake" here in austin, and i have seen cupcake stores on movies about LA, but where did it begin?
No one has answered you, so I will try: I believe it began in New York City, specifically, in Greenwich Village. At the Magnolia Bakery.
However, since I gleaned this information from the NYTs Style section, I have to put in a disclaimer that the NYTs Style section only reports on something as hot and amazing when it is very near dead, so by my reckoning, cupcakes died ten years ago.
posted by acrasis at 5:20 PM on April 5, 2010
No one has answered you, so I will try: I believe it began in New York City, specifically, in Greenwich Village. At the Magnolia Bakery.
However, since I gleaned this information from the NYTs Style section, I have to put in a disclaimer that the NYTs Style section only reports on something as hot and amazing when it is very near dead, so by my reckoning, cupcakes died ten years ago.
posted by acrasis at 5:20 PM on April 5, 2010
I still love cupcakes, but the trendy ones rely way too much on the icing for flavor. Icing is for decoration, and to add a bit of moisture and flavor. It should not comprise half the volume of the cupcake!
(NOT ICINGIST)
posted by JoanArkham at 5:25 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
(NOT ICINGIST)
posted by JoanArkham at 5:25 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
Funny timing; just this week I got this month's Cook's Illustrated in the mail and they were talking smack about the infamous cupcake joints around the country, ha.
posted by ifjuly at 5:42 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by ifjuly at 5:42 PM on April 5, 2010
Cupcakes are actually two or three fads back, macarons are almost done and we are coming to the end (regretfully) of the salted caramel phase.
Next up mini whoopie pies and cake-pops are trending with a possible upsurge in matcha (green tea) flavoured treats.
posted by gomichild at 5:50 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
Next up mini whoopie pies and cake-pops are trending with a possible upsurge in matcha (green tea) flavoured treats.
posted by gomichild at 5:50 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
Plus, you make them for co-workers for "Monthly Celebration of Office Births", and they all look at you like "WHERE IS OUR SHEETCAKE MADE WITH LARD".
If only they had such high standards.
"WHAR BE GIANT M&M COOKIE MADE WITH CRISCO AND ICING IN COMIC SANS???1!"
posted by benzenedream at 5:56 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
If only they had such high standards.
"WHAR BE GIANT M&M COOKIE MADE WITH CRISCO AND ICING IN COMIC SANS???1!"
posted by benzenedream at 5:56 PM on April 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
The Inwood cupcake has somehow been deep fried.
Kickass Cupcakes in Somerville, MA (outside of Boston and Cambridge) does, in fact, deep fry their cupcakes on demand. I've never had the courage to try one, but the rest of their cupcakes are, indeed, delicious. Some fads I can't get behind (ridiculously skinny jeans!). But any fad that brings me delicious cupcakes is really a fad I can't complain about. Now I need to go find out if there are any cupcake stores near me...
posted by ubersturm at 6:07 PM on April 5, 2010
Kickass Cupcakes in Somerville, MA (outside of Boston and Cambridge) does, in fact, deep fry their cupcakes on demand. I've never had the courage to try one, but the rest of their cupcakes are, indeed, delicious. Some fads I can't get behind (ridiculously skinny jeans!). But any fad that brings me delicious cupcakes is really a fad I can't complain about. Now I need to go find out if there are any cupcake stores near me...
posted by ubersturm at 6:07 PM on April 5, 2010
Cupcakes are a fad? Dammit. I like cupcakes. So small and cakey and delicious...
Now I can't eat them any more. Sigh.
posted by sandraregina at 6:24 PM on April 5, 2010
Now I can't eat them any more. Sigh.
posted by sandraregina at 6:24 PM on April 5, 2010
n. For instance, we have this whole borough called Queens going on.
The Astoria cupcake is big, meaty and bold with a slight sprinkling of body hair and garlic.
posted by The Whelk at 6:43 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Astoria cupcake is big, meaty and bold with a slight sprinkling of body hair and garlic.
posted by The Whelk at 6:43 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I actually know far more about this subject than I think you can imagine.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:51 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:51 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I predict that cake-balls will become the indie cupcake
I predict that poutine will become the indie cupcake. And poutine is delicious.
posted by mwark at 6:57 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I predict that poutine will become the indie cupcake. And poutine is delicious.
posted by mwark at 6:57 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's not a fad as much as a defining characteristic of a generation. "Lazy Sunday" made specific reference to cupcakes as something two grown men would buy and enjoy, and that was in 2005. Once it hits SNL, any indie edginess any cultural trend has is stripped from it with ruthless savagery. It's still new and cool to kids in backwater hickvilles, like Chicago or LA, but if the fad hasn't died in NYC once it makes it to network TV, it's no loger a fad... it's an institution.
My generation had raves and the world wide web as the cultural mark we left on the world. You kids? Fixies and cupcakes. You must be so proud.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:07 PM on April 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
My generation had raves and the world wide web as the cultural mark we left on the world. You kids? Fixies and cupcakes. You must be so proud.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:07 PM on April 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
No Coney Island cupcake?
There was no cake like it. It was called "the baked mound of the world".
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:08 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
There was no cake like it. It was called "the baked mound of the world".
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:08 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Based on one data point, I think what's next is homemade versions of mass-produced crap foods. I just went to a bakery that had house-made Oreos and Nutella. I think this could be big...get into Poptarts, Twinkies, breakfast cereals like Lucky Charms with organic house-made marshmallows, ice cream truck staples like Choco Tacos and those weird strawberry shortcake popsicles with the multicolored coating, etc. Hell, the cupcakeries could easily get in on it - there's a natural transition in Hostess Cupcakes. People my age eat this stuff up like candy...I guess because it's candy, basically, but you know what I mean.
I've seen this stuff popping up on food blogs for the last few years, but this bakery I just went to was the first time I saw it in person. Granted, I don't follow food fads whatsoever so maybe this is already played out and I'm just now getting round to it.
I just have to say, that homemade Nutella? It was like God reached down His omnipotent Hand and gave me the perfect food.
posted by little light-giver at 7:25 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I've seen this stuff popping up on food blogs for the last few years, but this bakery I just went to was the first time I saw it in person. Granted, I don't follow food fads whatsoever so maybe this is already played out and I'm just now getting round to it.
I just have to say, that homemade Nutella? It was like God reached down His omnipotent Hand and gave me the perfect food.
posted by little light-giver at 7:25 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
In LA, the next big thing is food from trucks.
Not just L.A., I'm afraid.
posted by gimonca at 7:41 PM on April 5, 2010
Not just L.A., I'm afraid.
posted by gimonca at 7:41 PM on April 5, 2010
Metafilter: Here come from the most famous artists in New York.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 8:23 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 8:23 PM on April 5, 2010
I work at a cute little bakery in New Orleans. For a James Beard Foundation dinner we provided desserts for a little over a week ago, we made...
...and everyone was astounded. They were pretty good, better before the deep frying, but the root beer caramel was really where it was at. Our chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel buttercream are my favorite thing though so I may be a little biased.
posted by Night_owl at 8:28 PM on April 5, 2010
...and everyone was astounded. They were pretty good, better before the deep frying, but the root beer caramel was really where it was at. Our chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel buttercream are my favorite thing though so I may be a little biased.
posted by Night_owl at 8:28 PM on April 5, 2010
I predict that poutine will become the indie cupcake. And poutine is delicious.
A little bar that recently opened near me has this, and it's good, but not what I think poutine should be. I have always heard that poutine is gravy and cheese curds, but these fries have gravy and melty cheese on them. Still delicious.
I like to eat.
posted by Night_owl at 8:31 PM on April 5, 2010
A little bar that recently opened near me has this, and it's good, but not what I think poutine should be. I have always heard that poutine is gravy and cheese curds, but these fries have gravy and melty cheese on them. Still delicious.
I like to eat.
posted by Night_owl at 8:31 PM on April 5, 2010
i'll admit that i've started a bit of a snickerdoodle trend. i got pretty good at æbleskiver, but it just didn't catch on.
posted by fallacy of the beard at 9:20 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by fallacy of the beard at 9:20 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Biscuits are the new cupcake in Denver, weirdly enough...two biscuit shops opened within days of each other. Cupcakes were the new bacon, and biscuits are the new cupcake.
Ha! I was thinking as I was reading this -- "What about all the gourmet biscuit shops that are opening up? Aren't biscuits trendy now?" Then again, aren't biscuits just savory cupcakes, covered in gravy instead of icing? So maybe not a trend after all -- just a spin off.
(Although, with the promise of a Biscuit Bus, they're totally jumping on that food truck bandwagon I read about somewhere upthread. So I guess this cow town is trying.)
posted by paisley sheep at 10:01 PM on April 5, 2010
Ha! I was thinking as I was reading this -- "What about all the gourmet biscuit shops that are opening up? Aren't biscuits trendy now?" Then again, aren't biscuits just savory cupcakes, covered in gravy instead of icing? So maybe not a trend after all -- just a spin off.
(Although, with the promise of a Biscuit Bus, they're totally jumping on that food truck bandwagon I read about somewhere upthread. So I guess this cow town is trying.)
posted by paisley sheep at 10:01 PM on April 5, 2010
A little bar that recently opened near me has this, and it's good, but not what I think poutine should be. I have always heard that poutine is gravy and cheese curds, but these fries have gravy and melty cheese on them. Still delicious.
Aren't those just cheese fries? Probably excellent, but it's not poutine unless curd is involved.
posted by jrochest at 11:19 PM on April 5, 2010
Aren't those just cheese fries? Probably excellent, but it's not poutine unless curd is involved.
posted by jrochest at 11:19 PM on April 5, 2010
I could actually call a friend at that agency and inquire if that's real. my gut says no since the ads look drastically different, aren't running anywhere and don't fit into that cafe concept they are doing right now. it might still happen but let's not forget that cupcakes suck balls. they're way too sweet and sugary for the average german to appreciate. cupcakes work for americans, who don't have real bakeries.
posted by krautland at 11:36 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by krautland at 11:36 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Next up mini whoopie pies
The Times declared whoopie pies the new cupcake about a year ago.
My generation had raves and the world wide web as the cultural mark we left on the world.
Al Gore invented raves, too?
posted by ekroh at 4:52 AM on April 6, 2010
The Times declared whoopie pies the new cupcake about a year ago.
My generation had raves and the world wide web as the cultural mark we left on the world.
Al Gore invented raves, too?
posted by ekroh at 4:52 AM on April 6, 2010
Are any of these fad foods actually better at the restaurant/bakery than when you make them yourself at home? I mean, all the fad cupcakes I've tried have been dry with saccharine-sweet frosting. I think they cheap out on the cake and the butter in the frosting for shelf life and ease of frosting, which is great for making a display, but no good for eating something awesome.
That said, I have been known to blow the better part of two bucks at a Starbucks on their Red Velvet cupcakes when I'm feeling down.
And I could be speaking from personal baker's pride...
posted by mccarty.tim at 5:47 AM on April 6, 2010
That said, I have been known to blow the better part of two bucks at a Starbucks on their Red Velvet cupcakes when I'm feeling down.
And I could be speaking from personal baker's pride...
posted by mccarty.tim at 5:47 AM on April 6, 2010
Having read about whoopie pies, and realizing they are fairly simple to make, I'll do my part in helping them catch on in my neck of the woods.
posted by mccarty.tim at 5:53 AM on April 6, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 5:53 AM on April 6, 2010
Am I the first person in this thread to really want cupcakes at my local McDonald's? Cheaper and closer than the trendy bakeries, and given some of the lackluster $3 cupcakes I've had, probably just as delicious. Plus now I'm curious what fries dipped in frosting taste like.
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:56 AM on April 6, 2010
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:56 AM on April 6, 2010
Crown Heights cupcakes *
That's not a cupcake - that's a pie! Now there's a trend I could get behind. Individual sized savoury and sweet pies, readily available in the States. Yum.
posted by mosessis at 6:14 AM on April 6, 2010
That's not a cupcake - that's a pie! Now there's a trend I could get behind. Individual sized savoury and sweet pies, readily available in the States. Yum.
posted by mosessis at 6:14 AM on April 6, 2010
Pocket fruit pies from gas stations are the most depressing desserts ever. So disappointing.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:33 AM on April 6, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:33 AM on April 6, 2010
Individual sized savoury and sweet pies, readily available in the States.
Indeed! I spent my entire London vacation eating sweet and savory things in pastry, just because I could. (Also, Sweeney Todd made a lot more sense afterward.)
posted by JoanArkham at 6:34 AM on April 6, 2010
Indeed! I spent my entire London vacation eating sweet and savory things in pastry, just because I could. (Also, Sweeney Todd made a lot more sense afterward.)
posted by JoanArkham at 6:34 AM on April 6, 2010
I think what's next is homemade versions of mass-produced crap foods. I just went to a bakery that had house-made Oreos and Nutella.
Two data points! I have seen this. Not the Nutella (droool) but homemade & ridiculously good Oreos and Nutter Butter type cookies. There's a bakery or two in Portland that sells 'em to indie coffee shops.
As far as fads go, I remain aloof until delicious danishes and strudels pop up on the radar. Anything less is foolish.
let's not forget that cupcakes suck balls. they're way too sweet and sugary for the average german to appreciate. cupcakes work for americans, who don't have real bakeries.
Testify!
posted by furiousthought at 8:53 AM on April 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
Two data points! I have seen this. Not the Nutella (droool) but homemade & ridiculously good Oreos and Nutter Butter type cookies. There's a bakery or two in Portland that sells 'em to indie coffee shops.
As far as fads go, I remain aloof until delicious danishes and strudels pop up on the radar. Anything less is foolish.
let's not forget that cupcakes suck balls. they're way too sweet and sugary for the average german to appreciate. cupcakes work for americans, who don't have real bakeries.
Testify!
posted by furiousthought at 8:53 AM on April 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
I spoke to someone who should know what the agency in question is producing in terms of marketing material for mcd germany and they had never heard of this. I also noticed that there isn't any branding or the other usual ci-stuff on any of these provided images.
so for now -and by that I mean until I see a poster at the local mcd two blocks from my home- I am calling bullshit on this whole thread.
I so hope this doesn't turn out to be real. that shit is embarrassing like hasselhoff.
posted by krautland at 3:31 PM on April 6, 2010
so for now -and by that I mean until I see a poster at the local mcd two blocks from my home- I am calling bullshit on this whole thread.
I so hope this doesn't turn out to be real. that shit is embarrassing like hasselhoff.
posted by krautland at 3:31 PM on April 6, 2010
Americans have real bakeries, of course they're run by Germans, Austrians, Hungarians, Italians and French people, and tend to be called konditorei or pâtisserie, but we've got real bakeries.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:05 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:05 AM on April 7, 2010
update: the nyt confirma this is real.
fucking hell.
posted by krautland at 1:15 PM on April 11, 2010
fucking hell.
posted by krautland at 1:15 PM on April 11, 2010
last update (I swear): I've just been to a mcd in germany and yes, they do have the cupcakes but nowhere do they mention any nyc neighborhoods on any of their promotional material. I have pictures.
posted by krautland at 9:25 AM on April 12, 2010
posted by krautland at 9:25 AM on April 12, 2010
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posted by scrowdid at 3:11 PM on April 5, 2010