I♥cuppycakes!

LA Cupcake Challenge 2010

Now that the last mini cupcake has been devoured… I can finally post.

Yes, I ate about 30 mini cupcakes. Give or take about 5 cupcakes. No, I didn’t do it in 3 hours. Are you crazy!?!? I janked a couple boxes from various cupcake vendors and took most of them home to share with my godsons and maybe kinda sorta eat some for breakfast over the last 3 days.

But it was obvious that many ppl that were at the LA Cupcake Challenge had done this before. They were smart. They brought Tupperware. I think Glad needs to get in on that action and be a sponsor next year. Give Nesquik a little run for their money. Just saying…

I brought my husband and my little brother with me. I think they were in shock about how many ppl were there to celebrate cupcakes. I resisted the urge to say I TOLD YOU SO but it was futile. They deserved a little I told you so after mocking me all week about driving an hour away to eat cupcakes.

When you check in at the table you get a voting card. It was pretty funny that my tickets were listed under Clara Iheartcuppycakes.

The ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel was packed. People were sitting on floors b/c there weren’t enough tables and chairs.

My brother just HAD TO get a picture with the Nesquik bunny.

Of course I scoped out the bar+cocktail situation quickly.

Note to self #1: Next year bring a notepad like a good little reporter so you can write down which people were wearing what and what cupcakes they had. I’m sorry girl in the cutesy b&w striped apron. I can’t remember what cupcakery you were representing. It was Cupcake Couture! Thanks Elise of Cupcake Activist for setting me straight.

I’m not usually a carrot cupcake person. I’m not big on veggies in cake. But these carrot cake cupcakes form Big Man Bakes were pretty darn good!

Me and Kristin of Meringue Bake Shop. Her Pretty Woman Champagne Cupcake was so FRIGGIN good. She got my vote for Best Original.

Note to self #2: I can not for the life of me remember who’s cupcake these were. If they are yours, shoot me an email or comment so I can give you proper credit. These Fall Spice Cupcakes were from Layers Cupcakes. I love the depth of field my brother got in this shot. Thanks Elise of Cupcake Activist for setting me straight on the cupcake flavor+cupcakery. That is why she was a judge, folks! I better step up my game if I wanna be a judge next year *wink*

Me and Monica of Two Parts Sugar. I thought her play on her business name and her table set up were very cute. I voted her Vanilla Throwback cupcake as Best Traditional. I’m a sucker for rainbow chip. You can read her recap on her blog (here).

Note to self #3: You need to find out where you can buy this headband. Don’t you think just wearing would make everyone around you smile? I know I was grinning when I walked by.

Oh baby! It was the holy grail of salty+sweet. The Salted Caramel Cupcake by Tavern Restaurant. Topping it with a macron is genius. I’m totally stealing that idea for my next cupcake creation. Even though it was a hard decision b/c there were so many cupcakes I loved: Key Lime by My Delight Cupcakery, Vanilla Bean Almond Cream by FairyCakes, Chocolate Vanilla Swirl by Sweet E’s… I voted The Salted Caramel as my Best Overall.

Ssshhhh… Don’t tell. But I took 2. One was for my brother. Yeah… that’s it.

Check out my cupcake bounty! At that moment I felt like I was Veruca Salt and my daddy could buy me all the cupcakes+Oompa Loompas in the world.

Fellow cupcake taste testers, Jenn of Just Jenn Recipes and Mary of Food Librarian were feeling it at the end. WUSSES! You can read Jenn’s recap (here). Mary went to the dentist for a cavity. The irony is… ironic. I think she’ll be out of commission for a few days. Poor thing.

I was hoping to get a picture with Johnny Depp b/c they were doing a promo for Alice In Wonderland at the hotel before the Cupcake Challenge event but this is about as close as I got. Shari of Bonnin Designs got even closer. She was almost able to touch him. LUCKY BITCH.

And of course I couldn’t leave Hollywood without giving some camera love to my favorite pop princess of all time. My life is now complete. Not one word out of you, Nikki. LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!

Special THANKS to my little brother for taking all the pictures while I was stuffing my face with cupcakes schmoozing all my cupcake peeps, my Hubs for being my chauffeur to the event and the official CB cupcake box holder and Dan Silberstein for inviting me and organizing this cupcake-licious event!

I’d like to officially throw my name in the hat to be a LA Cupcake Challenge judge 2011. Who wants to be my campaign manager? I can pay in the form of little mini cupcakes. Huh… huh… Don’t leave me hanging.

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Edited: February 24, 2010

Winners have been announced!

Best Traditional
1st Place: Big Man Bakes “Red Velvet”
2nd Place: Blue Cupcake “Sweet and Salty Vanilla”
3rd Place: Southern Girl Desserts “Red Velvet”

Best Original
1st Place: My Delight Cupcakery “Breakfast Cake”
2nd Place: Jus Minis “Caramel Banana”
3rd Place: Two Parts Sugar “Chocolate Covered Strawberry”

Best Overall
1st Place: Jus Minis “Caramel Banana”
2nd Place: My Delight Cupcakery “Breakfast Cake”
3rd Place: Two Parts Sugar “Chocolate Covered Strawberry”

You can also see Dan Silberstein’s LA Cupcake Challenge 2010 flickr set (here).

Congrats to all the winners!

Looking forward to next year already. *nom nom nom*