Cake Byte: Molly Moon's Makes Sweet Merger with Chocolate Box in Downtown Seattle

Watch out, Seattle: you're about to get a whole lot sweeter. Molly Moon's is opening its FIFTH (yes, FIFTH!) Scoop Shop in Seattle--but this time, it's sweet fusion: they're making a merger with Chocolate Box, a confectionery shop a stone's throw from the Pike Place Market! Here's the official press release:

SEATTLE, Tuesday, June 28, 2011 – Molly Moon Neitzel today announced the opening of her fifth Seattle-based scoop shop to be located inside the already established Chocolate Box retail space at 108 Pine St. in downtown Seattle.

This business licensing agreement between Molly Moon’s and Chocolate Box owners Michel and Valerie Brotman is yet another example of Neitzel’s innovative business plans to grow the Moon’s brand in an exciting, but sustainable manner.

“I’m excited to be partnering with Michel and Valerie on the newest member of the Molly Moon’s family,” said Neitzel. “Expanding to downtown Seattle is an amazing opportunity for us and I look forward to sharing our signature ice creams and sorbets with its residents, professionals and tourists. It truly is a dream to showcase our flavors, which are made and inspired by local and seasonal ingredients, so close to Pike Place Market.”

“Our hope is that Chocolate Box becomes downtown Seattle’s favorite dessert destination,” said Brotman. “We're thrilled to be teaming with Molly and her crew, and know that Molly Moon’s ice cream will help us reach that exciting goal!”

But wait, there's more! In celebration of Moon’s downtown Seattle grand opening, kids 12 years of age and under, who visit the shop on Friday, July 1 between 3 and 5 p.m. will receive a complementary kid-sized scoop of their favorite flavor. Molly Moon’s at Chocolate Box will be open daily from 12-noon to 11 p.m.

For additional information about Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream, please visit mollymoonicecream.com. To learn more about Chocolate Box, please visit sschocolatebox.com.

Sweet Picks: CakeSpy's Top Three Choices from the Annual Ice Cream Cupcake Contest

So. Recently I was asked to be a celebrity judge in an Ice Cream Cupcake Contest (curated and put together by Scoopalicious and the Cupcake Project). Wait, I just kind of inserted that "celebrity" part myself. I was really just a judge. Gosh, my life is hard. I was in good company, with fellow judges Nicole of Baking Bites and Naomi of Bakers Royale.

But joking aside, the judging was quite hard--I had to choose just three from an array of over 60 delectable-sounding and looking ice cream cupcake creations!  And they all sounded good, from the deep fried salted caramel specimen to the banana split cupcake to the cake kebabs. NOM! 

Well, it was hard, but I was able to narrow it down to my favorite three. They are listed in no particular order:

Mini-Swirl Ice Cream Vanilla Cupcakes by Ramsey Thompson

Cake Flavor: Vanilla
Ice Cream Flavor: Vanilla 
Frosting Flavor: Vanilla Bean and Rich Chocolate
Toppings: N/A

Why I chose this one: The beauty was in the simplicity: it pays adorable homage to the classic summertime treat, the soft-serve chocolate vanilla swirl cone, in cupcake form; for me, it was a perfect union of cupcake and ice cream.

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Halwa Cupcakes with Kulfi and Cashew-Lime Cookie Toppers by C & C Cakery

Cake Flavor: Halwa - Carrot Cake with Ghee and Cardamom
Ice Cream Flavor: Kulfi - Pistachio, Rosewater, and Cardamom
Frosting Flavor: Cashew Cream Cheese Buttercream
Toppings: A Cashew-Lime Cookie with Cardamom and Mukhwas 

Why I chose this one: The flavors were unexpected, with a spicy Middle Eastern influence that seemed interesting but harmonious with both the cake and ice cream; it sounds like a refreshing and unexpected summer treat combining some of my favorite flavors.

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cupcakes by Ruth of Madame Zippy's Custom Cakes

Cake Flavor: Chocolate Chip Cookie
Ice Cream Flavor: Brown-sugar-molasses chocolate chip cookie dough
Frosting Flavor: Chocolate chip cookie dough
Toppings: Baby chocolate chip cookie

Why I chose this one: It's basically a triple-threat of awesome. Cake, cookie dough, and ice cream. And it has cookie dough in each part of it! OMG! This lady clearly knows my weakness.

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Honorary mention. Now, two photos in particular need to be called out because they brought me so much joy.

Strawberry Shortcake Plus Ice Cream Cupcakes: This needs to be assigned an honorary mention, not only because it sounds delicious, but because of all the entries, it is the one that most resembles Andy Warhol!

Chocolate Chocolate Cone: This needs to be assigned an honorary mention as well, not only because likewise do these treats sound NOM-worthy, but because the photo is so evocative: the fallen cake soldier!

Of course, you can view all of the other entries here, and based on the choices of my fellow judges (Nicole's picks here!), a winner will be announced soon!

Update on Thursday, June 30, 2011 by Cakespy

Update: There is a winner! Read all about it here.You win!

Five Reasons Seattle Dessert Lovers Must Buy Keren Brown's Food Lover's Guide to Seattle

If you live in Seattle, you pretty much need to buy the newly released book Food Lovers' Guide to Seattle: Best Local Specialties, Markets, Recipes, Restaurants & Events by Keren Brown.

If you don't know Keren Brown (if you live in Seattle, and are involved with food at all, you probably do), she basically knows everything about the Seattle food scene. And this book is her love letter to the city and food she loves. 

In the book, she shares "the inside scoop on the best places to find, enjoy, and celebrate these culinary treasures. A bounty of mouthwatering delights awaits you in this engagingly written guide, as well as a rich array of other, indispensable food-related information including Favorite restaurants and landmark eateries, Specialty food stores and markets, Food festivals and culinary events, and even recipes from some of Seattle's top chefs."

But for sweet-lovers, I'll give you five good reasons why you should buy this book.

1. CakeSpy Shop is featured! A self-serving reason, yes. It is featured as a spot for gifts for foodies (although my store does not sell food!). OMG!
2. There is an entire section dedicated to the city's best baked goods. Really, this reason alone would probably be enough to make the book worth buying, but please, see reason #1.
3. You might just learn about a new specialty shop. I know I did! For instance, although I had vaguely heard of Punjab Sweets in Kent before, Keren's detailed listing of this confectionery shop has now made it a high priority on my to-do list!
4. There's a section on sweets on the Eastside too. As an urbanite who often "doesn't go over there", it was nice to have a short-list of some of the best for when I do venture over the water.
5. There are recipes from local chefs. For drinks, main courses (from the likes of one of my foodie heroes Kurt Dammeier)...but also desserts. One I can't wait to try? The Chocolate Ganache Cakes recipe from local celebrity chef Maria Hines. 

And if these reasons haven't enticed you to buy my friend's book, then I am not sure we can be friends anymore. Buy it here. Keep up with Keren via her website, franticfoodie.com.

Cake Byte: Whoopie Pie Bake-Off at Oddfellows Cafe on July 12

It's time to make whoopie. Pies, that is. That's right: it's time for Whoopie Pie Bake-off, Part Deux!

Per the newsletter from Oddfellows:

Last year our Whoopie Pie Bake Off was a smack down between home and professional bakers. Winners were Heather Earnhardt of the Volunteer Park Café with her Red Velvet and Chocolate Raspberry Whoopie Pies, Chef Eliza (age 7) with her Sous Chef Robin had the best Classic Whoopie Pie, and Audrey McManus the babe from Babeland won the popular vote. Judges John Roderick, Molly Moon, Michael Wells, Christopher Frizzelle, Jen Graves, and Chelsea D. Lin consumed an inhuman amount of Whoopie Pies in order to determine these champions. While there may have been a few stomachaches, it sure was worth it!

Oddfellows Café + Bar will be having its Second Annual Whoopie Pie Bake Off on July 12, 2011 at 2pm at the communal table. This year it will be even bigger and better than ever! Last year our poor judges were over burdened by the amount of (delicious) entries, thus, this year we will have 9 judges, 3 per category, who are to be announced on our facebook page (facebook.com/Oddfellowscafe). The entries will be broken up into the following categories: professional bakers, home bakers, and gluten-free/vegan bakers who may be a combination of both, as well as the peoples choice, which will be decided by public vote. Within each category there will be a winner for best classic Whoopie Pie as well as Non Traditional Whoopie Pie. 

For more information, or to sign up as an entrant, email tallulah@lindashq.com

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Interview on Craftcast with Allison Lee!

Curious about the life of a Spy? Shame on you.

Oh, just kidding. Here's a great new way to stalk me: listen to this interview I did with Allison Lee of CRAFTCAST!

She introduces it thusly:

Today I talk with head spy Jessie Oleson from Cake Spy.com.

CakeSpy is a Dessert Detective Agency dedicated to seeking sweetness (literally) in everyday life. Jessie does this by writing about bakeries, conducting baking experiments, and picking the brains of bakers and food artists, and finding awesome products for lovers of baked goods.

Jessie O is also a freelance writer and illustrator, whose writing appears on DailyCandy.com, and Serious Eats. 
Recently she opened a retail CakeSpy Shop in Seattle,WA as well as finishing her book, Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life

Listen in and hear her favorite “must have ingredients” and “can’t do without” tools in the kitchen.  

To listen to the interview, visit the CRAFTCAST site! Thanks to Allison for a totally sweet interview.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this Weekend!

What's awesomer than hanging out in über-hip McCarren Park in Brooklyn on the weekend?

How 'bout hanging out in uber-awesome McCarren Park with a professional Cake Gumshoe?

CakeSpy will be taking part in the annual Renegade Craft Fair this coming weekend in Brooklyn (one full of sweet memories, where, among other things, I met the awesome Rachel of Cupcakes Take the Cake and Jennifer Pooley for the first time); I hope that I'll see some of your smiling faces! I won't have everything in my webstore (I had to ship it all, after all--that business is expensive, yo!) but I will have plenty of cards, prints, pins, bookmarks, and of course my new favorite product, CakeSpy undies. Here's the info about the show:

The Renegade Craft Fair is headed back to McCarren Park for our 7th Annual Brooklyn Fair on June 11 +12, 2011, from 11am – 7pm each day! Along with hundreds of today’s best makers of handmade goods, we’ll be hosting hands-on crafting workshops and planning a handful of summertime surprises! New York’s most exciting outdoor showcase of indie-craft is always free-to-attend! Food and beverages will also be available!

Here's the official site; you can find a vendor map and more info here.

Cake Byte: Trophy Cupcakes Debuts Pina Colada Cupcakes for June

Do you like Pina Coladas? Do you like Cupcakes? Well, lucky you: Seattle's Trophy Cupcakes has combined these sweet treats.

What makes up a Pina Colada cupcake? Inspired by the classic cocktail's flavors, this sweet treat is comprised of a pineapple coconut cupcake topped in coconut rum buttercream--all prettily topped with a maraschino cherry. 

Per the Trophy Cupcakes newsletter,

This seasonal flavor is our staff pick for our "Best Cupcake Ever", and it is no wonder why... Coconut Cupcake, caramelized pineapple, Sailor Jerry's Coconut Rum Buttercream, a cherry... and to top it off a paper umbrella! Helllloo Summer! 

I'd go so far as to say that any hour this cupcake is consumed is an extremely Happy Hour. But watch out--other flavors might get jealous!

Pina Colada Cupcakes, available all June at all Trophy Cupcakes locations. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow them on Twitter and on Facebook!

Cake Byte: Cupcake Royale Debuts Raspberry Rhubarb Cupcakes for June

The weather may not be very warm, but sweet signs of summer are evident at Cupcake Royale with the debut of their new flavor of the month for June: Raspberry Rhubarb!

What do they have to say about it? Raspberry Rhubarb is here!! Tart & Sweet. Come 'n' get it!

Well, that's simple enough.

You can get it all month long at Cupcake Royale; for locations and hours and availability, visit cupcakeroyale.com.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Gets To Tour the Wilton Test Kitchens!

Now, I don't want you to get too jealous, BUT.

In a little over a week, on June 9, your dear CakeSpy (along with a select handful of other sweetie-bloggers) will get the opportunity to attend a super-awesome event at the Wilton facilities in the Chicago area.

What is Wilton, you ask? Well, most cake lovers won't have to ask. But, if you aren't familiar with the name:

“For more than 80years, Wilton has been the industry leader in cake decorating, quality bakeware and food crafting. Wilton classes, publications and products help millions of people create celebrations filled with color, sweetness and fun.”

Basically, if you've ever decorated a cake, used a decorative cake pan, or piped icing onto something, you've probably used Wilton products.

I know! Awesome!

Featured events will include an overview and tour, a decorating workshop, a decorating challenge, and--the part that excites me most--a tour of the Wilton Test Kitchens. I know--it's the most exciting thing since I got to tour a butter factory!

And--even better--I get to meet in person several of the sweet dessert blog-writers whose work I admire. YES!

Now, don't worry, because even though you all can't be there with me, I promise to take pictures and take notes so that it can be just like you were there with me. K? Totally promise.

For more about Wilton, visit wilton.com. 

Cake Byte: Several New CakeSpy Card Designs

Oh, hello, friends.

I thought that just in case you were feeling rich this week, I would share my updated sheet of cards. I have several new styles by popular request, including several of my popular quote illustrations, as well as Teacher, Battle of the Buns (Hot Dogs Vs. Hamburgers!), and "Donut Worry, Be Happy".

You can order them a la carte in the online shop; for a bigger, more beautiful view of the entire sheet, click here.

Order CakeSpy Cards and more at cakespyshop.com. They're available at the CakeSpy retail shop too, 415 E. Pine St, Seattle WA 98122!