The Cupcake Revolution

Have you ever stumbled across something you thought was remarkable?

It might be something small like the cool little box a new iPod comes in, or a beer you have never had before, or a toothbrush that brushes your teeth for you. It might be a product that you didn't know existed: like an electric razor you can shave everywhere with.

Or. It could be a Cupcake.

Not just any Cupcake, but a Cupcake from The Cupcake Spot.

Cupcakes, generally speaking are a rather overlooked product. It might just be me, but I remember back in school one of the best days was when one of your classmates had a birthday. It meant that you got to spend 30 minutes of the day not in class and eating instead. The best part is when the mom would show up with the dessert. It was a good birthday if the mom brought a whole cake. It was a bad birthday if the mom showed up with a container of Cupcakes from Publix....

I always wanted the cake, because with cake you are guaranteed icing on more than just one side. The Cupcake presents a mountain of icing on the top that is usually difficult to get around without getting a little bit up your nose.

As I have traditionally focused on cake I realized a couple of weeks ago that I have been missing out on Cupcakes for a number of years. A couple of weeks ago we stumbled across The Cupcake Spot after first seeing it on the news, then reading about it in the paper and finally getting it recommended to us by a friend.

The Cupcake Spot is remarkable. They break all of the rules when it comes to being a "bakery" because they don't care about anything aside from Cupcakes. I have been itching to head to their shop in Tampa for over a week now and today finally had the opportunity.

It's a tiny little store off of Dale Mabry. It's quaint but screams personality the second you walk in the door. Cupcakes are the focus and a beautiful case is displayed front and center with every flavor Cupcake you can dream of.

The Cupcake Spot makes all of the frosting and cake from scratch every day fresh in their store. After my initial shock of all the options I began drilling the friendly employee in order to narrow down the Cupcake that I would end up tasting......choices choices. View the full menu here.

The wife went to the restroom which gave me freedom to make an executive decision.....so we went with half a dozen.

Every Cupcake at The Cupcake spot looks as if it was crafted from the heavens. Beautifully designed, frosting perfecting placed on top in unique designs. Did I mention they have a S'mores Cupcake? Its a chocolate cupcake with butter cream frosting mixed with marshmellow fluff and dusted with graham cracker. Sensational.

Aside from the phenomenal design, the service is also outstanding. Nothing is more irritating than a server or employee who doesn't know anything. The Cupcake Spot's employees are knowledgeable, friendly, attentive and most importantly: feel comfortable offering their opinion.

After some heavy debate and a few minor verbal spats with the wife we decided on 5 cupcakes and 1 to eat at the shop. The total came to around $16.

We chose "The Cuppy" the signature Cupcake with berry cake and butter cream frosting to eat at the shop. We then encountered another problem. My wife only wanted the cake and didn't want any frosting at all. I, obviously wanted both frosting and cake. We battled. I lost. Therefore I got a nibble of cake and three mouth fulls of frosting. However, I didn't complain.

The cake that I did taste was moist, tender and flavorful. The icing was well....remarkable. Thankfully, I have five more for myself which I intend on eating without my wife around to steal the cake. The sad news is I almost feel guilty eating these perfect little creations. They are sitting in a bright pink box on my counter and I don't want to destroy them just by eating them.....it's tough being me.

The Cupcake Spot is the next dessert revolution. The ice cream shop is dead. Cupcakes are the future.

Imagine this.

You eat a nice dinner out, you're in the mood for dessert. Instead of going to get a bowl of your favorite ice cream from Coldstone you instead go to get your favorite cupcake from The Cupcake Spot. Like ice cream, Cupcakes offer variety, unqiue flavors and its a great conversational food.

In five years you will see a Cupcake shop on every corner. Even now there seems to be a cult like rising surrounding cupcakes. Visit the Cupcake Fetish to see more.

I say - bake on Cupcake lady, bake on.