Sweet Designs (Louisiana Boardwalk)

Well well well... as I was strolling along the Louisiana Boardwalk singing that little song that gets stuck in your head ("Doing it! Doing it at the Boardwalk!' blah blah blah), when I came upon this cute patisserie. It is about time something like this came to the Boardwalk (for a place to at least escape the summer heat if anything).

I loved the cute display! SO many choices and so little space in my tummy. I got a box to share with the office, so I could have some other testers to tell me about it. After choosing some I were told were baked fresh that day, I was wondering when the others were baked. Yesterday? Last 3 days? Last week? Last year!? I was about to find out.

I tried the Red Velvet of course and became instantly saddened.

The cake was dry and the icing was not fluffy but dry as well. Rather than really beating down on this sad sad situation, I have a recommendation. At the end of the day, maybe the leftover cupcakes can be donated to a non-profit organization that holds community events or sold the next day at a discounted price. Some places can make a cupcake taste fresh for 3 days by using a lot of butter I presume, but Sweet Designs had a hard time with cupcakes tasting fresh on the same day too. Unless you can fool the consumer on the freshness, something needs to change.

I still have faith that this cute patisserie will have a chance if a change is made very soon. Otherwise, the competition with Buttercups will cease to exist. Yay competitive markets!

Overall: 1.5 of 5 Stars

Deli Tini (Cuppycake: Shreveport, Kings Hwy)

'Ello again!

I thought I would actually write some more blogs about cupcakes rather than just talking about with people... and hearing the negativity from some co-workers...cough cough. So on that note, we move on to DELI TINI with some ever-so-tasty 'Cuppycakes' as they are dubbed. Several say it beats out the beloved Buttercups (Is it possible!?).

I shall begin with the little negative before I end with the BOOMING positive comments. There is a limited selection at the Deli, usually with a choice of one or two flavours... Now to the positive. I have been twice and tried the Red Velvet (are you really surprised?) the first time and Peanut Butter & Jelly the second time. This is what a cupcake is supposed to be in: size, amount if icing, cake consistency, and cuteness factor. The unique flavours are just as delicious as the traditional.

After a little questioning about the origins if these "cuppycakes", I found out that a woman makes them in the PieWorks kitchen (Pizza place nearby ). I feel like there needs to be a Battle of the Cupcakes with Buttercups versus Cuppycakes. I feel a new Food Network competition reality show coming on! Check it out!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 (one more test later may make it a 5!)

PS Holla at my British grammar fans! (Go back and read again if you missed it)

Deli Tini

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shreveport-LA/Deli-Tini/212577595169?filter=2

The Cupcake Gallery (Youree in Shreveport)

Okay peeps, heres the dealio... Because summer is upon us, I am cutting a little bit of the cupcake mania out for some cooler lighter treats, but I will continue the ultimate quest for the BEST cupcakes ever at a slightly slower pace.

On that note...THE CUPCAKE GALLERY is so incredibly, ultimately, amazingly... average. The coffee drinks are pretty tasty, and the cupcakes have improved since I last tried it (at least the Ruby Slipper, aka Red Velvet of course). Okay, okay a little better than average, but I'm looking for perfection here!

If you are on the go and in desperate need of a cupcake ASAP, try it out because there is a nice little drive-through (also convenient if you are wearing PJs and just don't want to get out of the car to show everyone your lovely pastel penguin trousers).

It is also nice because they are open until 8PM on Fridays and Saturday when most other bakeries are closed (with free wifi too!). If you want to meet some friends or work on an assignment of the computer kind, The Cupcake Gallery is a nice place where you can have a little extra sweet with your caffeine fix.

Because I am doing the ratings solely on the cupcakes, it is 2.5 out of 5

But I would rate it higher for a social place/coffee and dessert place

Peace out Amores Cupcakes!

The Cupcake Gallery

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cup-cake-gallery-shreveport

Cush's (Shreveport)

Made famous by Katie Holmes, this Market keeps up to its name with some deliciously amazing treats! I stayed with the cupcakes, but I plan on trying the delicious and beautiful cake balls next!!

I tried the red velvet as well as the chocolate (which actually beat the red velvet in my book, RARE!). The red velvet was amazing, but the chocolate was perfect for a chocolate cupcake! SO many places get it wrong, but Cush's succeeds in making the icing fit perfectly with the cake! The red velvet was DELICIOUS as well (just not to the point of Society bakery).

LOVED LOVED LOVED the sizes! You will not feel a 10-pound guilt after one of these tasty treats. Perfect to order for my currently-nonexistent-but-soon-to-be-happening tea parties!

It receives a 4.5 out of 5 stars for me!!! Making me think I need to revisit Society in Dallas very soon...

Buttercup's Cupcakes (Bossier City)

So I ventured across the River to Shreveport's sister city, Bossier (pronounced Beau-sher) City to BUTTERCUP'S CUPCAKES off East Texas Street in the new, and quite nice if I do say so myself, Villagio apartment complex. The display is similar to that off Sprinkle's, but they cupcakes do taste different! I decided to opt for the Banana Pudding and Red Velvet (of course).

Today I am trying the unique Banana Pudding, and it is just that, unique. The cake reminds me of sponge cake in texture and taste (with a lemony banana taste along with the vanilla). The cupcake itself is quite heavy thanks to the mass of icing added to it. Now I am an icing fan, so I say yes to most cupcakes that make my arms get a work-out from lifting the icing weight. However, even this was a little much for my super sweet taste buds. Overall, I still give this cupcake a reasonably strong rating with 3.5 out of 5, but I believe it will be raised to a 4 once I have devoured the red velvet (AKA the real test). I only recommend the banana pudding one if you REALLY love banana pudding.

I have to also give props to the store for it's delectable presentation of colorful eye candy treats. They even have adorable mini whoopie-pies.

I am just happy that there is at least one place dedicated to adorable cupcakes ;)

Officially: 4 out of 5 stars!

Chao for now Cupcake Lovers Deluxe!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buttercups-Cupcakes/188221628800?v=info

Julie Anne's (Kings Hwy in Shreveport)

Because my work has put me across the TX/LA states lines, I am now continuing my conquest in Shreveport, LA for longer than previously expected (but it's a good thing!).

I tried Julie Anne's traditional chocolate cupcake with buttercream white icing. Now I have had their famous petit fours, delicious! And I have heard that some celebrities, including Katie Holmes, enjoyed the tasty cupcake treats. I thought to myself: of course it must be blogged about and spread to the world!

Back to the cupcake now. Because it is the weekend of Chocolate's biggest consumption, Valentine's Day, the tasty treats' decor was nothing less than smothered with plastic lips, pink and red colored additions, hearts, etc. Being slightly overwhelmed, I decided on the more classic cupcake flavor rather than trying their chocolate turtle, strawberry, German chocolate, or lemon cupcake.

The chocolate cake was perfect for a simple dessert! It was light, fluffy, and just the right amount of chocolate goodness. The frosting was simply a classic buttercream frosting, moreso on the sugary side but nonetheless yummy in my tummy!

As I stated earlier, their petit fours are truly divine if you are in the mood for something a little more petit than the cupcakes. Even though their petit fours are a bit on the larger size.

3.5 out of 5 Stars (4 stars for the petit fours)

http://www.julieannesbakery.com/

Lila's Cakes and Chocolate (Shreveport)

Hellooooo to all of my cupcake-obsessed readers! Yes all two of you! Unfortunately work gets in the way of my conquest, but it would not be a conquest without obstacles, am I right? Even though I am away from the TX, I decided to continue my journey of sweetness in the Hollywood of the South (specifically Shreveport, LA).

On Olive Street in an area known as Highland, there exists a small store called Lila's which boasts of nothing less than amazing sweets galore. I decided to try, what else, but some of their cupcakes. I bought two. One is red velvet and the other cappuccino. Today I had the cappuccino and really liked it! It would be perfect with your favorite drip coffee (local roasters only please; though I dare to admit I do enjoy a coffee place with a drive-thru aka Starbucks).

The cake was delicious! It really did capture the coffee taste. I will say, non-coffee lovers should stick with other flavors. I will try the red velvet tomorrow and add to this post!

NEXT DAY:

So I woke up with one thing one my mind for breakfast...RED VELVET CUPCAKE!!! Heck yes! I will cut to the chase, the cake was pretty good (3.5 out of 5 stars), and the center was the best part because it tasted like some kind of jam was lightly added to the center to make it more moist. I did love that! The icing was quite sugary in my opinion. If you have a deep affinity for sugary goodness, this icing will be your favorite (pure cream cheese frosting fans need not apply their taste buds).

Overall, I will definitely return to Lila's! I have seen the gallery of their cake designs-- quite impressive! I have also heard great things about the King Cakes. Speaking of which, I must go out now to celebrate the festivities of Mardi Gras!

"Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

http://www.lilascakes.com/

Couture Confections

I know, I know. It has been too too long. I AM BACK! Well, for a while. I am trying this post-holiday season healthy New Year's stuff while still enjoying the occasional cupcake.

My most recent endeavor was a pure accident. While finishing SHANGHAI GIRLS by Lisa See in one of my favorite latte spots, The Pearl Cup, I passed by this 3-week old dessert cafe to try a red velvet cupcake. First, I love the perfectly petite size. As much as I rave and love Society, I feel I need to work out for 10 hours after eating one. Couture is the place for a treat where you do not feel the guilt and still leave satisfied. Though the cost, $3.25, is a bit much. The cake itself was moist and decent, and the flavor is decent too. I was a little disappointed with the icing, because I feel that makes the cupcake as special as it is to my heart (a moment of reminiscence). The amount was fine, but the taste was a little too cream cheesy rather than buttercreamy amazingness (did I say I was a buttercream fan?).

Overall, I give this boutique a 3 out of 5 stars.

I am determined to try The Cupcakery after my next workout! Until next time, Tata!

http://coutureconfections.vpweb.com/