SweetBuds Bakery

Sweet Buds Bakery: Food Truck servicing DC/MD/VA
Flavors: Black Forest Cake, Lemon, Raspberry Red Velvet, Spine Apple Chill
Cost: $3.00*
Score:3.8

Sweet Buds Bakery is full-service food truck and bakery serving DC, Maryland and Virginia. I first heard about them through my sister who happened upon them in Arlington, VA. She told me that the owners were really sweet people who always had her order ready and that I had to try these cupcakes! My sister is a tough sell so if she liked them, they had to be good.

Through their Facebook page, I discovered that Sweet Buds Bakery would be a vendor at the Olde Town Bowie Fall Festival; I had to jump on it. After a sizable hike through Olde Town Bowie, I found their colorful truck and a sizable line. I was immediately greeted by daughter Bianka and her mother, Pamela. Their menu was extensive with over 10 flavors on hand and priced well at $3.00 per cupcake. 

When I asked which flavors I should try Pamela said, "Honey, all my flavors are good!" You can't beat that! After a lengthy discussion with Bianka and her mom, I was given a tidy bag of cupcakes in a cup with the following flavors: black forest cake, lemon, raspberry red velvet, and spine-apple chill. She also gave me her fantastic monkey bread with rum-soaked raisins and nuts. (Side-Note: That monkey bread was amazing!! Like, I may have to start cyber-stalking their location to get more amazing! Really...)

Lemon, Red velvet and Spine-apple chill

My first treat was the black forest cake. The cake was lined with chocolate syrup to enhance the flavor and keep it moist. The flavor was rich and had me wanting more. Next up was the lemon which was pretty good. It was a typical lemon flavor but the cake was smooth and the Bavarian creme topping rounded it out. 

Wedding Cupcake Tower
Photo by Sweet Buds Bakery

The raspberry red velvet was really inventive. It was a red velvet cake, rimmed with raspberry jam and topped with Bavarian creme. The raspberry jam offset the chocolate in the red velvet creating a great flavor sensation. My final cake was the spine-apple chill which would remind me of an apple cupcake- perfect for Fall. I enjoyed the apple fruit compote mixed with the spiced apple cake although it was a tad sweet but still good.

Currently you can find the Sweet Buds Bakery truck at Fells Point in Baltimore, Arlington, VA and certain stops in D.C. 

Cool Cupcake Stuff: Cupcake Dog Costume

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

I know...Halloween is over but I saw this cute dog costume while I was downloading music on Amazon the other day and I had to share. This costume comes with a cupcake body and cherry hat. It's suitable for dogs ranging from 8-13 pounds and retails for about $24 + S&H. Each animal is different so they will either love you or secretly despise you should you dress them as a cupcake (and send it as a Christmas Card)...you make the call.

Advertisment

                                                        

Contest: Election Cupcakes from Sprinkles Georgetown

On the heels of the Presidential election, my new vlog discusses Georgetown Cupcake's LA store opening, Hello Kitty for President, Election Cupcakes, and What's Hot in the Cupcake Streets. Check it out for your viewing pleasure. Also to celebrate my new Youtube Channel I will be giving  three (3) lucky Youtube subscribers an election cupcake box courtesy of Sprinkles Georgetown. To enter see contest details below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Event Recap: Hello Kitty for President!

The Cupcake Critic & Hello Kitty

Last Friday I got the chance to visit the Hello Kitty for President headquarters.

The event was housed at the Living Social building where I was greeted by a young lady completely outfitted in Hello Kitty gear. Let me tell you, Kitty sure knows how to party! As you can see by the photo above, Kitty is exceptionally friendly and a joy to be around.

Once inside, I was greeted with tons of FREE Hello Kitty for President gear such a HK ears, posters, flyers, stickers, and poster board cut-outs. Sephora was positioned upstairs and giving full-face makeovers while handing out swag bags with HK clear nail polish and stickers (yes, I used both...don't judge me).  

HK rotating and on display in the window

HK's twist on Mount Rushmore

Everyone enjoyed the $0.50 claw machine (whose proceeds went to 826DC.com) filled with HK plush goodies. On the wall were American art classics with an HK twists. My favorite was George Washington Crossing the Delaware with HK in the back helping to guide the vessel. At one point Hello Kitty herself made and appearance and took pics with everyone. Later fellow blogger Kristy Samone and myself grazed by the open bar and took cutie-pie photos in the Living Social photo booth.

Hello Kitty's Rendition of Besty Ross

Aside from being a swagged-out space, the headquarters also acted as a pop-up shop where patrons could purchase Hello Kitty merchandise and the proceeds would be donated to the American Red Cross to provide disaster relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Further the shindig's true focus was to raise money for the D.C. education charity, 826DC.com. Georgetown Cupcake was also on board and is selling Hello Kitty for President cupcakes to benefit 826DC.com. 

The HK Claw machine loaded with goodies

The best treat of the evening was getting a hand-cut silhouette of my face made by the talented Marie-Helene L. Graham. Kristy also scored us some tickets to a VIP shindig scheduled for that Saturday at the HK HQ's where the infamous Biz Markie would be spinning...sadly the Critic was too pooped to party. Needless to say, she has my vote!

HK sidewalk sign

Check out their headquarters until November 6th from 10AM-8PM at 918 F St. NW, DC.

Advertisement

                                

CBS Baker Show Seeks Bakers

CBS is looking for amateur and professional bakers to compete in various challenges for their latest show. They are accepting applications until December 15th, 2012. For more information, click here. 

Fancy Cakes by Leslie

Fancy Cakes by Leslie (4939 Elm Street Bethesda, Md 20814)
Flavors: Lemon Raspberry 
Cost: $3.50
Score: 4.8

Sanford & Son Cake
Photo provided by Fancy Cakes by Leslie

Fancy Cakes by Leslie is a cute cupcake shop located in Bethesda, Md; a few blocks from the Bethesda Metro. Known for their delicious and elaborate cakes, Fancy Cakes has created cakes for Yves St. Laurent, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez and Dolce & Gabbana to name a few. When I walked into the exquisite shop I was greeted by their newly installed yogurt bar. As a devout dairy lover, it took everything in me to stay focused and only order my cupcakes. 

Handbag Replica Cake/ Photo courtesy of Fancy Cakes by Leslie

The young lady behind the counter was super-friendly and eager to help me with the cupcake choice. Fancy Cakes' selection was ample but the variety could only be described as decent. The majority of the flavors centered around chocolate and vanilla cake. I adore fruity flavors like lemon, strawberry, coconut and key-lime so I settled on the lemon raspberry. 

Despite being a normal-sized cupcake (which I prefer) my cupcake retailed for  $3.50 which is on par with Sprinkles, Crumbs, and even Dylan's Candy Bar whose cupcakes are much larger. 

The girl in me loves this: Make-up and Shoes
Photo courtesy of Fancy Cakes by Leslie

Once I got home and bit into my cupcake, I was instantly transported to my grandmother's kitchen. My grandmother made the best lemon cookies and cupcakes and Fancy Cakes' (indirectly) re-created that for me. The frosting was smooth with a texture like satin. The lightly zested lemon cake was rich but complementary to the smooth frosting. The raspberry dollop in the middle was the perfect amount; no gushing here. 

Sweet,petite, and clean. It was like eating a lemon cloud. Fancy Cakes made me into a believer and repeat customer!

Photo courtesy of Fancy Cakes by Leslie

-->