Destination: House of Cupcakes

Fans of the Food Network and The Food Channel alike will know this feeling: you walk into a bakery and see a sign that says, “As seen on…” We have come across any number such places in our travels, and it’s always a “must” to go in. So, that’s what …

Fans of the Food Network and The Food Channel alike will know this feeling: you walk into a bakery and see a sign that says, “As seen on…”

We have come across any number such places in our travels, and it’s always a “must” to go in.

So, that’s what we did when we saw The Cupcake House. We were actually in search of Maman, the New York must-do that has also planted itself in the heart of historic Palmer Square in Princeton, NJ.

Of course we had to go in, and immediately asked for the most-ordered items. There was quite a list, including the strawberry shortcake, the peanut butter cup and, of course, the espresso brownie cupcake, declared the winner on Cupcake Wars.

It’s fun to play judge once in awhile, and try to determine why someone would pick one thing over another. In this case, it was easy to see…or should we say, taste. As you would expect, the cupcake is layered with flavor and well worth the publicity.

We can imagine the tension during the competition, the joy of winning, the waiting afterwards—when you can’t talk about the experience until the episode airs. The Cupcake House has earned a distinction that sets them apart.

It goes way beyond winning. It goes beyond marketing. Even taking into account the strain on your business while preparing for the competition, it still gives you a memory few other food lovers have. Most of us can only watch, cheering for our favorites, but not really understanding the daily frustrations and setbacks.

All we get–and it’s a lot–is the ability to be close to glory, to savor the fruits, and to enjoy the victory.