everything gal | A Bus, a Milk Chug, and Six Cupcake Shops

Well, the cupcake crawl happened. And it was pretty darn cool. Michael and I were floored by the response we had…almost everyone we invited was able to come! I think if you tell people there will be cupcakes (and booze), they make a fair attempt to attend.

Lemon Meringue cupcake from More.

Michael (aka husband of the year….we’ll make it husband of 2010, since he planned this in 2010. He still has to earn the title for the current year!) came up with the cupcake crawl idea from his hair cutter lady, of all people. She mentioned something about a friend doing a cupcake crawl in Chicago, and he (immediately, I’d like to think) thought of me and my then-imminent graduation from culinary school. What better way to celebrate than eat a ton of cake on a bus with a bunch of friends and family?!

Sprinkle’s cupcakes for your pooch.

So, we boarded our 32-passenger “deluxe” party bus. Everyone was offered beer, water, or a Milk Chug (obviously a necessity!). Where did we go? What did I try? What was the favorite?

The cupcake shops we visited, in chronological order, were:
1) Molly’s Cupcakes, 2536 North Clark Street
2) Sprinkles, 50 East Walton Street
3) More, 1 E Delaware Pl
PALATE CLEANSER - Portillo’s, 100 W. Ontario
4) Sugar Bliss, 115 North Wabash Avenue
5) Sweet Mandy B’s, 1208 West Webster Avenue
6) Sensational Bites, 3751 N Southport Ave

Me and Loni outside of Sprinkles

The rundown of the cakes I ate:
1) Molly’s: Ron Bennington, chocolate cake, peanut butter filling, chocolate ganache, crushed butterscotch topping

Molly’s Ron Bennington

2) Sprinkles: Chocolate Marshmallow, belgian dark chocolate cake and marshmallow cream with bittersweet chocolate ganache

Sprinkles Chocolate Marshmallow

3) More: Flavor of the Day, butternut squash spice cake with cream cheese frosting

Lisa, Katey and Loni at More

4) Sugar Bliss: Cinnamon Carrot, Chocolate Peppermint and Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel (HEY! they were mini’s!!! I couldn’t help myself)

Sugar Bliss’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel (obviously…)

5) Sweet Mandy B’s: Banana Chocolate Chip (to be honest, neither Michael nor I really remember this one….we were too drunk on sugar by this point! but I had some darn good coffee here that took the edge off my sugar rush)

6) Sensational Bites: Boston Cream Pie, a yellow cupcake filled with pastry cream with ganache swirled on top (and maybe a bite or two of carrot cake, just for some much-needed sugar)

Sensational Bite’s Lemon Cupcakes

At the end of the crawl, I had everyone vote, in their sugar-drunk stupor, for their favorite cupcake shop and their favorite cupcake flavor. Here are the results:

1) Molly’s – by a landslide (may have had something to do with the fact that this was the first shop we visited! Everyone’s palate was fresh, they were hungry….etc.)
2) Sweet Mandy B’s (this one still got high ranks, even though it was our 2nd to last stop!)
3) Sugar Bliss

Most-talked-about cupcake flavor: Peach Cobbler from Molly’s

My favorite cupcake? Well, I’m a chocolate/peanut butter gal through and through, so my vote went to the Chocolate PB Pretzel from Sugar Bliss, with the Ron Bennington from Molly’s coming in a close second. Michael’s favorite? The Cookie Monster from Molly’s, with Boston Creme Pie from Sensational Bites coming in at a close 2nd.

My favorite shop? That’s a tough one. They’re all great in their own unique way. I loved the look and photograph-ability of More’s cupcakes. Molly’s kitschy-ness spoke to my vintage/campy persona, but strictly due to location (my own backyard), I’m going with Sensational Bites.

Thanks to Michael, my favorite husband, for orchestrating such an awesome trip. An incredible and really fitting way to commemorate my culinary school degree. You managed to coordinate everyone’s schedules, get the party bus back on time, and got everyone a hot dog. You thought of everything. Love you!

5 Responses to A Bus, a Milk Chug, and Six Cupcake Shops

Taylor Norton says:

January 24, 2011 at 1:14 am

This sounds like so much fun! Congrats Kenna!!!

Party Dude says:

January 24, 2011 at 3:55 am

Can't beat the party bus idea! I always go for the party bus vs a limo rental

Lisa says:

January 24, 2011 at 8:45 pm

So fun! Looks like a great time!

Melissa Kelenske says:

January 26, 2011 at 10:39 pm

Freddie, Robb, your dad, your grandma, Emily, Allison….looks like you really got everyone together! How cool. Good on ya, Michael.

Looking forward to seeing the confections you come up with after your cupcake inspiration. Congratulations, girl–you're on to the next big thing!

Heather @ chiknpastry says:

January 29, 2011 at 3:17 am

Sounds like a great time, and congrats again!!

A Bus, a Milk Chug, and Six Cupcake Shops

5 Responses to A Bus, a Milk Chug, and Six Cupcake Shops

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