Snippet #7

Posted January 19th, 2010 | Permalink

snip_7

Snippet #6:
Image: Kate Mastrangelo, Guana Cay, Bahamas, March 2008
Text: Quote on NPR. Sorry, can’t remember the show or date.

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Mr. Fox’s Sweet Shoppe

Posted January 15th, 2010 | Permalink

About a week ago, my mother and I were talking on the phone. I told her about a friend who had mentioned on Facebook that for her birthday she had gone to a cupcake cafe. CUPCAKE CAFE. How cool does that sound? She lives near NYC, so I imagine it was there, in the big city where stores with such very specific product can thrive.

My mother and I jibbered on about how cool it would be to own a cupcake cafe. We do this a lot, my mother and I, think up ideas for fun businesses that we imagine running together. Even though this one wasn’t really our idea, our conversation immediately took flight and we excitedly began “planning”.

My son overheard the conversation and began to join in, scratching out a picture of a large, colorful cupcake on the kitchen chalkboard while coming up with flavor ideas. I have to say, he had some pretty awesome ideas. Some of the best. Mom and I instinctively made him partner.

The next morning, I began to make notes: writing down flavors, picturing the cafe itself and designing the interior in my mind. And I came up with a name. I had been reading a book of short stories, and in the latest story, the main character worked at an ice cream parlor called Mr. Fox’s Sweet Shoppe. Couldn’t be more perfect: Mr. Fox’s Sweet Shoppe; a Cupcake Cafe. That would be the name.

Knowing full well that I’d never own a cupcake cafe, I couldn’t help coming up with flavor ideas all week long. And my kids did too. Every now and then one of them would stop in their tracks, “Mom. I have another cupcake idea. Coffee Cream. It’s a coffee flavored cupcake with sweet cream frosting and a chocolate covered coffee bean on top.”

I imagined the cafe wouldn’t be childish – this is a pleasure for all, young and old. Lots of milk would be served in tall thin glasses, and coffee drinks, tea and hot cocoa. I also imagined there’d be a cupcake bar, along with the gorgeous display of prepared cupcakes. At the cupcake bar you can “make your own” from a battery of cupcake flavors, icing flavors and toppings. I adamantly proclaimed there would be no Cotton Candy Cupcakes, and no Bubblegum. While the cupcake bar may be reminiscent, Cold Stone this is NOT. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Cake Batter Ice Cream anytime, anywhere, but Mr. Fox’s is more sophisticated. Excuse me.

Having said that, wouldn’t it be a delicious place for a kid’s birthday party; make your own cupcakes, decorate ‘em, eat ‘em with tall glasses of milk while giggling at small cafe tables, feeling all grown up with cool music in the background. And of course, the packaging would be addicting. Purchase a single cupcake for a friend (or for later when no one’s looking) and it comes in a fabulous little box, all it’s own, with a hand tied ribbon. Too special. Sigh.

As I said, I’ll never own a cupcake cafe, because one afternoon I couldn’t help but go as far as to figure out how many cupcakes one would need to sell a day to make it work, and it was A LOT. No metropolis here to make that work. So, if you like this idea and you think it’s a nut you could crack, go for it. I’ll even share some of our flavor ideas with you. Here’s a list to get you started. And, if you do it, let me know, because I’ll be your biggest fan.

Orange Creamsicle – orange swirls in the cupcake with sweet cream frosting and a sliver of candied orange on top.
Lemon Blueberry – lemon cupcake with glazed blueberries on top.
Tiramisu Cupcake – I actually fell asleep one night trying to figure out how to make these.
The Chili – cake that’s not too sweet with a tinge of hot pepper, maybe with dark chocolate icing.
Blueberry Pancake Cupcake – blueberry cupcake served warm with real maple syrup drizzle.
Boston Creme Cupcake – vanilla with a custard filling with chocolate ganache on top.