Pinkalicious Cupcakes

I was on the phone with my sister a week or so ago discussing sundry fascinating and particularly intellectual subjects, when she says to me, 'Have you been to Pinkalicious?' Having never heard of this so-called Pinkalicious place, I became rather indignant and demanded to know all the details. This is all she would divulge: 'Cupcakes — and they're better than Trophy.' 'Well, well, well', I thought, 'I'll just see about that!'

So after Miss Milia's music class a few days ago, we ran through pouring rain to Pinkalicious Cupcakes. This is what we found: a gorgeous little shop all bedecked in the ever-popular brown and pink motif; a dazzling glass case filled with beautiful cupcakes; a few curly-q tables and chairs, for one to rest and enjoy said cupcakes; and a prominently displayed copy of the children's book Pinkalicious, from whence their name undoubtedly came. How very lovely!

After much hemming and hawing (as they say) we made our selections: a dark chocolate cupcake with salted caramel buttercream (yes, it's true — someone's finally done it!), a spice cupcake with cream-cheese frosting, chocolate peanut butter (on their suggestion), and a Red Velvet cupcake, for good measure. Emilia was delighted, if not slightly confused. She kept saying 'diff'nt tuptates!', because clearly she knows where our loyalty lies. As they were packaging them up for us, I asked if it was possible to put them in a bag. 'It is so rainy, so if it comes down to dropping either the baby or the cupcakes while running to the car, I'll have to think about it.' And to be perfectly honest, I don't think the lady helping me really appreciated my humor — like I would ever drop a box of cupcakes! I mean, really! Do they think I'm some sort of uncivilized barbarian? Luckily for us, we all made it back to the car safe and sound — and perfectly intact, thank goodness!

And after dinner that night, Emilia got her cupcake; or half a cupcake really, as they are awfully big. (I should have inquired whether or not they make a more petite version for little hands.) I let her choose which one she wanted, and naturally the girl went for the dark chocolate with salted caramel. Oh, no, she couldn't go for the Spice or the Red Velvet. She had to go for the one her mama had been dreaming about for a week straight. (What can I say? She's got taste and obviously knows her cupcakes. She makes me proud.)

As for me? What did I do, you ask? Well, Michael was out of town for work, which meant I was on my own. So after I put Emilia down for bed, I did what any reasonable person would have done. I watched the whole of Gone With the Wind (seriously, how amazing is that movie, which is now in its 70th year?) and ate the rest of Emilia's cupcake. Oh, and two more for good measure. The only reason I didn't polish them all off is because I could not have faced my 22-month-old daughter the next day when she said, 'How 'bout tuptates? How 'bout little bit tuptates?'

As for the comparison made with Trophy? Well, it's tough. I certainly will not be so rash as to say they are better than Trophy. However, I will say this. Pinkalicious offers many lovely and unique flavors, and they do have a bigger variety. The cake itself is more moist, so I am assuming they must put some sort of oil in the batter. Usually all-butter cakes don't end up that moist — particularly the next day. I also noticed that they use more red food coloring and less chocolate for the Red Velvet. And they use plastic containers instead of paper boxes. That being said, I think they are quite amazing. However, we may have to make another trip tomorrow, just to be sure. You know how it is.

Oh, and for the record, the Spice Cupcake was actually my favorite. It was divine. Absolutely divine.