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Gimmicky? Maybe, but the ones on offer at a preview tasting at the store yesterday were also pretty good. Out of the 12 or so sweet and savory cupcakes, the one with maple frosting and candied bacon was my favorite–sort of like dipping bacon in maple syrup, but better. The BLT, with ranch “frosting,” tiny tomato slices, micro basil, and bacon crumbles, had a nice balance of flavors, and I might have liked it even more if I liked ranch. Kelly, who I brought along for backup (and who does like ranch), was a fan.
We didn’t get to try all of the savory options, which include a fig, port, and blue cheese cupcake as well as a strawberry, peppercorn, and balsamic one. But I did have a Madras curry cupcake, topped with goat cheese that balanced out the mild curry flavor, toasted puffed rice that added a little crunch, and a blackberry, which gave it a shot of fruity sweetness. It tasted weird at first but ended up being a favorite for both of us. And a barbecue peach cupcake wasn’t so much savory as it was just slightly sweet, with a little smokiness–also nice.
