Last weekend I helped throw a surprise birthday party for one of my good friends, Janelle. I was in charge of the guest list, but her little sister was the actuating force behind the party and planned the details such as food, party horns, etc. After I accompanied the birthday girl into her ambush her sister emerged with huge trays of cupcakes! Janelle is what I would call a cupcake addict. I can't think of a more perfect way to welcome this girl into her own birthday party than to present her with over two dozen cupcakes (with lit candles, no less). She loves cupcakes. I would venture to say that she has one a day. (How she stays thin I'll never know). Offer her a cupcake, she can't say no. Walk past a cupcake shop, she has to go in.
It's a good thing she lives in New York City, the cupcake capitol of the world. I bet she has been to the majority of those shops, which is why I was surprised to learn that her favorite cupcakes are from a small bakeshop in Brooklyn (Yelp says it's in the Fort Hamilton neighborhood but I'm not sure about that) called Little Cupcake Bakeshop.
Upon learning that Janelle is addicted to these cupcakes in particular, I knew I needed to try them. As luck would have it, these glorious, moist, sugary treats came to me!! Knowing that no other cupcakes would do for her special day, Janelle's sister brought these cupcakes from Brooklyn into Manhattan for the shindig.
Peering at the tray I did not think I could make up my mind about which to have. Just as I was reaching toward a good old fashioned vanilla cake/chocolate frosting cupcake, Janelle kindly redirected my selection to her personal favorite: STRAWBERRY!
These cupcakes are something to write home about. They have slightly more frosting that I prefer in my cake-to-frosting ratio, but the taste of each part was absolute perfection. And strawberry?! I have not been to any other cupcake shop in the city that has strawberry cake and strawberry frosting. Unique. Amazing.
If you don't mind a bit of a subway ride, take the R train to the 86th Street stop. Get the strawberry cupcake (and others to take home). I'll see you there.
