When Cupcakes Bite Back

I was fortunate enough to be invited back to Corcoran Vineyards to do another Wine & Cupcake Pairing event. This time we were set-up in the Winery where the red grapes were fermenting. We were treated to a hands-on presentation as Lori Corcoran, the wine maker, did a “punch down” on the red grapes while educating us a bit about the grape harvest and wine making process. She does punch downs three times a day for all of harvest – that’s 6 WEEKS!

The pairing started with the ever-popular Pistachio Cupcake and Corcoran’s Apple Wine. The sweet almond flavor of the butter cream frosting and the salty roasted pistachios were perfect with the lightly sweet apple wine.

Next up we paired the Lemon Raspberry Cupcake with the sweet and smooth as silk Cello made from Petit Manseng grapes and fortified with spirits and lemon zest. The lemon cake was enhanced nicely by this fortified wine. While the raspberry frosting popped with berry flavor from the citrus contrast.

Round-3 was where the action really started to heat up. Turns out that pairing the spicy chocolate ganache filled Chocolate Chili Cupcake with Corcoran’s Malbec was genius!! Not only did the wine feature rich aromas of black cherry and a touch of spice but so did the cupcake! The cupcake featured two types of hot chilis and was even sprinkled with a dash of smoked hot chili powder as the final “bite” from this innocent looking mini cupcake.

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Uh oh, sorry folks … someone forgot to take a picture of
the Chocolate Chili Cupcakes!!

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Last but not least we paired the USB, a Universal Sweet Beverage, with the Dulce de Leche Cupcake. The cupcake consisted of a light chocolate cake filled with dulce de leche then topped with caramel satin frosting and drizzled with MORE dulce de leche. It was perfectly paired with Corcoran’s USB which is their version of “Port”. The wine uses Chambourcin grapes and is aged in whiskey barrels!! I ADORE this wine.

CHEERS! to another successful Wine & Cupcake Pairing Event. I had a great time meeting everyone and learning a bit about wine and the wine making process. The feedback has been amazing and I couldn’t be more excited or pleased. Please be sure to stay tuned to Shugar Shugar and Corcoran Vineyards for details regarding future events. Yep, that's right, there’s already talk of a Holiday event with sparkling wines {BUBBLES!} and we’ll also be teaming up to provide special pricing on wine and cupcake purchases during the event!

Stay Sweet!

Kay

Wine + Cupcakes = SHUGAR HIGH!

Back in July Shugar Shugar was invited by Corcoran Vineyards to do a Wine & Cupcake pairing. What a beautiful place! Situated amongst the rolling hills of Waterford, VA - the backdrop of this vineyard couldn't be more perfect.

I had prepared to do 25 tastings that day - but luckily I had brought extra cupcakes and as I told owner, Jim Corcoran "I'll bring some extra just in case things get a little wild" ... man did things get WILD!

I walked in, set-up, met Carolyn who was pouring the wine tastings for the event (she's amazing!), and the tasting began. At one point the crowd at the table was three people deep - it was great fun for everyone!

The event sold out in the first hour and within 90 minutes I was completely out of everything including the extra cupcakes! Ten dozen mini Shugar Shugar cupcakes devoured in 90 minutes -- AWESOME! If you missed the event, but would like to see the pairing menu from that day, please check out the posting under the "Discussions" tab on the Shugar Shugar Facebook Fan Page.

Whens the next one?? Well, mark your calendars because coming Sunday, September 4th you can come out and meet Wine Maker, Lori and myself as we pair 4 cupcakes and 4 new wines. There will be two tasting sessions in the winery, 12:00 Noon and 2:00 PM. The cost is $15 and seating is limited so be sure to reserve your spot! Click Here to Reserve.

There's MORE! BeYoung Photography will be there on September 4th as well doing Holiday Mini Sessions for $99. You can find out more about this great offering by visiting their site, just follow this link!

When visiting Corcoran Vineyards be sure to check out Corcoran Brewing & Monk's BBQ as well. Simply put Corcoran Vineyards is a beautiful place, with wonderful people, and most importantly GREAT WINE!

A Shugar Shugar Tasting in Leesburg, VA

Hello Everyone! The Leesburg First Friday event on August 5th was great!! The people of Leesburg and Loudoun LOVE their coffee and cupcakes ... everyone just kept lining up!

Located in historic Leesburg, King Street Coffee offers a warm and inviting atmosphere for that perfect cup of coffee or tea. I first met Kimberly, the owner, at her shop during the June Leesburg First Friday event and was so delighted when she contacted me to do a tasting for the upcoming August event. A big thank you Kimberly for the great opportunity, amazing hospitality, and for my new favorite Moroccan Mint iced TEA. It's a must have, very refreshing -- go get some! Oh, and if you don't know what "Leesburg First Friday" is please be sure to check-out their page. A special thanks to Jill Perla, King Street Coffee's Artist of the Month for August, for paper crafting the wonderful little cupcake signs. My absolute favorite one was the "100% Awesome". Be sure to check out this local artist, she paints as well!

I'd also like to thank Rima of Rima B for supplying the amazing French Macarons for the tasting - they were a big hit. Over the past year and a half an increasing number of my customer's have inquired about gluten free cupcakes - which I am happy to report are coming to Shugar Shugar soon! In the meantime I wanted to provide my customers with a good quality gluten free option and Rima B's macarons met Shugar Shugar standards.

I was first introduced to Rima and her amazing macarons at a friends birthday party in March of this year. I couldn't stop eating them, not only were they visually appealing but the flavors were exquisite. Her macarons are delicious and naturally gluten free as this traditional French pastry is made with Almond Flour and as you know gluten comes from wheat flour. Rima's macarons are indeed special, she has a passion for making them and it shows. If you'd like more information about these wonderful treats please feel free to contact me or Rima directly at: Rima B, phone 703-757-6709, cell 571-723-9244, and e-mail rima.b@msn.com.

To sum it all up, 2011 is proving to be an amazing year for Shugar Shugar. A lot of the things that were set in motion last year have already come to fruition. I am truly blessed and obsessed -- WITH CUPCAKES that is =). Thank you everyone for your support and patronage -- your cupcake smiles keep me going everyday! There is much work to be done, but I'm loving every minute of it. There's more excitement ahead and I look forward to continue growing and expanding; it's all thanks to you, my customers.

P.S. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements. I'll be doing another Wine & Cupcake Pairing at Corcoran Vineyards as well as tastings at the Ashburn Wine Shop.

Thank you, Kay

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde

New Blog!! Background Image by BeYoung Photography

My new background photo was taken my Beryl Young of BeYoung Photogaphy in Lovettsville, VA. The image is copyrighted.

Welcome to the new Shugar Shugar blog! In the near future I plan to post pictures, short cut recipes, and special event info here.