Tee & Cakes
1932 14th St.
Boulder, Colorado
720-406-7548
www.teeandcakes.com
When the back of one's business card announces, "Our cupcakes are better than sex" you have to wonder: Are they really? Tee & Cakes (located in Boulder, Colorado) is just one of the many cafés jumping on the miniature cake bandwagon. Cupcake shops are popping up everywhere and have become a popular wedding dessert. Maybe it is the size--a design of pure single-serving indulgence--or the ability to devour an entire one without the use of utensils.
In the beginning, cupcakes were baked in ramekins, before muffin tins were easily accessible. They were also referred to as fairy cakes, stemming from their delicately frosted tops and tiny shape. As their popularity continues to grow, the use of color, flavor, and even fillings have increased and become far more obscure and flamboyant.
Tee & Cakes is no exception. They pride themselves on fresh baked cupcakes that differ in variety according to the day of the week. Some of their flavors include Red Velvet, Strawberry Milkshake, Peanut Butter Crunch, Lemon Meringue, Carrot and Banana Fudge. They just recently came out with a new flavor called Chocolate Bacon and yes; it includes both. The owners, Kim Boos and Brian Wood wanted to merge breakfast and dessert into a tempting treat. You can only get them on Saturdays, but they have recently become a favorite among customers. The cake batter is impregnated with a serving of maple syrup and then baked and topped with a chocolate ganache.
Tee & Cakes also serves desserts such as cookies ($1.95) and lemon bars ($2.25), fried egg and cheese croissants ($4.00) and build-your-own grilled cheese sandwiches that include cheddar, provolone, and swiss with two additional toppings (additional can be added for 50 cents) like grilled onion, tomato, ham, apples, and bacon.
I was in the mood to defy my lactose intolerance and ordered the grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and grilled onions. I also ordered a small coffee ($1.50), which was so strong I wondered if I'd ever taste sleep again. It wasn't bitter per se, but infused with a grandiose amount of caffeine. If this was their coffee, I hesitate to try their espresso.
The wonderful woman behind the counter wearing a T-shirt exclaiming "Eat Cake" brought the grilled cheese sandwich over to the small table where I was sitting. The sandwich seemed lonely, as it sat sliced on a plate a bit too large for its size. Maybe if it was fashioned with a pickle or side of coleslaw, it might have appeared more complete. She did bring over a bag of potato chips, but they felt disconnected from the sandwich. The grilled cheese was smeared inside a roll, and grilled Panini-style. The bread appeared a day past its prime. It was dry and almost undeserving of the oozing dairy stuffed between it. A sign of a good grilled cheese sandwich is the element of stretch. This is defined by the separation of slices and measurement of cheese becoming like a tightrope. The cheese on this sandwich was almost melted, but not quite enough. Though the onions added a sweet release of flavor, the tomato slice was not ripe and seemed to remain there just for color. As a dedicated fan to grilled cheese sandwiches, I would give this 2.5 out of 5. Maybe it should be called the almost-but-not-quite grilled cheese.
What about the cake? You can't exactly leave a place like this without trying the cupcakes, right? It would take at least a week for me to try all their flavors (and possibly a stomach transplant), so I settled for one this time. Their Red Velvet cupcake is the color of blushing cheeks, topped with a generous swirl of cream cheese frosting with tiny red sprinkles on top. Generally I eat cupcakes in this strict fashion: remove from wrapper, lick any remnant caught in creases, eat cake while cleverly leaving frosting intact. Make sure fingers are clean as they eventually become a plate for the frosting, and eat. This time, I tried to be dainty and noble. I took small bites, careful to savor the complete bite of cake plus sweet frosting. It was rich (enhanced by cocoa), creamy, and very moist. At $2.65 per cupcake, I expect a hearty treat--something to stay inside me long enough until my next meal or snack. After doing a bit of research, it seems like the similar asking price for cupcakes. Even in New York City, well-known Magnolia Bakery sells their specialty cupcakes for $3.00. If you are looking to celebrate a special occasion, these cupcakes would certainly sweeten the festivities. Forget weddings and birthdays, maybe it's time you treated yourself to a cupcake just because it's Saturday. And if you skipped breakfast, there is always Chocolate Bacon.
by Aimee Herman