Cupcakes Take The Cake~Spotlight Simply Rita Cupcakes!

Nichelle and Rachel cupcake bloggers from The world's most popular cupcake blog, Cupcakes Take The Cake, spotlighted Simply Rita Cupcakes on their blog! Take a look...

http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2011/03/spotlight-on-simply-rita-cupcakes-of.html#comments

My cupcakes equate to lifelong friendships...

When I first started Simply Rita Cupcakes around 3 years ago I never imagined how many wonderful people I would of met along the way. The people I have met are not only my customers they truly are lifelong friends.

Diane, a Greek-American residing in Greece was in search for the perfect cupcake for her daughter's baptism. Who would of ever thought that a simple cupcake consultation would of ended up with us sipping coffee on my balcony and discussing everything from marriage to our children. Three years later Diane and I still keep in contact, and she's been so supportive of my business and I'm so thankful for that.

Ralph and Denise, were amongst my first customers here in Cheshire, CT. They stumbled upon my cupcakes when reading the weekly issue of The Cheshire Herald. When I first met Denise it really did seem like I had known her for years. She has been great at helping me promote my business by referring me and by networking on her facebook profile. It is devoted customers like this that makes my business successful.

And how can I forget Ms. Cupcake Couture, the winner of February's Drag Wars. Although I've only known Cupcake Couture for a short period of time, I know it's going to be the beginning of a great friendship. I'm confident that when we join forces we will be successful at using our love for cupcakes to raise money for great causes!

This is only the beginning of many more friendships to come...Thanks to all!

Why I decided to decline The Food Network's offer to audition for Cupcake Wars..

When I was contacted by The Food Network to audition for Cupcake Wars I was excited, nervous, flattered and willing to go on the show and bake my pants off for cupcake pioneer Candace Nelson and Frenchy Pastry Chef Florian Bellanger: The master of macaroons.

But the more I thought about it the more anxious I would get. The anxiety wasn't because I would potentially have to design a 1,000 cupcake display and bake the cupcakes within a 90 minute time frame, it was the stem of something else....

Regardless of the outcome of the competition it is likely that my business would pick up after the show aired, and I wasn't quite sure if I wanted that. Currently, my mother and I are able to bake small batches of cupcakes 3 times a day Thursday-Sunday. If it ever got to the point where my mother and I couldn't handle it, it would mean more staff members, bigger batches, and an inability to micro manage, to be precise, and to pay attention to detail. There would be no more cherry on the Key Lime Pie Cupcake, no more dollop of strawberry preserves on the Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake, and no more homemade meringue cookie on the Lemon Meringue Cupcake (kudos to those cupcake shops that are still able to do all this while mass producing). Although business would probably be better, I personally wouldn't feel satisfied with the cupcakes being produced, which is why I have decided not to go on Cupcake Wars!

Wow, Simply Rita.....not so simple after all!

Going Green!

When I was asked to make cupcakes for an event in Middletown, I wasn't too sure what the event was all about until I got there. The developers of Centerpoint were celebrating the launch of the first "Green Complex" in Connecticut. The event had a great turnout and the attendees included the Mayor of Middletown, and of course the media and press. Good luck Lennie and the rest of the team at Centerpoint, I was honored to host your event!

Mayor Giuliano of Middletown enjoying a Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcake.

Bon Voyage Ziggy!

The Cheshire Men's Basketball League threw a going away party for Ziggy! What better way to say goodbye but with pizza, beer and cupcakes?

Although Ziggy is clearly "TRAVELING", the team believed my cupcakes were a "SLAM DUNK".

Cheshire Pizza: Where it's okay to be a kid again!!

2 Ovens, 222 Cupcakes and 2 Generations: All For the Love of Cupcakes...

Today I managed to bake 222 cupcakes for 3 separate events!

A Sweet 16, a Baby Shower and a Bridal Shower.

Thank heavens for my parents who were sweet enough to wake up at the crack of dawn to start baking with me (the clock was set on bar time it was actually 4:30 a.m. when I got there).

Sometimes I feel like the guy from the Dunkin Donuts commercials whose catch phrase was "Time to make the donuts". What was that guy's name anyway?

Yes it was still dark out!

One of the most beautiful humble families I have ever met!

Happy Sweet 16 Shani!

The giant cupcake!

The giant cupcake along with my father's giant mustache!

Road Trip!

This couple was on the prowl for a place in Connecticut that bakes cupcakes just like their grandmothers used to. After researching the net they stumbled across Simply Rita and drove all the way from Stratford to get their hands on the freshly baked cupcakes. After trying the Butterscotched Smore Cupcake they were elated that their search was finally over!

What is so unique about Simply Rita is that the cupcakes are made on a first come first serve basis. This allows me to make smaller batches and focus on quality not quantity, ensuring that my customers always receive a cupcake that does indeed taste like it came out of grandma's kitchen!