Tag Archives: Sweet

Confections collide

Wars break out over land, religion, power and people. They are violent and bloody and, usually, by the end no one can remember how the fighting began. How about a war over cupcakes? The world would be a happier place if we hurled frosting and sprinkles instead of bullets. This is exactly what is happening in Highland Park, as a battle over whose mini-pastry reigns supreme divides the city.

Central Avenue runs down the center of Downtown Highland Park. On the south side of Central, Maria’s Sweet Bites opened. Within a few weeks Turtle’s Cupcakes opened on the north side of Central.

You can read about the official story about the two bakeries, along with their statements they gave to the press here. But I would rather spill the juicy rumors (Note: I present the following information as hearsay, it has not be verified and may or may not be true).

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Oh so unhealthy, but oh so good

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I have enjoyed strawberry shortcake once in my life, and I loved it, but I never ate it again. Why? Because I knew nothing could ever live up to my first strawberry shortcake experience years ago on board the Disney Cruise Line. This recipe though made me put my fear of disappointment aside and try again.

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Happy National Doughnut Day

Free Dunkin’ Doughnuts and Krispy Kreme? No thanks, if I’m going to be a fatty I’m going to do it right with one of the best doughnuts in Chicago. After opening earlier this year, the city has been buzzing over The Doughnut Vault. Lines to enter the hole-in-the-wall bakery often stretch around the block. Every morning the Vault opens its doors at 8:30 a.m. to hungry Chicagoans and distributes doughnuts until they run out (usually, around 11). The choices are limited, but with doughnuts this good gimmicky flavors are unnecessary. The vault offers an old-fashioned buttermilk doughnut, a stack of three maple doughnuts, or three flavors of glazed doughnuts (chocolate, vanilla or chestnut). On Saturdays when the Vault opens an hour later, they usually offer a special flavor such a carrot cake.

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