Quite an interesting article from the BBC re cupcakes - I'm particularly interested in the idea of cupcakes gentrifying an area
... cupcakes are a clear cultural barometer. Academics in New York are constructing a map of emerging cupcake shops throughout the city. The theory is that these give a more accurate guide to gentrification than traditional demographic and housing surveys.
If you look at the areas where cupcake cafes have sprung up in London I would agree this is certainly the case. They tend to be in the more exclusive areas, for example from the Kings Road area you can easily walk to 4 cupcake cafes. You'd have to be wearing some pretty sturdy walking shoes to walk to my local cupcake cafe - not many cupcakeries in the New Cross/Peckham area!
I also agree that the cupcake phenomenon has a lot to do with nostalgia. For Christmas I want one of these - something I remember using when baking with my mum/gran/aunt...
We're returning to things we've done in childhood, activities like baking, which gave us joy. It could be about the legacy of heritage. People are trying to hang on to a recipe that was sacred, that granny used to make."
Whatever gets people back into baking can only be a good thing surely so bring on the cupcake love :)
The picture is of last years Halloween cupcakes from Lolas (yes we tried a few different Halloween cupcakes)
Oooh so if I supply cupcakes to local cafes I'll be doing my bit to make it a nicer area. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThat's a plan - round here I'm not sure if they'd have much use for cupcakes in Morley's "chicken" shop. I keep thinking of doing a stall but with work I dont get enough time to bake at the mo
ReplyDeleteI can't see a cupcakerie opening in New Cross anytime soon! Maybe if you called it "The Lord's Bakery" and made them with crucifix sprinkles they'd sell round here??
ReplyDeleteI love that pink mixing bowl, I think I will be asking for it for Christmas too!
ReplyDelete@Manny - maybe near the Holy Ghost zone, or by the Ministry of Fire? Actually I do think the Goldsmiths students would go for them if only there was a decent cafe in New Cross to provide them!
ReplyDelete@Kats - its cute isn't it. They have them in John Lewis also- very sturdy and perfect for baking - just like me ;)
I don't suppose you know where to get one of the pink or red hearts mixing bowls now? They seem to be out of stock everywhere!
ReplyDeleteHi Kats - I'm not sure but will have a look for you today and get back to you.
ReplyDeleteI just found one from a store on Ebay (there's only 4 left). I can't wait to make a cake in it, looks great, thanks for the heads up!
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