winners-sweets

Sprinkles Cupcakes Wins Luxist Awards' Editors' Choice Award for Best in Sweets

Filed under: Dining

Sprinkles Cupcakes wins the Luxist Awards' Editors' Choice Award for Best Sweets.

Los Angeles, Ca.-based Sprinkles Cupcakes is the winner of the Luxist Awards' Editors' Choice Award for Best in Sweets.

"The cupcakes are so delicious, they met in your mouth," gushes one fan.
"The best, most delicious cupcakes in America!", says another Sprinkles enthusiast.

Sprinkles cupcakes are handcrafted from the finest ingredients, including sweet cream butter, bittersweet Belgian chocolate, pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, fresh bananas and carrots, real strawberries and natural citrus zests. Topped with Sprinkles trademark modern dots, rich chocolate sprinkes from France or seasonal sugar decorations, Sprinkles cupcakes are a sophisticated update on an American classic.

Gallery: More from Sprinkles

Tags: Awards-main, best cupcake, cupcakes, Luxist-Awards, sprinkles, sprinkles cupcakes, sweets, winners-editors-choice, winners-sweets

Continue reading “Sprinkles Cupcakes Wins Luxist Awards' Editors' Choice Award for Best in Sweets”

Sprinkles Wins the Readers' Choice Award for Best Cupcake

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Los Angeles, Ca.-based Sprinkles is the winner of the Readers' Choice Award for Best Cupcake.

Sprinkles is a favorite of Hollywood stars from Tyra Banks, Russell Crowe and Paris Hilton to Katie Holmes, Oprah Winfrey and Teri Hatcher, all of who proclaim love for the sumptuous treats. "I love Sprinkles Cupcakes," says Banks. "I am addicted to them." Ryan Seacrest is a fan, too. "These are not just cupcakes, they're a lifestyle," he says. Barbra Streisand once sent a box of Sprinkle's cupcakes to Oprah Winfrey. Oprah enjoyed them so much she ordered enough to share with her entire studio audience. Sprinkles is also known for its star topped variety served at Oscar parties.

Luxist readers describe the cupcakes this way:

"Amazingly delicious and beautiful with a variety of flavors."
"The best cupcakes anywhere! Long lines, but worth the wait. Their butter with vanilla frosting will change your life."
"The original luxury cupcake store."
"Their entire range of flavors is executed masterfully, from classics like Red Velvet to more exotic editions like chai latte. The cake is light and not too sweet with rich frostings that balance each other perfectly."

Company founders Candace and Charles Nelson opened the first Sprinkles in Beverly Hills in April 2005. People thought the couple were crazy to open a cupcakes-only bakery in the middle of "thin city" at a time with low carb mania was at its peak. Despite naysayers, they sold out within hours of opening, and sales haven't slowed since. Today, Sprinkles is known as much for its long lines and devoted fans as for its delicious cupcakes. Sprinkles is credited with inspiring a national cupcake craze as reported by the New York Times, USA Today, the Today Show and Nightline.

Gallery: More from Sprinkles

Tags: awards-main, bakery, best bakery, best cupcake, BestBakery, BestCupcake, cupcake, cupcakes, luxist-awards, sprinkles, winners-sweets

Continue reading “Sprinkles Wins the Readers' Choice Award for Best Cupcake”

Godiva Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Truffle

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Of all the names associated with fine chocolate, there are few as iconic as Godiva. Founded in 1926 by Joseph Draps, the Belgian chocolatier has since blossomed into one of the world's most celebrated, and is the winner of a Luxist award in the best truffle category.

Draps opened his first store on a cobblestone street in Brussels nearly a century ago, its name inspired by the legendary Lady Godiva. As the story goes, the medieval dame grew upset with the onerous taxes that her husband, Lord Leofric, levied upon his subjects in Coventry, England. Leofric proposed a bargain: If she could ride naked through town without any citizens eyeing her, he'd ease their financial burden. Lady Godiva did exactly that, and Leofric relented.

Gallery: More from Godiva

The name Godiva still evokes images of graciousness, luxury and sensuality. Draps first expanded the company beyond Belgium in 1958, opening a boutique in Paris. The first North American shop followed in 1966; another in Tokyo came in 1972. Today there are over 450 Godiva stores in 80 countries around the globe. Of course, its delectible chocolates can also be ordered at its online shop.

Though Godiva boats a wide range of fine chocolate candies, the chocolatier is as famous for its packaging as Lady Godiva was for her lack thereof. Godiva's signature is the Ballotin, French for "little box of chocolates." The boxes come in all manner of colors, from the traditional gold to seasonal red, and sport festive ribbons. The truffle boxes fit a wide range occasions, from the two-piece Gold Ballotin ($3.50) to the 105-piece set ($115.00).

Tags: awards-main, best chocolate, best truffles, BestChocolate, BestTruffles, godiva, Godiva chocolate, GodivaChocolate, GodivaChocolatier, luxist-awards, truffles, winners-sweets

Tate's Bake Shop Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Cookie

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Tate's Bake Shop is the winner of a Luxist Readers' Choice Award in the Best Cookie category.

This award will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever tasted the signature cookie of one of the country's leading independent bakers.

The company was founded by Kathleen King, who has been baking professionally since she was eleven. Born and raised on North Sea Farms in Southampton, she started to baking cookies to earn spending money. Packaged simply at first, Kings' cookies came in plastic bags with twist ties.

Gallery: More from Tate's Bake Shop

Tate's Bake Shop's award-winning cookies.

The exterior of Tate's Bake Shop in Southampton, N.Y.

By the time King was in high school, she was baking 12-hours a day, and perfecting her thin, crisp, buttery and caramel tasting chocolate chip cookies. She was so successful, her baking put her through college: SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, New York. When King was 20, she opened her first bakery and within one year she had made a name for herself in the fashionable communities on the south fork of Long Island.

Tags: awards-main, best bakery, best cookie, BestBakery, BestCookie, luxist-awards, southampton, tates bake shop, TatesBakeShop, winners-sweets

Continue reading “Tate's Bake Shop Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Cookie”

Crumbs Bake Shop Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Cake

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Crumbs Bake Shop is the winner of the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Cake.

Its founders, Mia and Jason Bauer, opened their first Crumbs bakery in March of 2003 on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Mia had been an avid baker since first discovering her fierce sweet tooth as a child while helping her mother bake when living on a farm in Israel. An attorney by training, owning a bakery is the culmination of a life-long quest to combine her passion for baking with building a successful business that is both a neighborhood meeting place and a destination for all New Yorkers. Mia's husband, Jason, is a true entrepreneur who has spent his career building businesses in various fields. Prior to opening Crumbs, Jason started Famous Fixins, a manufacturer of celebrity licensed products.

Gallery: More from Crumbs

Crumbs offers an irresistible blend of comfort-oriented classics and elegant baked goods. Crumbs homemade cakes come in a variety of delicious flavors, from Red Velvet to Vanilla Cake and Chocolate. The bakery is also famous for its cupcakes (it was nominated for a Readers' Choice Award in the cupcake category, accordingly).

Currently, Crumbs has locations in California, Connecticut and New Jersey. Its baked goods can also available by placing an order online.

Tags: awards-main, best bakery, best cake, BestBakery, BestCake, cake, crumbs, luxist-awards, winners-sweets

Godiva Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Chocolate

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Godiva is the winner of the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award in the best chocolate category.

Of the many names associated with fine chocolate, there are few as iconic as Godiva. Founded in 1926 by Joseph Draps, the Belgian chocolatier has since blossomed into one of the world's most celebrated.

Draps opened his first store on a cobblestone street in Brussels nearly a century ago, its name inspired by the legendary Lady Godiva. As the story goes, the medieval dame grew upset with the onerous taxes that her husband, Lord Leofric, levied upon his subjects in Coventry, England. Leofric proposed a bargain: If she could ride naked through town without any citizens looking at her, he'd ease their financial burden. Lady Godiva did exactly that, and Leofric relented.

Gallery: More from Godiva

The name Godiva still evokes images of graciousness, luxury and sensuality. Draps first expanded the company beyond Belgium in 1958, opening a boutique in Paris. The first North American shop followed in 1966; another in Tokyo came in 1972. Today there are over 450 Godiva stores in 80 countries around the globe. The chocolates can also be ordered at its online store.

Though Godiva is famous for its truffles, the chocolatier also produces a wide range of fine chocolate candy. Delectable offerings include milk chocolate pretzels ($22 per can), caramel pecan bark ($25 per tin) and chocolate bars ranging from white chocolate to almond to raspberry ($70 per 24-piece box). Unlike the original Lady Godiva, all sweets come wrapped in gold foil packaging.

Tags: awards-main, best chocolate, best truffles, BestChocolate, BestTruffles, godiva, luxist-awards, truffles, winners-sweets

Nominees for Best in Sweets

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Best Cake
Nominees for best cake include a five-year old upstart that has already been selected as a "favorite thing" by Oprah, herself. The cakes of the second nominee are bound to evoke memories of your childhood. The third nominee was started by a former NYC caterer who fled for warmer climates where he makes mouth-watering desserts. The fourth nominee is a New York institution with a line that wraps around the block while the final nominee has a motto that baked goods are a hallmark of happiness.

Baked
Crumbs
Ice Box Cafe
Magnolia Bakery
SusieCakes

Best Chocolate
The first nominee has a name that is nothing short of iconic, while the second is known for the incredible detail paid to the component parts of its chocolates--details that are noticed at first bite. The third nominee was founded in 1987 by an American after he spent years studying the art of chocolate in France and Switzerland. The fourth nominee was founded in the Holy Land and is now a global company while the last nominee has kitchens in Switzerland that make over 100 varieties of chocolates.

Godiva
L.A. Burdick
La Maison du Chocolat
Max Brenner
Teuscher

Best Cookies
Best cookie nominees include one that bakes recipes originating from the founder's mother. The second nominee is a NYC darling while the third nominee is a favorite in the Bay Area. The fourth nominee was founded by a enterprising woman who started baking when she was only 11 years old. The last nominee is a bakery in the Midwest with a loyal following all over the country--some of its customers have even used its cookies as wedding cakes.

Eleni's New York
Levain Bakery
Sweet Adeline Bakeshop
Tate's Bake Shop
Tom's Mom's Cookies

Best Cupcakes
The first nominee for best cupcake was started in Brooklyn by two former advertising executives and is now nationally recognized while the second offers cupcakes in three different mouth-watering sizes. The third nominee hasn't been the same since it was featured on Sex & the City, while the fourth nominee is a favorite of Hollywood stars. The last nominee is known for its frosting filling---after one bite, you will never be the same.

Baked
Crumbs
Magnolia Bakery
Sprinkles
SusieCakes

Best Truffles
Some of the finest chocolatiers are nominees for best truffles. The packaging of the first nominee is as famous as its chocolate delicacies while the second nominee started in Brooklyn 23 years ago after its founder spent years studying the art of chocolate in France and Switzerland. The third nominee pays a great deal of attention toward the ingredients it uses, subtlety of balance, richness of taste and palette of flavors. The fourth nominee's roots date back 70 years ago in the Alps, while the final nominee is a relative newcomer founded in 1998.

Godiva
L.A. Burdick
La Maison du Chocolat
Teuscher
Vosges Haut-Chocolat

Tags: best cake, best chocolate, best cupcake, best in sweets, BestCake, BestChocolate, BestCupcake, BestInSweets, luxist-awards, luxsit-awards, winners-sweets