I Crave Cupcakes
I crave cupcakes.
Unimaginative headline, I know.
When this shop opens I'll be interested to see what kind of headlines people think up.
I couldn't come up with anything cool today. Maybe I need a cupcake.
Anyway ... A new cupcake shop will open in Houston in June.
It's called Crave Cupcakes at 1151-06 Uptown Park Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77056.
(Next to McCormick & Schmick's)
About the owners:
Los Angeles based husband and wife team, Elizabeth Harrison and Peter Cooper, are the asterminds behind Crave Cupcakes. Both are native Houstonians, but the couple met in LA where they still live and work.
Cooper has been working as a producer, writer and director in New York, where he achieved success as an award-winning director at the Museum of Modern Art. After selling a television drama to the Fox Network, Cooper found his way to Los Angeles.
Harrison has worked as a photographer, writer, producer and director. After writing, producing and directing a series of award-winning short films, she wrote, produced and directed the romantic comedy, "Love And Mary," starring Lauren German and Gabriel Mann.
Along with filmmaking and creative design work, Harrison has had a love affair with baking desserts, which was the inspiration for her lead character in "Love And Mary." After years of baking classic American recipes, including recipes passed down from her grandmother, Elizabeth’s sweet tooth craved the perfect cupcake, created with only the freshest and finest ingredients.
Harrison and Cooper thought Houston would be the perfect city for Crave. When they discovered that a location in Uptown Park was available, they jumped at the opportunity. They hired New York City design firm AvroKO to create a truly spectacular and unique cupcake salon for Houston.
"You spend half your life trying to get out of Houston and the other half of your life trying to get back," said Elizabeth. "This is our first step of this journey."
And how will the sweet pair operate Crave remotely from LA?
Brad Dorsey, a twenty-year hospitality industry veteran, is co-owner of Crave. He holds a BS degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Houston. He's opened over a dozen restaurants as an owner, consultant or key operator. Dorsey has worked in restaurants throughout the country, including ten years with Houston’s Restaurants, where he served as kitchen manager and general manager. And most recently has been working as a consultant in Los Angeles improving operations, profitability and developing new properties for his hospitality clients. Dorsey came back to Houston to help develop Crave Cupcakes.
Buttercream Icing
I asked about their buttercream icing.
Crave's co-owner, Brad Dorsey, said that buttercream is the base for most of their icings. It's just whipped butter mixed with powdered sugar. Flavorings like chocolate might be added to the mixture, but icing flavors will always start with their standard buttercream.
Yay.
They get it.
Some commercial bakers make their buttercream icing with shortening.
Buttercream icing made with solid vegetable shortening, is, well, not buttercream.
I have had the great good fortune of getting an advanced tasting of Crave's cupcakes.
Houston, we are in for a real treat.
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Hi Ron,
Thanks for writing.
What a lucky man you are to have had a preview tasting of Crave's cupcakes.
I'm so glad to hear that they are good. I can't wait to taste them myself!
Cleverley
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While in LA, I always make a point of stopping in at Sprinkle's in Beverly Hills to get my cupcake fix, so I am looking forward to trying Crave's cupcakes to see how they compare.
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Hi Suzy,
Sprinkles Cupcakes has had Houston on their web site for over a year as a "coming soon" location.
I've contacted them for an update and will let you know what I hear.
Cleverley
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I've actually had the honor of being hired by Brad Dorsey and am just so excited about the opening of this fabulous new cupcake salon and I am even more so excited to be trained by Brad Dorsey whose bio is quite impressive ... June 16th is the opening so come by and enjoy the cupcakes!!!
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Hi Cleverley,
Not sure if this rumor is true or not. But I just heard that the head executive guy at Sprinkles left them last year and is now in Houston opening Crave Cupcakes. Apparently he was the person responsible for making Sprinkles as good as they were -- which would explain why the quality of their cupcakes went down hill after he left.
Have you heard this rumor??
If this is true, I can't wait for Crave to open!!!
Lindsay F.
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Hi Lindsay,
I checked into this for you and here's what I found out:
Brad Dorsey (who's opening Crave Cupcakes in Houston) served as
director of operations for Sprinkles for a brief time. However soon after
accepting that position he returned to being a restaurant consultant.
His restaurant resume also includes ten years with Houston’s Restaurants where he
worked as kitchen manager and general manager. Brad graduated with a BS in Hotel
and Restaurant Management from the University of Houston – so it’s easy to see why
he has returned to Houston.
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Do you know when in June it will open? The Uptown Park site just says "Coming Soon."
My mom's birthday is June 17th and I have a feeling she needs one of these cupcakes. :)
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Hi Abby,
Crave is conducting pre-opening tastings with invited guests now (June 14-15), so they might be open by June 17th. However, I have not tasted Crave's cakes yet so I can't recommend them.
If Crave is not open by the time your mother's birthday arrives, I would recommend a trip to Ooh La La Desserts on Westheimer Road in Katy, Texas. I have tasted their cc's. See me swoon over their them on Fox TV here.
They even have a drive-in window and deliver too!
Best,
Cleverley
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According to Crave employee "Lauren," June 16th is when they are opening.
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I get the pleasure of going to the pre-opening on 6/13/2008.
So far Houston doesn't have any good cupcakes.
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OK, so Kris ... How Was It???
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Was not impressed at all. We had 6 different cakes. Sorry....
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Brad.
I love cupcakes.
Send me a sample.
You know where to find me: 5300 Preston Road, Park Cities location.
There is a Sprinkles around the corner, not too fond of that.
Maybe Dallas will be a location for you. I'm so proud!!!!
Helen
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Hi Helen,
Thanks for writing.
I am meeting Brad tomorrow at Crave Cupcakes for a tasting and
I will be sure to pass along your message to him.
Best,
Cleverley
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I had the "Hummingbird" cupcake the first Monday they were open, June 16, and it was complete awesomeness. Best cupcakes in Houston, hands down. Seriously, if you like sweets you'd be a fool not to try this place. It's that good. The employees are chipper and friendly too, an added bonus.
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Dear Cleverley:
I had my first Crave today, and I must say the icing is beyond delicious. You must try the cake without the icing to appreciate how great this cupcake taste. The two combined in one bite is enough to satisfy anyone's sweet craving for the day. Top it of with their drip coffee (black) and you are ready to finish the afternoon work with pleasure.
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Okay, so I finally got over to Crave. What an incredible bakery. Wow. Cleverley, if you haven't been there, you have to see this place. I was so excited I could hardly stand it. I tried the red velvet, the dark chocolate and the vanilla. All I can say is ... oh my God! They're simply divine. Fantastic.
Houston, we have great cupcakes! Finally! And not only do we have great cupcakes, I might have to say they're way up there with the best cupcake bakeries I've visited.
Yea!!!!
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