by Elise Van Dam
Rumor has it Marie Antoinette once said to her poor subjects, “Let them eat cake.” But at Sweet Frostings Blissful Bakeshop on Washington Street downtown, “Let them eat cupcakes” is scrawled above the entrance to the kitchen, so customers and employees alike may remember the reason why the bakeshop is in business.
It all started with Judy Rozier who had a bad day at work and decided to buy a cupcake to cheer herself up. Unfortunately she was not satisfied with her purchase, so she started to think of ways to make a better cupcake. She started baking the treats at home and soon found that people loved them: they started ordering dozens.
Then Rozier got the idea to open a bakeshop. She asked her friend Sally Winfrey, a baker of more than 30 years, to be her partner. On Nov. 6, 2011 they opened Sweet Frostings Blissful Bakeshop.
“I love not working for someone else,” Winfrey said. “Judy and I complement each other in our work styles and our personalities.”
The bakeshop has a wide variety of cupcakes for around $3 such as: red velvet, salted caramel, confetti and chocolate peanut butter. The shop also offers cookies, whoopie pies, cake truffles and other treats. In around six weeks, espresso and gelato will be added to the menu, as well. They use only all-natural ingredients and flavors such as vanilla from Madagascar and real strawberries for strawberry flavoring.
“We try to use the highest quality ingredients,” Winfrey said. “People will pay the price if it’s worth the value.”
Wide variety, high quality, customer service and presentation keep customers coming back for more.
“My chocolate coconut cupcake was rich and well-made,” customer and Whitworth junior Maria Louis said. “The presentation was adorable. It didn’t just taste good; it looked good.”
I agree with Winfrey; if something is good people will pay to have it. I have never been a huge fan of cupcakes — I will have one at birthday parties or a special function — but I never crave a cupcake. But now that I have had one from Sweet Frostings Blissful Bakeshop, all I want is to go back and try another cupcake.
I tried the chocolate chip cookie dough cupcake, which had chocolate frosting, vanilla cake and cookie dough on the bottom. I could taste the all-natural ingredients. The frosting was rich and did not leave a film on the roof of my mouth, and the cake was rich and moist. I was hesitant at first about the cookie dough on the bottom but once I took a bit that hesitation faded from my mind. It tasted just like the dough my mom makes.
Not only are the cupcakes delicious but there is great customer service. The employees and owners were happy to chat with me and served me with a smile on their faces. I would recommend this to anyone who is craving a cupcake and a smile.
Contact Elise Van Dam at evandam13@my.whitworth.edu.