There’s nothing I like more than cupcakes.
Well, that’s an exaggeration: but they definitely make it into my top twenty food groups, along with cheese and starch. And the cupcake I had on Friday certainly justifies the outlandishness of such a statement.
The aptly named Cup on Byres Road is taking advantage of the current mega-trend for stylised cakes – cue yummy mummies and students alike – and specialising in the art of the once humble, now undeniably cool, cupcake, as well aiming to bring afternoon tea into the 21st century.
The difference between the fairy cakes of our childhood and today’s cupcake lies in the frosting. Oh, what a difference the frosting makes. Piled high, generously piped and adorned with edible glitter and even rose petals, this is cake decoration for the truly sophisticated – a far cry from water icing and dolly mixtures. My choice of vanilla strawberry cupcake topped with strawberry was not just all style and no substance – it was delicious as well.
So dedicated are Cup to the cause, that each cake is assigned a recommended tea, matched to compliment the flavour of the frosting. For those of us who are less au fait, more Tetley, with our tea, it’s a welcome difference and it’s helpful to have the suggestions there on the menu. I went for Rose Pouchong, because I don’t know any better, it sounded exotic and the name was pretty. It was refreshing and complimented my cake beautifully. The tea in itself is an event, with military-precise brewing – it comes with its own timer, to indicate the optimum drinking time. Pretentious? Why, it’s all part of the frivolity of a place where the art of fun is being celebrated, and I’m not complaining. I can’t wait to have an excuse to return for a full-blown afternoon tea – the three-tier stands laden with mini sandwiches and cakes looked marvellous, and there’s something in the idea of going for afternoon tea that appeals to my sense of nostalgia.
What Katie Says 