I went into this competition knowing that I was up against 2 people with way more experience than me but was completely up for the challenge. Was I nervous? Yes.  As Patricia and I rolled, covered, cut and draped fondant and gum paste over our blank cake forms with a bit of sweat building up on our faces our competitors took their time delicately painting the trim and detail work previously done on their cake. It did stressed me out every time I looked to my left and saw what seemed to be, yet another, finished tier having appeared mysteriously from somewhere under their table. That didn’t stop Patricia and I though. We worked our tails off and through the stress, pressure, sweat, sore backs, arms and feet we accomplished what we set out to do. In 5 hours we produced the cake we had designed and although we worked down to the very last second and some elements were quite rushed and rough towards the end I really think that we did a heck of a job. I really would have liked to have seen what our competitors would have been able to do in the 5 hours having started from scratch like we did. Was it fun? Looking back on it, yes, but in the moment, not so much! Will I do another live challenge? Sure, but not right away. I really do think that the crowd enjoyed it too, as they were crammed around our table non-stop and couldn’t keep their eyes off what we were doing.

Did I win, maybe not but in my mind and of those in attendance the real winners were Patricia and I for having been able to pull off our cake in only 5 hours with our level of experience. Below are some photos from the competition of Patricia and I hard at work. Thank you to all of our supporters and those of you who stood by us and watched up work and gave us words of encouragement.

Come out and support us in our live design challenge. Hope to see you there.

Registration is now open! Competitors cannot compete in 2 consecutive events.

Secret Ingredient: Flowers  - think edible flowers, rose water or orange blossom water…etc.

A great site to learn about edible and non-edible flowers http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm

What is Iron Cupcake?

Iron Cupcake is a cupcake challenge open to the public which has a similar concept to that of Iron Chef. A “secret ingredient” is announced and the competitors must somehow incorporate it into their cupcakes. Cupcakes will be made ahead of time and brought in a finished state to the competition. There will be points awarded on presentation, taste and creativity. Iron Cupcake was started in the US and is not only popular there but in Europe as well. We are the first to bring this exciting franchise to Canada! For more details on where Iron Cupcake got it’s start visithttp://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com/

Competition date: Sunday, May 16th

Judges: Linda Jolicoeur – Winner Iron Cupcake “Coffee” in April, Suresh Doss – Publisher for spotlighttoronto.com

REGISTRATION:

Now open to registrations!

If you plan to compete, please register by emailing ironcupcake@fortheloveofcake.ca your full name, phone # and either call 416-306-6446 or use paypal to submit your entry fee.
For our first challenge we will be limiting entries to the first 20. First come, first serve. The entry fee is $15 which you can pay in person at our bakery or by credit card over the phone. There will be a cover of $5 for non-contestantants – you get to sample and judge the cupcakes entered to pick the people’s chooice! Why is there a fee to register? Well, it tells us that you are serious about entering, there will be prizes awarded, refreshments and it just helps us cover the costs of hosting the event.

Who Can enter Iron Cupcake:

The competition is open to everyone from the amateur home baker to professionals.

CUPCAKES:

Please bring 1 regular sized cupcake for your display – this will be judged on appearance

4 dozen mini sized cupcakes which will be judged on taste. You will also get to try the other competitors entries! Non-participants will be able to sample as well.

PRESENTATION:

Feel free to bring props – within reason - to better tell your cupcake’s story. Please bring a small sign stating the content of your cupcake. **Also please note if it contains nuts**
This is considered part of your presentation.
Please DO NOT put your name on the sign. The 4 dozen mini cupcakes will not be included in your display as they will be in a different area to give out for tasting, however, you may make extras to include in your display.

RECIPE:

You may bake your cupcakes from scratch or doctor up a box mix. It is your choice.
You are not required to submit your recipe.

LOCATION:

We will be holding the event in the 2nd floor lounge of our building. Please come to the bakery first to either sign in or buy your ticket. 171 East Liberty Street unit 117.

TIME:

Bakers must arrive at 12:00pm to set out your cupcakes, doors open to the public at 1pm and judging will commence shortly after, awards will be announced by 3:00pm.

CHECK-IN:

When you arrive, please check in to register your name and the name of your cupcake and to receive your voting letter to be placed on your sign.

VOTING PROCEDURE:

Each cupcake will be judged by our panel of judges, competitors and all in attendance.

Voting is based on 1/3 presentation, 1/3 taste and 1/3 creativity (how you incorporate the secret ingredient).
Ballots will be collected and tabulated to determine the winners. The Iron Cupcake Champion will be determined by our judges and the runner up will be chosen by attendees.

Prizes:

The winner will be named Iron Cupcake Toronto Champion for the month, will have their cupcake featured in our bakery (by choice, of course), a gift certificate for 1 dozen cupcakes at For The Love of Cake, an Iron Cupcake Toronto t-shirt and a Cup-A-Cake cupcake holder. Additional prizes to be announce

The runner up will receive an Iron Cupcake t-shirt, and a gift certificate for 1/2 dozen cupcakes at For The Love of Cake.

Our winner was #19 Linda Jolicoeur and the People’s Choice was #14 Toni Akam – Congratulations to you both!

Watch some highlights from the event on our youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/fortheloveofcake117?feature=mhw5

Tuesday, February 9th 2010 – The Toronto Star

Friday, February 12th 2010 – Food Service World
“Try A Little Man-Caking”

Monday, February 22nd 2010 – Global TV
“Customers go wild for ‘manly’ cupcakes”

Monday, February 22nd 2010 – Calgary Herald
“Customers go wild for ‘manly’ cupcakes”

Monday, February 22nd 2010 – Kelowna.com
“No half-baked idea”

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010 – Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Canada.com and Ottawa Citizen
“New Market for Macho Cupcakes”

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010 – Nanaimo Daily News
“No Half Baked Idea”

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010 – Toronto Life
“Mancakes are selling like hotcakes in Toronto bakery”

Thursday, February 23rd 2010 – The Vancouver Sun

Friday, February 24th 2010 – Baker’s Journal
“Mancakes’ selling like hotcakes at Toronto Bakery”

Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 – New York Times
“Mancakes”

Thursday, March 4th 2010 – Metro news
“Liberty Village an industrial wasteland no more”

Thursday, March 4th 2010 – blog.tinyprints.com
“Gorgeous cake inspired by Tiny Prints”

Friday March 5th 2010 – The Toronto Star

Thursday, March 3rd 2010 – blogTO.com

Tuesday, March 9th 2010 – Metro News
“Head down to cupcake kitchen stadium in Liberty Village”

Wednesday, March 10th 2010 – Breakfast Television

Wednesday, March 10th 2010 – Yonge Street Media
“Going Crazy for Toronto’s Mancakes”

Thursday, March 11th 2010 – tobites.com
“The Iron Cupcake Challenge”

Monday, March 15th 2010 – Eye Weekly
“Mancakes, anyone?”

April 2010 – Toronto Life

Wednesday, April 14th – The National Post
“Sweet Victory”

Friday, April 16th – sweetspot.ca
“Let us eat cake”

Tuesday, June 1st – caterista.com
“Baking outside the box”

Wednesday, June 2nd – spotlighttoronto.com
“For The Love of Cake”

Bloggers:

Tuesday, February 9th 2010
“Mancakes”

Wednesday, February 10th 2010
“Cupcake Explosion”

Sunday, February 21st 2010
“For The Love of Cake and Iron Cupcake”

Saturday, February 27th 2010
“Food: Mancakes”

Sunday, March 14th 2010
“Pub Fare Cupcake & Friends at Iron Cupcake”

Sunday, March 14th 2010
“Two words; Cupcake. Contest”

Tuesday, March 16th 2010
“Green + Beer = Good Times”

Sunday, March 21st 2010
“Iron Cupcake Toronto”

After the awards at our March event we announced April’s competition…

Registration is now open! Competitors cannot compete in 2 consecutive events.

Secret Ingredient: Coffee

What is Iron Cupcake?

Iron Cupcake is a cupcake challenge open to the public which has a similar concept to that of Iron Chef. A “secret ingredient” is announced and the competitors must somehow incorporate it into their cupcakes. Cupcakes will be made ahead of time and brought in a finished state to the competition. There will be points awarded on presentation, taste and creativity. Iron Cupcake was started in the US and is not only popular there but in Europe as well. We are the first to bring this exciting franchise to Canada! For more details on where Iron Cupcake got it’s start visithttp://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com/

Competition date: Sunday, April 11th

Judges: Byron Cunningham – President and CEO Plant Bean, Pauline Cunningham, Ben Kaplan and Melissa Leong both reporters for the National Post’s Arts and Life section and Brenda Robinson – winner of March’s Iron Cupcake

REGISTRATION:

Now open to registrations!

If you plan to compete, please register by emailing ironcupcake@fortheloveofcake.ca your full name, phone # and either call 416-306-6446 or use paypal to submit your entry fee.
For our first challenge we will be limiting entries to the first 20. First come, first serve. The entry fee is $15 which you can pay in person at our bakery or by credit card over the phone. There will be a cover of $5 for non-contestantants – you get to sample and judge the cupcakes entered to pick the people’s chooice! Why is there a fee to register? Well, it tells us that you are serious about entering, there will be prizes awarded, refreshments and it just helps us cover the costs of hosting the event.

Who Can enter Iron Cupcake:

The competition is open to everyone from the amateur home baker to professionals.

CUPCAKES:

Please bring 1 regular sized cupcake for your display – this will be judged on appearance

4 dozen mini sized cupcakes which will be judged on taste. You will also get to try the other competitors entries! Non-participants will be able to sample as well.

PRESENTATION:

Feel free to bring props – within reason - to better tell your cupcake’s story. Please bring a small sign stating the content of your cupcake. **Also please note if it contains nuts**
This is considered part of your presentation.
Please DO NOT put your name on the sign. The 4 dozen mini cupcakes will not be included in your display as they will be in a different area to give out for tasting, however, you may make extras to include in your display.

RECIPE:

You may bake your cupcakes from scratch or doctor up a box mix. It is your choice.
You are not required to submit your recipe.

LOCATION:

We will be holding the event in the 2nd floor lounge of our building. Please come to the bakery first to either sign in or buy your ticket. 171 East Liberty Street unit 117.

TIME:

Bakers must arrive at 12:00pm to set out your cupcakes, doors open to the public at 1pm and judging will commence shortly after, awards will be announced by 3:00pm.

CHECK-IN:

When you arrive, please check in to register your name and the name of your cupcake and to receive your voting letter to be placed on your sign.

VOTING PROCEDURE:

Each cupcake will be judged by our panel of judges, competitors and all in attendance.

Voting is based on 1/3 presentation, 1/3 taste and 1/3 creativity (how you incorporate the secret ingredient).
Ballots will be collected and tabulated to determine the winners. The Iron Cupcake Champion will be determined by our judges and the runner up will be chosen by attendees.

Prizes:

The winner will be named Iron Cupcake Toronto Champion for the month, will have their cupcake featured in our bakery (by choice, of course), a copy of the newly released book “What’s New Cupcake”  a gift certificate for 1 dozen cupcakes at For The Love of Cake, an Iron Cupcake Toronto t-shirt and a Cup-A-Cake cupcake holder. 3 half pound bags of Planet Bean Organic Fair Trade Coffee.

The runner up will receive an Iron Cupcake t-shirt, a copy of the first edition book “Hello Cupcake” and a gift certificate for 1/2 dozen cupcakes at For The Love of Cake.

Thank you also to our wonderful panel of judges; Susan Sampson from the Toronto Star, Lauren Wilson from blogTO.com , Tony Barone from George Brown College and Jamie Mistry from Amsterdam Brewery.

We would also like to acknowledge Thomas Allen & Son the publisher for Hello, Cupcake! and What’s New, Cupcake? for the donation of books as prizes for our bakers.

We also could not have pulled off this event without the help of our volunteers. Thanks again!

Congratulations to winner Brenda Robinson who made cupcake #15 “Erin Go Bragh” and to Allison Davey who won the People’s choice award for her cupcake #16 “Morning After St. Patty’s Day”.

I also wanted to give an Honourable Mention to Jaime Dobbs for her cupcake #9 “Eye Opener”.

Here are a few photos that we took at the event. If anyone who attended the event has any photos they would like to contribute to this post please email them to me at gg@fortheloveofcake.ca

Thanks again and hope to see you all again next month!

“I recently ordered a dozen cupcakes (maple blueberry bacon, guiness chocolate and peanut butter and chocolate) for my fiance for Valentine’s Day. He is so hard to buy for – but these cupcakes included all of his favourite foods! Luckily he was willing to share so we are both enjoying a very cupcakey long weekend. I can’t decide which one I like best – they are all so amazing! I just finished a maple/bacon/blueberry one and am still thinking about the frosting and the blueberry filling. Don’t change a thing! We look forward to buying cupcakes from you for many occaisions in the future!”