Ever since I moved to the New York area, I've listened to countless friends rant and rave about the pure ecstasy that is Crumbs bakery. They've described the feeling of excitement when they first lay eyes on the cupcake of their dreams, the moment of pure joy when cupcake meets taste budds, and finally the satisfaction of having consumed a dessert almost too delicious for mere mortals. So you can imagine my excitment during the drive to Greenwich, Conneticut. I would finally have a Crumbs story of my own.
When I first arrived at the bakery, I was immeaditely struck by the wide range of the selection. I no longer had to choose between chocolate or vanilla; I could have both in a 'Half and Half' cupcake. Or I could sample a luscious looking 'Red Velvet' with real cream cheese frosting! How about a 'Grasshopper' with chocolate, mint candies, and cream? My options seemed limited only by how much of these tasty treats I could fit into my gullet in one sitting.
Ultimately, I settled on a nice 'Espresso' number with frosting baked inside-what a treat!. My excitement was mounting as I geared up to take my first fateful bite, confident that I would soon count myself among the many Crumbs enthusiasts for life...Unfortunately, the dessert did not match the hype. Asside from the mamoth portions, this cupcake was for the most part like any other, perhaps even a little more bland. Sure it was rich and suggary, but it didn't have that umph that makes a dessert stick with you. Essentially, there just wasn't any love in the cupcake; it tasted exactly like a factory made dessert.
