Sweet teeth take heed, Sift Cupcakery is planning to open a downtown Santa Rosa location at the end of January, 2010.
The bad news for BiteClub’s expanding rear end, the new and expanded bakery will be at 404 Mendocino Ave. (near 5th St.), which happens to be across the street from the Press Democrat. Danger Will Robinson.
The bakery will offer their usual cupcakes, along with coffee and espresso. They’ll also have a private party room and will offer decorating classes.
Question is, will they have frosting shooters?
Stay tuned.
I have tried Sift in Cotati several times, and have to say I am not impressed by the flavor or artificially-flavored and colored frosting. The cake was always moist, thanks to unnatural ingredients, and they were very bright and colorful, which helps appeal to small children. No comparison to great homemade cupcakes, but I understand it’s about convenience, not quality. Kara’s cupcakes and a few in SF are much, much better and don’t rely on glitter and red dye #4 to sell theirs. The cupcakes I tried all had strong artificial flavors, that linger on your palate for too long, kind of waxy, too. Cute decor and nice service, though! I’m just surprised they’re selling enough in Sonoma County with such an unnatural product, but perhaps because they are the only game in town. Really wish it was Kara’s instead (no artificial ingredients or dyes, they use local organic butter)… try them in Napa!
Some say the cupcakes are overpriced, but unless you’re getting a dozen they are perfectly reasonable. I first went to Sift (Cotati) last year and was amazed by these cupcakes. My overall favorite would have to be the Knock Your Socks Off. I’ve tried a few others, but this was by far my favorite. Go to Sift if you want the perfect cupcake.
The frosting (particularly the cream cheese) is the reason to buy the cupcakes. The cake itself is not outstanding, although I have never had a dry one, and the Bugs Bunny and Knock Your Sox Off are scrumptious.
It looks liek there are multiple 404 (a,b,c) spots. I can see some renovation happening in one, but the artspace seems to still be there.
Will ArtSpace404 be leaving?
Also. . .bravo. I don’t care if cupcakeries are trendy or passe, cupcakes are forever, and Sift’s are DAMN GOOD. Try the Irish car-bomb! It sounds gross, but is one of my favorite flavors there!
Will ArtSpace404 be leaving?
Also. . .bravo. I don’t care if cupcakeries are trendy or passe, cupcakes are forever, and Sift’s are DAMN GOOD. Try the Irish car-bomb! It sounds gross, but is one of my favorite flavors there!
When I lived in Vegas, this was THE place…And has yet to be outdone anywhere
http://www.thecupcakery.com/
I’ve had sift cupcakes a few times and even had them at my wedding. I think they make a great red velvet cupcake.
I’ve had these cupcakes a few times and some were better than others, but nothing yet that rivals home made. Trendy or not, they are a FUN way to enjoy something sweet and it makes us feel like kids for a moment in a time when we could all use a break from “adulthood”. Enjoy life and celebrate the smallest moments that give you joy!
I’ve had these cupcakes a few times and some were better than others, but nothing yet that rivals home made. Trendy or not, they are a FUN way to enjoy something sweet and it makes us feel like kids for a moment in a time when we could all use a break from “adulthood”. Enjoy life and celebrate the smallest moments that give you joy!
Had purchased a dozen for a birthday gift and when we ate them, they all tasted kind of the same (maybe a box mix with flavor additives?). Nothing stood out and we were surprised at the price we paid for a standard cupcake.
Fun idea, not so good in taste department. Found them lacking in taste and dry in texture. Sorry, there are better bakeries out there.
Fun idea, not so good in taste department. Found them lacking in taste and dry in texture. Sorry, there are better bakeries out there.
Fun idea, not so good in taste department. Found them lacking in taste and dry in texture. Sorry, there are better bakeries out there.
Fun idea, not great in taste department. Sorry- found them lacking in flavor and dry in texture. Better bakeries out there.
Fun idea, not great in taste department. Sorry- found them lacking in flavor and dry in texture. Better bakeries out there.
Fun idea, not great in taste department. Sorry- found them lacking in flavor and dry in texture. Better bakeries out there.
I say – BRAVO! I LOVE cupcakes! And as the gourmand, gym owner in downtown Santa Rosa, I say, bring in your receipt from SIFT and I’ll WAIVE your enrollment fee at Powerhouse Gym. I mean – you should enjoy the finer flavors of life. Just work off those extra yummy calories at the gym!
I have eaten these cupcakes and they are to die for! There is a Sift Cupcakery in Cotati. I have bought them for gifts as they come packaged in a very cute box for a single serving (or more). And, who cares if its a trend,as some would say… Enjoy them… take a friend, take your kids and pick out one of the many clever and delicious cupcakes that they have to offer! You won’t be disappointed!
I started a forum about annoying food trends if you want to vent about wraps, foaming sauces or the whole “farm fresh” thing…
That is “choice” not “chose”. Oops!
Yes, I plan to visit Sift Cupcakery. It looks very promising.
My current sweet of chose is classic fruit pie. Mainly apple.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this, and here’s my philosophy…
1. To be cutting edge you need to have creative young people who are willing to take a risk and try something out of the box. It’s too expensive for many young, creative, talented people to live here and make any kind of decent salary. That is why most of them live elsewhere. There clearly are some here, and I applaud them, but we’re not at critical mass. The rest of us are just trying to make ends meet and fight the man. heh.
2. You also need to have an audience willing to support new ideas. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen good ideas happen in SoCo only to fail after no one shows up. Minds have to be open.
3. You need to have an economic environment where people can take risks. The mix of high rents, difficult permitting issues and a crummy economic outlook make for a toxic mix to doing anything that hasn’t been proven almost impossible.
As someone who has lived in New York, Chicago, Portland and San Francisco and sometimes feels, um, frustrated…yes, I feel you.
We have to want it.
Meanwhile, eat a cupcake. There are worse things in the world.
The recent rise of the cupcake over the past few years is one culinary trend that leaves me cold. Boring, fattening, easy enough for a kid to make. I give the whole phenomenon 1-2 years max at this point. Remember “wraps” last decade?
I first heard about Magnolia cupcakes in New York in 2004. At the time the only way I could find good cupcakes was to go to San Francisco or make them myself.
Around 2006 Peet’s was offering some excellent chocolate cupcakes, but it turns out they came from a bakery in San Francisco.
I ask every high end bakery in town why they didn’t carry cupcakes. It just wasn’t on anyone’s trend radar. Meanwhile I would see articles about boutique cupcake shops in Berkeley, L.A. and across the country.
My point, if I have one is, Santa Rosa and Sonoma county are still kind of “cow towns” when it comes to breaking trends.
2001 called, they want their idea back.
I’m excited and more than a little worried at the same time. But now I can have a single cupcake and a drink with a girlfriend. A dozen is too much.