Review: Big Man Bakes

I wasn't planning on a visit to Big Man Bakes, but when you're walking down the street and it's suddenly in front of you, you HAVE to make a detour.

Even though this was my first visit to Big Man Bakes in LA, this wasn't my first time tasting their cupcakes. I met Chip, the owner, at the LA Cupcake Challenge three years ago. (Click here to see a photo of the "big man" holding a mini cupcake.) I vividly remember the moistness of the red velvet cupcake, which won for Best Traditional.

On this day we were with some friends and their two adorable boys. I couldn't help posting this photo of them. 

Like I mentioned before, we hadn't planned on stopping by so my stomach was already full, but I did happen to find room for two XL ($3.25 each) and three mini ($1 each) cupcakes.

I tried getting a variety of flavors: Oreo, Red Velvet, Pumpkin Spice, Double Chocolate, and Carrot Cake. Big Man Bakes cupcakes certainly live up to their motto: fresh, moist, fantastic cupcakes. The surprising favorite was Carrot Cake. I correctly remembered how wonderful their cream cheese frosting is. The Double Chocolate was also so delicious, as the frosting was made with Ghirardelli chocolate. I enjoyed them all and would definitely eat them again. The cake was just so moist!

The boys loved their cupcakes too. It always makes me happy to introduce people to quality cupcakes. It feels like I'm doing my job right.

After a day of French-dipped sandwiches, mochi, and macarons, these cupcakes certainly topped it off perfectly. And it the cherry on top was seeing Chip at the store too. Big Man Bakes is on my list of favorite LA cupcakes.

Big Man Bakes

413 S. Main St.

Los Angeles, CA 90013

www.bigmanbakes.com

Facebook: Big Man Bakes

Twitter: @bigmanbakes

LA Cupcake Challenge Results

 

(Nichelle from Cupcakes Take the Cake and me)

Got the official results last night from the 2010 LA Cupcake Challenge. Here they are:

Best Traditional

1st: Big Man Bakes - Red Velvet

2nd: Blue Cupcake - Sweet and Salty Vanilla

3rd: Southern Girl Desserts - Red Velvet

Best Original

1st: My Delight Cupcakery - Breakfast Cake

2nd: Jus Minis - Caramel Banana

3rd: Two Parts Sugar - Chocolate Covered Strawberry

Best Overall

1st: Jus Minis - Caramel Banana

2nd: My Delight Cupcakery - Breakfast Cake

3rd: Two Parts Sugar - Chocolate Covered Strawberry

My Picks

Best Traditional Winner: 
Blue Cupcake - Sweet and Salty Vanilla

Best Traditional Runner-up: 
Big Man Bakes - Red Velvet

Best Original Winner: 
Blue Cupcake - Pumpkin

Best Original Runner-Up: 
Fairy Cakes - Pumpkin White Chocolate

Best Overall Winner: 
Blue Cupcake - Pumpkin

Best Overall Runner-up: 
Fairy Cakes - Pumpkin White Chocolate

I was blown away by Blue Cupcake's cupcakes! I am a sucker for cupcakes with filling (caramel in the Vanilla and pumpkin mousse in the Pumpkin). I  loved the sweet and salty combination that both of them had (salted vanilla buttercream on the Vanilla and pumpkin seeds on the Pumpkin). Blue Cupcake also had a very cute display. Congratulations to them for their 2nd place win on Best Traditional.

Big Man Bakes had some of the moistest cupcakes I've ever tasted. The "Big Man" told me that he worked for months perfecting his Red Velvet before he began selling it. He didn't want to sell an inferior cupcake. I admire that. 

Fairy Cakes was a close second place for me. Not sure why the two pumpkin cupcakes were my favorite of the day, but both were done just right. Fairy Cakes' Pumpkin cupcake was the first one I tried that day and was one of the few I was still thinking about after I left. I've read a few blogs over the past couple of days proclaiming their loved for Fairy Cakes' Pumpkin cupcake also. Great job! 

You can find more photos on the LA Cupcake Challenge flickr pool.

LA Cupcake Challenge: The Competitors, Part One

I explained exactly what the LA Cupcake Challenge was yesterday, so now let's see those cupcakes!

There were 22 bakeries competing for the titles of Best Traditional, Best Original, and Best Overall cupcake. Most bakeries entered two cupcakes in the competition. Yes, I got to eat 40 mini cupcakes! Yes, I was sick by the end of the night, but I loved every minute of it!

Babycakes Baking Company

01: Hot Chocolate

15: Bananas Foster

www.babycakesshop.com
Twitter: @BabyCakesBaking

Store located in Torrance
Comment: Loved the cupcake displays.

 

Big Man Bakes

02: Red Velvet

16: Carrot Cake

www.bigmanbakes.com

Twitter: @bigmanbakes 

Store located in Los Angeles

Comment: Cupcakes were super moist.

  

  

Blue Cupcake

03: Sweet and Salty Vanilla (Vanilla cake filled with rich caramel, topped with vanilla and salted caramel buttercream)

17: Pumpkin (Pumpkin bread filled with spiced pumpkin mousse, topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting and pumpkin seeds)

www.bluecupcake.com

Twitter: @juliedesmeules 

Sold at Century City Farmer's Market and Lot 44 Cupcake

Comment: Loved the display, very cute! But I loved these cupcakes even more!

  

  

Charmed Cupcakes

04: Red Velvet

18: Blueberry

www.charmed-cupcakes.com

Store located in Long Beach

Comment: They were the only bakery that made full-sized cupcakes. The Mardi Gras theme added some personality to their booth.

  

 

Cupcake Couture 

19: Sunday Mimosa

20: Little Miss Shortcake

www.cupcakescouturemb.com

Twitter: @CupcakesMB 

Comment: Taste matched their beautiful decoration.

 

Fairy Cakes 

05: Vanilla Bean Almond Dream

21: Pumpkin White Chocolate

www.fairycakesbakery.com

Comment: Based in Orange County, this was my first sampling of their cupcakes, but it is certainly not my last. The Pumpkin White Chocolate was outstanding!

And this is just the beginning! Check back soon to see more of the competitors and their cupcakes.

Big Man Bakes Opens Tonight

Photo

Today feels like a cupcake day! There seems to be a lot of cupcake news today or maybe I'm just happier than usual.

According to Twitter, Big Man Bakes opens tonight. Their grand opening party is from 7:00pm-11:00pm. Unfortunately, I will be stuck at home cleaning tonight, but if you are in the LA area, I would suggest stopping by. Never tried them before, but I always welcome new cupcakeries.

Big Man Bakes
413 S. Main St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013