Cupcakes, I have come to discover, are not just for little girls and boys; they're for grown women and men too…sometimes, even more so for men. Yes, another cupcake store has opened up in Cairo to feed the ever-growing hunger for the mini delights, but this food writer is glad, and perhaps even encouraging other bakers to follow suite. The more competition there is, the more original the flavor combinations, and the better the quality overall. Crumbs, managed and owned by Lina Salama, first opened a small outlet on Ibn El Nabih Street in Zamalek last October. The foot traffic was lighter than expected, but Salama kept baking, developing her recipes to produce cupcakes that were getting moister, frosting that was fluffy and so worth making a mess of one's self by licking off with a finger. Last month, Salama opened another outlet for Crumbs, this time on Road 9 in Maadi. The foot traffic was heavy one hot summer night when the city seemed to have been abandoned for the more comfortable North Coast. If you weren't by the beach, all signs pointed that everyone was in Crumbs eating cupcakes. Mothers with toddlers, gaggles of girlfriends in groups and men looking for a quick cup of coffee and a little something sweet were making use of the cheerful store whose counter was lined with rows of cupcakes, whoopie pies and cookies in jars. Both Crumbs outlets contain pink and white wooden seating, little decorative touches like mini pails for the sugar packs, and flowers on each table. Yes the cuteness factor is high, but I ask you, who doesn't enjoy a little cheerful shabby chic touch to their lives? I have tasted and sampled quite a few cupcakes on repeat visits, the list of available flavors is long and I wanted to ensure that contrary to what typically occurs in Cairo, quality is consistent. Flavors include Lemonade, Carrot, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Blueberry White Chocolate; the offerings are extensive. The Red Velvet requires an honorable mention; though I couldn't particularly taste the chocolate, the ruby red cupcake is a visual feast for the eyes. The texture is so incredibly moist, each bite feels like biting into happiness, and the cream cheese frosting was the star of the night; not at all heavy, with just the slightest note of cheese to break the sweetness of the cake. The Ferrero Rocher cupcake with a nutella core topped with a delicious Ferrero Rocher ball is another top choice. Need I explain? I should think not. This is one powerful dose of chocolate nutty-ness. The strawberry cupcake with a strawberry and cream cheese frosting stands out, tasting of fresh strawberries and not as if it had been artificially flavored. The pumpkin cupcake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting is also noteworthy. Their banana muffin tastes like a great loaf of banana bread, wholesome and made from whole wheat flour, it's a guilt-free option. Crumbs have fantastic cookies on offer. Tested was chocolate chip which are soft and gooey in the center, with lots of chocolate chips. I would have preferred a greater ratio of cookie dough to chocolate chips as the cookie is simply perfect. The chocolate mint is intensely minty, there is a chocolate cupcake with mint frosting, and the ginger cookie gives the fake illusion of a healthier and less calorific option. With an order of lavender Earl Grey tea, it's a great pairing. Lavazza coffee is available in either cappuccino or espresso form, and the brand Revolution Tea is also carried offering traditional and non-traditional tea flavors such as white tea and pomegranate or else ginger. Cupcakes at Crumbs sell for LE 10 for the regular size, LE 3.5 for the minis (which are great when you want to taste test a few flavors or for little ones), LE 15 for the Ferrero Rocher cupcake, and LE 8 for muffins, and cookies for LE 4.5 a piece. One can place orders for cupcakes a day ahead, order a large cake of a particular cupcake flavor, have cupcakes delivered to Zamalek, Mohandiseen, Dokki or Giza and ask for custom-designed cupcakes. Crumbs 5 Ibn El Nabih St., Zamalek, Cairo Tel: 010 211 5455 82 Road 9 Maadi, Cairo Tel: 016 668 8778 www.crumbsegypt.com
