I just read yesterday that the record for the world’s largest cupcake was broken on August 15th at a car show in Detroit.  The cupcake was 1,224 pounds, 4 foot tall by 10 foot wide.  What’s really cool about this record is the fact that proceeds from the sale of the cupcake went to Susan G. Komen's Passionately Pink for the Cure.

800 miles away from the monster Detroit cupcake, my roommate and I are polishing off two more modestly sized cupcakes in our new apartment in Portsmouth.  We celebrated our new downtown digs at the end of last week by checking out The Old Stove Bake Shoppe on Ladd Street.  Located on the little stretch of road connecting the parking garage and Market Street, this tiny bake shop oozes old fashion New England charm with a 1940s flare and, you guessed it, an old green stove.  Just don’t anticipate being able to enjoy your cupcake purchase inside the shop - there is no seating inside.

The shop offers several varieties of cupcake you can buy on demand and have packaged up to go in simple, brown cardboard containers.  My roommate and I each purchased half a dozen cupcakes for $15 per person to get a fair assessment of the shop’s goods. We began with the traditional – a vanilla for her and a double chocolate for me.  Big thumbs up.

Our cupcake roster included the s’more, key lime, orange creamsicle, lemon, turtle, peanut butter, and the highly coveted red velvet.  All the options were visually satisfying, and I applaud the shop’s culinary creativity.  However, sometimes when you stray from the traditional, you come across a cake or two that doesn’t live up to tasty perfection. It’s always a trade off, and one that is worthwhile when you want to offer something new, which is what The Old Stove Bake Shoppe does for Portsmouth.

I highly recommend checking out The Old Stove Bake Shoppe for your sugar fix.  The butter crème frosting will be sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.  The frosting was almost too overwhelming if you were not prepared for the intense sugar rush – so consider yourself warned!  Also, in the summer heat, I recommend sticking these treats in the fridge. Just a personal preference.

The store also offers a significant amount flavors you can choose from to special order for any occasion.  All available options are listed inside the shop.  The store’s hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday, and then noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday.  I have to applaud the owner’s decision to keep the store open well into the evening.  It gives us all an option when we’ve over done the Annabelle’s ice cream trip after dinner but still want something sweet while cruising downtown.

http://www.oldstovebakeshoppe.com/

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Preview – on Wednesday night, weather permitting, I am finally checking out the Reggae Party Ship with the Isle of Shoals Steamship Company. Stormy Wednesday's w/ The Green Lion Crew should be jammin’ – stay tuned! http://www.islesofshoals.com/

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