Cupcakes, cheesecakes, brownies and other sweets are on the menu at a new pastry shop in Old Sacramento, Huggiebears Sweets and Treats. The business, which opened July 18 at 904 Second St., was born of the recipes from owner Jim Austin, whose cheesecakes and other desserts have won numerous awards at the California State Fair and county fairs for his amateur baking. Store Manager Jason R. Clark said he and Austin talked about the recipes and about bringing the baked goods to a wider audience. “I figured the rest of the world needs to be exposed to the delicious treats we were making,” he said. Those treats include an orange creamsicle cheesecake, fresh brownies and a number of cupcakes

On June 23, 2012, Sacramento will be treated to the Sacramento Chef Challenge, an annual fundraiser for people with developmental disabilities that features an "Iron Chef" style cooking battle, Cake War competition, gourmet food sampling, beer and wine tasting, live music and more! For $25 a piece, guests are treated to a culinary extravaganza beginning with fair from local restaurants, wineries and breweries including The Couch Sports Lounge, Two Rivers Cider, Terra d’Oro Winery and Morgan’s Restaurant. The first of two competitions will pit three professional chefs in a head to head battle for culinary glory. Chef Challengers will have three hours to prepare and sample an original menu

On June 23, amateur bakers will be given the opportunity to compete in the Cake War: Battle Cupcakes competition at the 10th Annual Sacramento Chef Challenge. Three amateur competitors will go up against three professional cupcake masters in a three hour competition, in which participants create an original cupcake and display that will be adjudicated by event guests and a professional judging panel. To determine which three amateur bakers will get to compete live at the Sacramento Chef Challenge, Cakegrrl.com and INALLIANCE have come together for a video challenge. Candidates have been asked to show off their stuff in a 3-5 minute video that highlights “why you and your cupcakes are the

Cakegrrl.com challenges local bakers to a sweet video competition! This year’s Cake War at the 10th Annual Sacramento Chef Challenge is “Battle Cupcakes,” and organizer's are looking for three amateur contestants to duke it out against three cupcake pros! Amateur baker’s from the greater Sacramento area are invited to join the battle by creating a three to five minute video that shows “why you and your cupcakes are the best!” The challenge is presented by Cakegrrl.com, a local blog that explores and promotes restaurants, activities and fundraisers from across the Sacramento Valley. Kristy DeVaney, the sugarplum behind Cakegrrl.com is excited to see what her fellow bakers have to offer.

French desserts will once again be available at the corner of Ninth and K streets downtown as the owner of a popular East Sacramento cupcake shop plans to open Estelle’s Patisserie on Dec. 1 in the building that formerly housed Danielle’s Creperie. “This has been my lifelong passion,” said owner Esther Son. “I’ve always dreamed of owning a bakery, ever since I was a little girl.” Though not traditionally trained as a baker, Son said she considers herself self-taught, and she has extensive experience in coming up with recipes and tweaking them until they’re perfect. Her cupcake shop, Esther’s Cupcakes, has been in business at 2600 Fair Oaks Blvd. for two years. “We were always coming do

A native of Trinidad and Tobago is bringing gourmet cakes and the taste of the Caribbean to Sacramento with the newly opened Spotlight Cakes on Stockton Boulevard. Donna George, 54, learned the art of Caribbean cooking and cake baking at an early age from her family, and at 16, they moved to New York City, where she later began a career in nursing. “I’ve always dreamed of opening my own restaurant and bakery,” she said Wednesday, adding that it opened July 21. Her move to California from New York was prompted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “I witnessed the first plane fly into the first tower on my way to work,” she said. “I have seven kids, and one of them was in college near the towe

If you think a cupcake is a special treat – and that a business selling them might be considered a luxury in tight times – you’d be wrong. Individual cupcake prices at Icing on the Cupcake, 1121 Alhambra Blvd., range from $2.75 to $3, and co-owner Christee Owens characterized them as being “small indulgences that make people smile.” According to Area Manager Kristina Johnson, the store – which has been open for two weeks – has already garnered a loyal following. “We have every-day customers,” she said. “It makes you feel good to see them coming in each day.” The new location is the third one for the chain, which was founded three years ago in Rocklin. Cupcakes are baked fresh each day

Obsessed with cupcakes? Not as much as Dina Neils. With one oven and a hobby-turned-business, Neils is serving up cupcakes through her newly launched site, Cupcake and the City. Two months ago the 26-year-old debuted her morsels at Mixture – a pool party hosted by MXD Entertainment Group every year at the Red Lion Hotel. She brought five dozen cupcakes to the party, and they were gone in one hour. She started baking with her father when she was very young. His specialty was cakes, but Neils was interested in baking may different desserts. Her focus on cupcakes started after she graduated from California State University, Sacramento with degrees in public relations and journalism in 200