Batter Chatter: Interview with City Down, the NZ Cupcake Queen
Monday, December 17, 2007 
Coming across the Cupcake Project was a momentous moment for Cakespy. The project, which had a goal of collecting 100 (or more!) pieces of artwork dedicated to or inspired by cupcakes, was not only a beautiful idea, but it was also how we first came into contact with the lovely Felicity (City) Down, aka the New Zealand Cupcake Queen. City, a graphic designer by day and cupcake maven by night, certainly lives up to this title: in a country that the cupcake trend has barely even hit, she's bringing on a revolution with her adorable cupcakes and proves her sweet street cred with a cool cupcake tattoo. We recently got the chance to chat her up about life and dessert in New Zealand; here's what we learned:
Cakespy: What do you do for a living?
City Down: I'm a Graphic Designer working for a company that produces magazines and newsletters.
CS: You live in New Zealand. What types of baked goods are popular in your area?
CD: Well here in Auckland, the cafe scene is quite big. There are amazing cafes everywhere that sell the usual cafe fare, sweet and savory muffins, fruit tarts, lots of slices, amazing cakes! And you're starting to see the odd cupcake pop up in cafes. But I think anywhere in NZ, if you go to the little local bakeries, that's where you find the things that we all grew up loving. Neenish tarts, custard twists with pink icing, ginger slice, chocolate caramel slice and a big favourite with kids is Lolly Cake. It's a slice that is made from crushed malt biscuits, butter, condensed milk and these funny fruit foam lollies that come in the shape of Eskimos. Its all mixed up, rolled in coconut and then chilled in the fridge. It tastes amazing! I've just started making it again and people love it. My husband can eat a whole log by himself if he gets the chance.
Lolly Cake Recipe
1 pkt malt biscuits
1 packet eskimo lollies/fruit puffs, cut up
115 g butter
1/2 tin condensed milk
coconut to garnish
Directions: Melt butter and condensed milk. Add crushed biscuits and lollies. Mix then
mould into a log and roll in coconut. Wrap tightly in greaseproof paper.
Set in the fridge. Cut into slices when set.
CS: How did your cupcake obsession begin?
CD: It started back in 2004 when I offered to make cupcakes for a little boy's birthday party. I decided to make frog cupcakes and since I hadn't made cupcakes since I was a kid it was a huge learning curve for me. I made a test batch the weekend before and gave them to my workmates for taste testing. It was amazing the way grown adults reacted to cute little cupcakes. I got such a kick out of sharing the cupcake love with them and enjoyed making them. I started baking more and more cupcakes experimenting and people started to comment on how much they loved them. My obsession grew from there and my friends and co workers soon gave me the label of being a cupcake queen. I wanted to try new recipes, new techniques of icing them and being a graphic designer, my favourite part is decorating them with whatever cool lollies I can find! I still have a photo of the very first batch of frog cupcakes. I look at them now and think they are so badly done! I've learnt so much since those frogs!
CS: In the USA, cupcakes are ridiculously popular--there are bakeries that ONLY serve cupcakes here. Are there any cupcake-only bakeries in your area?
CD: We've had NZ's first cupcake only bakery open down in Christchurch a few months ago. It's in the South Island so I haven't made it there yet to try them. I think the girls there are doing a great job and obviously have a passion for cupcakes. I'd love to be the person to bring a cupcake only bakery to Auckland!
CS: What is your favorite cake / cupcake flavor?
CD: Ooooh that's a hard one as it changes regularly. I love my jaffa ones at the moment, but I'm very fond of plain vanilla cupcakes with passion-fruit icing. There is something so simple about the mix of delicate flavours. It's always a winner.
CS: Speaking of Jaffas...what are they, exactly?
CD: Jaffas are very tasty candy we have here in NZ. They are little dark chocolate balls coated with red crunchy candy (kind of like M & M's coating) that is orange flavour. Crushed up and mixed through cupcakes they make lovely chocolatey orange swirls and taste brilliant with orange buttercream frosting! As a kid, Jaffas were popular when you went to the movies, the best bit was dropping one on the wooden floor and making a racket as it bounced down the aisle!
CS: Would you ever be interested in opening your own cupcake bakery?
CD: I would absolutely love to own my own cupcake bakery and share my
cupcake love with more people! I'll keep you posted on that one!
CS: Has there ever been a batch of cupcakes that you made that you were particularly proud of?
CD: I'm quite proud of the pink ones I made for my friend's baby shower, mainly because they came out so pink and delicate and cute-- a miracle considering I was still icing and decorating them while the 25 women attending the shower arrived at my house! I was a tad stressed.
CS: What is the most important aspect in making a great cupcake?
CD: It sounds really cheesey, but I truly believe its using good quality ingredients and putting lots of love and care into your baking. I hate to just throw a batch together and slap some icing on, I prefer to enjoy the whole process and take care with my baking and decorating. I think that loving touch is what makes a great cupcake. Oh and mixing crushed jaffas through the mix is pretty great too!
CS: What makes a bad cupcake?
CD: Well from personal experience, ignoring my comment above and rushing my baking once led to me forgetting a crucial ingredient like baking powder. That's a great way to make a bad cupcake. That and badly done icing. No matter how amazing a cupcake may taste, I think runny icing whacked on top kind of takes away from the whole cupcake experience. I'm a sucker for
beautiful icing! Its a work of art as well as yummy food!
CS: Other than cupcakes, what are some of your other favorite desserts?
CD: I have an amazing recipe for chocolate brownies with white chocolate chunks in them that is pretty much a no fail! I have a weakness for baked cheesecakes (which is why I make mini cupcake sized ones!) and I love most chocolate things.
CS: What are some of your favorite cookbooks or bakers that inspire you?
CD: 2 of my favourites that I've used a lot are 500 Cupcakes by Fergal Connolly and Cupcakes by Susannah Blake. I have so many cupcake cookbooks that people keep giving me and I love them all. In the online world, I love the baking Natalie from Bake & Destroy does and the handmade cupcake toppers she creates, Melissa from The Urban Housewife is another fave blog of mine to keep up with all her baking and food adventures. I get so much inspiration just from cruising blogs like Cupcakes Take The Cake and looking at what people post on Flickr.
CS: You have a cupcake tattoo. To us, this is proof that you're a hardcore lover of sweets (yea!). What have some reactions been to the tattoo?
CD: Most reactions have been really positive. I've had so many comments on my Flickr page about my cupcake tattoo and how colourful it is. And all my family and friends who know me well can understand why that tattoo was perfect for me. I went into my favourite baking supplies shop called Milly's on the weekend and the ladies there all loved my cupcake tattoo!
CS: If cupcakes went out of style would you get your tattoo changed?
CD: No way! Cupcakes are not a fad with me, I truly love them and having that tattoo is a really fun way to celebrate my love of cupcakes. I fell in love with them before they became as popular as they are now, and if people move onto the next fad (which I hope they don't!) I will still
love my cupcakes and my tattoo :-)
CS: What will be your next cupcake adventure?
CD: I will be selling my cupcakes for the first time at Craftwerk, a craft, art and music night here in Auckland. It's my first time having a stall there. I was encouraged by my tattooist Karla (who did my lovely cupcake tat) who sells her plushies there. She said she'd seen cupcakes at the last one and they didn't even come close to mine. She and her husband are big fans of my cupcakes.
For more information on the Cupcake Project, visit thecupcakeproject.blogspot.com.
To learn more about City, visit her blog at nzcupcakequeen.blogspot.com and check out her photos at flickr.com.
batter chatter, new zealand
Reader Comments (16)
what a beautiful tattoo and a wonderful interview! you rock ms cakespy.
I LOVE your tattoo!!!!
Great Blog my first time here!! WOW what a lovely tattoo....
yet another terrific interview - those cupcakes look to-die-for, and are so beautifully decorated (I LOVE that skull cupcake, haha - so fun!!); and the tattoo is quite fitting!!
City is awesome, great interview!
Fancupcaketastic!
Ann
Tattooed Mama: I think you and City would get along FAMOUSLY with your cupcake tattoos!
Steamykitchen: It's hot, isn't it?
Rosie: Thanks for visiting! Yes, hot tattoo!
Veggiegirl: I am a fan of the skull cakes too. From the colors to the design...wish I could bite right into one.
Natalie: So glad you liked it! Everyone should visit Natalie's etsy store, she has the raddest cupcake toppers!
Redactedrecipes: You said it.
I'm in love with the skull cupcake!
Woo, Felicity is rad! Thanks for the shout out! I love the Cupcake Project.
We have been selling nfl jerseys ,nba jerseys,women's handbags,nike shoes,online for more than 5 years but it may interest you to know it that have been made in australia for generations.due to popular demand we can offer sports jerseys at our affiliated site
Clothes with many
links of london laces go well with links of london bracelet jewelries in simple design. In order to show your personalities and unique charm in links of london sale dinner parties, you should choose authentic .Clothes with many laces go well with links of london bracelet jewelries in simple design. In order to links of london jewellery show your personalities and unique charm in dinner parties, you should choose authentic
Like the loved-up human heart, racing and stopping, soaring and diving, Flutter & Wow seems to dance to a beat all its own. A dynamic links of london network of lines and gently calibrated links of london sweetie bracelet angles follow the contours of this beautifully irregular heart, open yet links of london jewellery caged.For example, Tiffany or Channel silver jewelries. The cause is basically because lamination keeps the focus of awareness and increases the logic of nuance. Under such plush and brilliant links of london links of london sweetie bracelet sweetie bracelet.
Wear and ready to summer!
Simple and stylish design has always links of london been the selling point of jewelry. Welcome addition links london to the unique weave pattern called a friend outside bracelet, Sweetie series since the first launch in 2002, and more and more popular, has become one of the brand's links of london bracelet flagship series. Season more than beautiful styles sweetie bracelet designed to extend the brand's classic.
I watch a cupcake so similar, but has a penis design, however the curios was that I found this in a viagra without prescription magazine, in the recipes segment.
we provides you the best and most fashionable products. All the products are 100% high quality, competitive price, free shipping with best and timely service, 100% satisfaction. Big discount for big order. Welcome to make your choose.
ugg discount boots
cheap ugg boots
ugg boots cheap
discount uggs boots
ugg cardy boots
discount uggs
discounted ugg boots
cheap uggs boots
uggs for cheap
ugg
ugg boots
ugg shoes
ugg tall boots
ugg short boots
ugg boots sale
ugg boots on sale
ugg boots on cheap
ugg discount
uggs
discount uggs
ugg sale
ugg kids
ugg women
ugg men
cheap ugg
gucci
gucci handbags
gucci bags
gucci wallet
gucci shoes>
gucci sunglasses
gucci men
gucci women
gucci cheap
gucci discount
gucci outlet
christian louboutin
louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
louboutin shoes
bridal shoes
sexy shoes
high heels shoes
ugg discount boots
cheap ugg boots
ugg boots cheap
discount uggs boots
ugg cardy boots
discount uggs
discounted ugg boots
cheap uggs boots
uggs for cheap
ugg
ugg boots
ugg shoes
ugg tall boots
ugg short boots
ugg boots sale
ugg boots on sale
ugg boots on cheap
ugg discount
discount ugg
uggs
discount uggs
ugg sale
ugg kids
ugg women
ugg men
cheap ugg
weight loss
diet pills
how to lose weight fast
louis vuitton
replica handbags
lv
louis vuitton bags
louis vuitton handbags
discount handbags
lv
discount handbags
louis vuitton bags
louis vuitton
replica handbags
lv
louis vuitton bags
louis vuitton handbags
discount handbags
lv
discount handbags
louis vuitton bags
ed hardy
ed hardy clothing
ed hardy clothing shirts
ed hardy clothes
ed hardy t shirts
ed hardy
ed hardy clothing
ed hardy clothing shirts
ed hardy clothes
ed hardy t shirts
christian louboutin
louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
louboutin shoes
bridal shoes
sexy shoes
high heels shoes
christian louboutin
louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
louboutin shoes
bridal shoes
sexy shoes
high heels shoes
christian louboutin
louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
louboutin shoes
bridal shoes
sexy shoes
high heels shoes
christian louboutin
louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
louboutin shoes
bridal shoes
sexy shoes
high heels shoes
rosetta stone
rosetta stone software
rosetta
chaojimengnan supplier
chaojimengnan
mbt
mbts
mbt shoes
chesp mbt shoes
walking shoes
discount shoes
comfort shoes
discount mbt shoes
mbt
mbts
mbt shoes
chesp mbt shoes
walking shoes
discount shoes
comfort shoes
discount mbt shoes
mbt
mbts
mbt shoes
chesp mbt shoes
walking shoes
discount shoes
comfort shoes
discount mbt shoes
Their protection policy also embodies the culture of replica handbags . There has ever been a survey about who are those people, who are extremely fascinated with Louis Vuitton handbag . And the result indicates that it is young white collars that are more favorable with consuming luxury goods, such as Louis Vuitton bag , wallets and pursers and so on.