Nicholle Salvatierra | Staff Writer
May 15, 2014
There is nothing more fulfilling than donating to charity; unless it’s filling up on delicious cupcakes at the same time.
IE Shine On hosted their second annual Cupcake Fair at the Riverside Convention Center on May 4.
Proceeds from the event were donated to California Riverside Ballet as well as Community Connect. Community Connect provides programs including breast cancer resources, a food pantry, services for veterans and families as well as
housing services.
Guests attending the event were able to purchase tickets which could be exchanged for a delicious cupcake from any of the 16 participating bakers. The tasters were then able to vote for their favorite flavors as well as decide which booth was the best decorated.
Booth Decorating contest winner Sabrina Loos from Dreamy Little Cupcakes attended the cupcake fair for the first time.
“I am very detail oriented,” said Loos, standing beside her booth covered in purple frills and cupcakes decorated with fondant butterflies.
Along with traditional chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, participants displayed some of their unique flavored treats. There were lemon and lavender, jamaica as well as the Professional Unique Flavor winner Tamale con Mole from Viva Los Cupcakes. The favorite among the crowd was the buffalo chicken flavor [desi]gn cakes & cupcakes.
Both amateur and professional contestants were ranked in the competition. Amateur contestant Cup 2 My Cakes won the division as well as the amateur unique ingredient with their brown sugar Kahlua cupcake.
Queen Sin’s Cupcakes, caramel macchiato flavor ranked first in the professional category.
Many contestants had been baking for years, and have attended other baking competitions.
“I’ve been baking ever since I was 13,” said Caroline Zaki, from Sweet Caroline Bake Shop.
Zaki baked pineapple-coconut cupcakes that were a hit among tasters but did not place in the competition.
Along with the tasty treats handed out at booths, 16 other vendors attended the fair including: California Cake Decorations & Supply Co., Molinos Coffee, Mothership Scrapbook Gal and Community Connect.
Between devouring delicious cupcakes, attendees were able to burn some of those calories at the Active Zone, which had Real Ryder bikes provided by FITT Cycle.
After burning a sweat, you could freshen up by receiving a free massage courtesy of Kinetic Mind Body or a Vive Beauty Lounge makeover.
The fair was a great place to bring children to get their faces painted, take pictures at a photo booth or hang out with other children while being supervised by Seeking Sitters.
