While cupcakes all over the world underwent a metamorphosis into delicious works of art, the city only had the humble Cinderella-like cup cakes of our childhood. Did you know that there is even a day dedicated to cupcakes? National Chocolate Cupcake Day falls on October 18 in the United States.
But the cupcakes in the city remained free of all kinds of adornments and had no resemblance whatsoever to the fancy la-di-da cup cakes that one got in the metros – with swirls of cream, dollops of style, and in different flavours. Just when you thought that another trend in the gourmet world had bypassed the city, two exquisite pieces of culinary high art catches your eye in a boutique shop at Sasthamangalam. Enquiries revealed the artist’s name – Hannah Mathews.
The 20-something management graduate has unleashed a cupcake revolution in the city that has her saying ‘Let them eat cupcakes’. And, of course, you can’t just stop at one. For Hannah’s cupcakes are for foodies, those with a sweet tooth and for those who worship at the altar of taste. Her finger-licking cupcakes that look as good as they taste come with fresh cream, sugar, butter and all that is sweet and syrupy. To drool over her cupcakes, all one has to do is go to her Facebook page called ‘SugarRush’.
Hannah, who is the eldest daughter of IBS groups of companies CEO V.K.Mathews, says she was always fond of baking and as a school student used to bake for her friends. Her friends’ list must be huge! Cut to the present day and Hannah is busy baking for friends and customers who apparently can’t have enough of her sinfully rich cupcakes. “I began baking because I had time on my hand and was bored. My friend Tigi Philip wondered if I could bake some for an exhibition she was holding at her outlet. I did and it was sold out. Soon there were quite a few orders and now I am quite busy juggling work and baking,” says a beaming Hannah.
The widely travelled Hannah says that her exposure helps her design the topping and the colours. “I make for theme parties and usually my customers want the cupcakes in a particular colour with a specific design. I also make mini cupcakes for children’s parties and for some of my figure conscious customers. Oreo cupcake and Red Velvet are the hotsellers among youngsters. Weight watchers prefer the apple walnut cake with coffee icing to the chocolate cupcakes,” she explains. Most of the ingredients, she adds, are bought during her trips abroad or her mother, Lata, gets them for her. “My entire family supports me. Recently, my father made a balance sheet for me to keep track of my expenses and sales,” says Hannah.
The cupcakes cost between Rs. 60 and Rs. 85. Contact: 9539022678
