Iced caters to your sweet tooth
Posted by The Skyliner on September 17th, 2008April Wynn
Editor in Chief
Boston cream pie, pink lemonade, chocolate dipped strawberry and cappuccino sounds like sugar heaven, right? Iced: The Upstate Cupcake Café has taken these and more and transformed them into cupcake flavors.
Iced began as the dream of 11-year-old Courtney Tessler who desired to open a bakery one day. This dream led her to major in restaurant and hospitality management. In 2007 while her mother, Ellen, was in Chicago she discovered a bakery that specialized in cupcakes and decided that was just what the Upstate needed.
It took a few months of research and development before Iced opened this year in Greenville. Iced has taken to heart the going green principle and has specifically chosen environmentally friendly products, materials and equipment.
Inspired by Grandma Florence Tessler’s love of baking for the family, they use her signature butter cream icing on most of their cupcakes.
“The flavors are creations of mine and my mother. We tested many products and other cupcake recipes to adapt to our own unique creations,” said Courtney Tessler.
Unlike the bakery in Chicago, the Tessler’s liked the idea and set up of a café instead of only doing carry-out orders. For this reason it is set up like a coffee shop with a variety of tables set up for the customer to enjoy his or her treat.
With over 30 different but very distinct flavors of cupcakes, not all of them can be made daily. Iced has adopted a schedule for each day and makes each flavor at least once a week.
“My favorite flavor changes with my mood. Some days it’s Chocolate Chip, others it’s Chai Latte, or Chocoholic, or Cinnamon. And, other days I want something heavier like Carrot,” said Tessler.
Iced offers two sizes of cupcakes: the mini and the individual. The mini is $1.50 and the individual is $3.00. The minis are fun to mix and match. Because they are smaller than a regular-sized cupcake, it’s easy to try more than one flavor if you are feeling adventurous. The individual is for those who are dedicated to one specific flavor of sugary goodness. Iced is a great alternative to ice cream after a date and it is pretty cheap too.
Although Iced likes to meet and socialize with their customers at the shop, they still cater to parties with dozens of cupcakes. They are also willing to work with a variety flavors to suit the customer’s needs. The shop also offers birthday party packages with decorating classes.
Tags: Fall 2008, Vol. 108 Fall - Issue 2