I was reading this story in the NYTimes about how cupcakes could turn into the next Krispy Kreme...uber-popular and ever-expanding one day, over-hyped and mediocre the next. It seems there are two separate issues at hand in the article -- the rapid growth of cupcake franchises like Crumbs, and the current craze over cupcakes in general. Now, I live in NYC, and I do happen to think we have too many cupcakes around. And by too many, I mean too many mediocre/bad cupcakes. It seems like everyone is selling cupcakes these days, and people aren't being too choosey about which ones they buy. The mentality seems to be -- "hey, it's a cupcake? Great, give me five!"

With all the cupcake franchises out there, it's inevitable that quality is going to go down. So I don't have a problem with more one-of-a-kind, unique bakeries opening up and selling their (hopefully) tasty cupcakes, but I do have a problem with more mass-produced, mediocre bakeries peddling all kinds of random cupcakes. The cupcake craze will never be over for me -- I'll always love them -- but I'll love the good ones. The fresh, the homemade, the ones made from top-quality ingredients with lots of TLC.

Bottom/no-brainer line: If you're going to sell or buy cupcakes, make sure they're GOOD. Don't just do it because it's trendy or they look cute.

I am, however, curious about what the next trendy baked good will be. I'm betting people will start re-inventing the Twinkie. Either that, or s'mores are going to make a huge comeback (and on a related note, fingers crossed the pu-pu platter will return -- you heard it here first).

Oh, and my favorite cupcakes are...the Lady Baltimore from the original Buttercup Bake Shop (yes, they've since opened up a second one), the Red Velvet from Sugar Sweet Sunshine (it's iced with what I've dubbed "crack frosting" because it's so addictive), and chocolate cupcakes from Cupcake Cafe (they were, I believe, the original bakery for cupcakes in NY -- way before Magnolia opened up). And speaking of Magnolia, their cupcakes are waaaay overrated. I do, however, miss their ice cream. It was so good I used to go twice a day to get my fix. Alas.