Not just a cupcake... a cupcakery!

 Cupcakes have been a mainstay at traditional bakeries for decades. The current trend of the stand alone gourmet cupcake shop is something that seemingly swept from north to south over the past five years or so.

My first cupcake encounter came in Vancouver, Canada, some seven years back, when I stumbled upon Cupcakes by Heather & Lori on Denman Street. They offered minis, regular cupcakes and full size cakes…unique combinations, by the single or by the dozen. I still remember the chocolate cake filled with caramel, with a caramel butter cream topping sprinkled with praline on top. Yum.

And then, just the other day…I came across a new, cute as a button spot in downtown Napa named Sift: a cupcakery. Sift may be the world’s first wine country cupcake shop; and not only that, it shares space with a way cool dress shop called “Cake.” Located just off First Street, on Main, next to the Napa Opera House.

The combinations offered are to die for. How about, Pinking of You - moist vanilla cake, pink buttercream frosting. Or Snikerdoodle, with a cinnamon sugar cream cheese frosting. 15 different combinations including my favorite, The Sky Falling - chocolate cake, with a white chocolate mousse filling and rich chocolate frosting. $2.50 each, and worth it.

They are making a name for themselves in the wine industry as well, pairing the cakes at local tasting rooms and attending the ZAP Zinfandel festival in San Francisco. Open seven days a week. Again a big YUM!

Sift: a cupcakery
1000 Main Street – Suite 100
Napa, Ca
(707) 240-4004
online