At first glance, the rows of cupcakes with decorative toppings are nothing new. There are now about a half-dozen shops in the city specializing in the compact treats. But at More in the Gold Coast, as its name implies...
"We're more of everything - more flavor, more taste and what we're doing, what everyone is talking about, is the savories," said Patty Rothman, More.
Savory, as in a bacon-studded cake that's topped with a tangy ranch dressing-flavored frosting, as well as some tiny circles of heirloom tomato and a few micro-greens; they call it a BLT. Same goes for a breakfast-inspired maple bacon cake, topped with a brown sugar-maple butter-cream frosting and then crowned with bits of candied bacon.
"I decided that the only thing better than a cupcake for dessert, was a cupcake for every meal. I mean, how wonderful to have a cupcake for lunch followed by a cupcake for dessert," Rothman said.
And there are desserts aplenty: a Thai-influenced mango frosting over coconut cakes topped with bits of caramelized puffed rice; luscious chocolate frosting over vanilla cakes generously topped with black-and-white shavings; and the store's signature cupcake: a beautifully moist chocolate cake that has the topped sliced off, then a tiny well is cut out of the middle, where a sweet, homemade marshmallow filling is piped in; a thin layer of chocolate icing is spread across the top, and the store's name is delicately written across it in white frosting.
Rothman says by adding some savory flavors to the mix, she has to get customers used to the variety of new options.
"People expect it to be sweet, so I think if they can identify it, if you can give it to them and say, 'Imagine eating a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich,' that works for them, and then it's not such a leap to taste it in a cupcake," Rothman said.
If you don't want to make a commitment to a full-sized cupcake, you can always go for the "morsel" size, for those lesser appetites.
The store offers about 15 flavors every day, only about three or four of which are savory.
More
1 E. Delaware Pl.
312-951-0001
$3.50 for sweet flavors
$3.95 for savory ones
$4.25 for the bacon cupcakes
More is open everyday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
