On April 20, some of South Florida's best-loved bakers will compete in the New
Times Cupcake Battle at the Las Olas Wine and Food Festival.
These brave men and women will serve up thousands of cupcakes, vying
for awards like Best Tasting, Best
Decorated, and Fan Favorite. We thought you might like to know the
players behind those taste little treats, so every day or so, we'll
spotlight another one of the contestants.
Raine Gottess has won award after award for her pies, including nabbing titles at the Crisco/American Pie Council National Pie Competition for seven consecutive years, but this weekend's cupcake battle is a new challenge to this baker, who's been featured on the Food Network.
"I don't do cupcakes," the baker/entrepreneur told Clean Plate Charlie. "But I do make one of the best cakes you've ever had, so I turned one of my bundt cake recipes into a cupcake."
The cupcake, which has yet to be named, is a triple-layer maple cake cupcake. The labor-intensive cupcake might prove a challenge for Gottess, but she's up for it. "The mini ones will be an experience," she told us.
Gottess, who currently sells cookies through her website, is also a consultant to bakeries in need of assistance in how to be successful in these tough economic times.
To vote for Raine's Award Winning Desserts (or any of the other cupcakes entered) at the New Times
Cupcake Battle, come out to the Las Olas Wine and Food Festival. You'll
be able to sample all the cupcakes and vote in the fan-favorite
category. Tickets cost $100 and are available here.
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