Editorial
Front Page - Friday, May 28, 2010
River City Roundabout
Chihuahuas race,local cupcakes win
Erica Tuggle
Fiona poses in her cow-girl hat during the third annual Racing of the Chihuahuas held by 96.5 The Mountain radio station in the First Tennessee Pavilion. Ninety-six dogs raced that day before the final heat, which Fancy took away the first place ranking.
- Erica Tuggle
On Cinco de Mayo, the air was thick with anticipation, and I was shaking more than the dogs racing during the third annual Running of the Chihuahuas. This year’s event was the biggest yet with the sounds of 750 people and their pooches filling the First Tennessee Pavilion.
This yearly spectacle, put on by 96.5 The Mountain radio station, originally began with 21 dogs racing in the radio station parking lot. With greater response the next year, the event moved to Wolfteaver Inn. This year, over 212 dogs registered, but only 96 were chosen to race.
Chihuahuas are tiny dogs, and what is the best thing
to do with tiny dogs? Dress
them up, of course! From
teacup Chihuahuas in pink polka-dotted dresses to dogs
in sombreros, if nothing else,
it was worth going to see the dogs all dolled up.
Fiona even posed for my camera and smiled in her mini-cowgirl hat. Maya wore a pretty dress with ruffles and her owner, Linda Prabish, told me Maya is her service dog that detects heart attacks and helps with hearing issues. Move over Lassie.
The races themselves had the atmosphere of watching a mini-Kentucky derby. The anticipation of watching a bunch of small dogs race about 20 feet to the finish line is almost shameful. Yet, this was grade “A” free fun.
Some of the dogs knew
that when announcer said uno…dos…tres…andele, it was their time to shine as they sped down the track. Others may need a little practice for next year. Some owners used squeaky toys, tennis rackets or other toys to coax their runners to them.
In the end, black and white Chihuahua mix, Fancy, was named the winner. Her secret was her love of a soccer ball bounced at the finish line so that it was a strain to hold Fancy back.
The sweet, bakery treats that Bone Appetit offered the winners got me to thinking about human treats, and so I set off to find the tastiest Chattanooga cupcake. I visited, Whipped Cupcakes on the North Shore, Chattanooga Cupcakes on Broad Street, the Cake Gallery on Cherokee Boulevard and the Federal Bake Shop in Hixson.
A perk of being a patron of Chattanooga Cupcakes is the reserved parking so you don’t have to search for a parking spot when you dine in the orange and teal building. The clean seating and decorations also make it a pleasant place to stay while you pick your poison; mine was the peach cobbler cupcake.
The butter cream icing slapped my taste buds with a wave of sweetness and the soft cake underneath was soon devoured. The family-operated business makes each of the cupcakes from scratch every morning using fresh ingredients such as carrots, bananas and strawberries. They offer daily specials as well, but I had my eye on a Key West cupcake for a return visit.
Next was the hideaway cupcake house, Whipped Cupcakes. Their location was filled with paper works of art in the form of bumblebees and moose heads, bird figurines everywhere and a window nook with throw pillows to lounge on.
Their baker, Sunny, told me they focus on making their small batch cupcakes every morning from organic and local ingredients. They also offer vegan and gluten-free cupcakes. I tried one filled with peanut butter chips in the brownie cupcake layer with peanut butter flavored icing and topped with half a Reece cup. The icing was smooth and tasted like a mouth full of peanut butter, and the cake was like the brownies grandmothers make.
The Cake Gallery was next. They offer gourmet designed and sugar free cakes as well. Although it was a hard choice between their Dingaling cupcake and the Italian Crème, I went with the later. It had a butter cream center that was simply to die for, the cake was fresh and the icing was not too sweet or bland. Covered with hazelnut shavings, it was as good as cupcakes come.
The last stop was at the Federal Bake Shop. Surprisingly enough, this shop packed full with cakes, cookies, cheese straws and giant cupcakes is located next to a Weight Watchers. The smell of the fresh baking that hits you before you even enter must be simply unfair to these neighbors. I opted to try two cupcakes here: one of German Chocolate and the other chocolate and vanilla; both were filled with cream. Although, the super sweet icing on the chocolate and vanilla cupcake made me reel, the cake itself was both rich and soft. The filling was the best part of both, although the German Chocolate was a close runner up.
In the end, none of these cupcakes will leave egg on your face. The seating options in Whipped and Chattanooga Cupcakes do offer an added comfort feature. The Cake Gallery and the Federal Bake shop will offer more variety if cupcakes don’t hit your sweet spot. Email Erica Tuggle
at reporter@hamiltoncounty
herald.com.
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