Death to Cupcakes

It's not that we don't love cupcakes; we're just weary of the lateness with which Richmond embraces certain food trends. So naturally an anti-cupcake company got our attention when it launched a salvo against the faddishness by creating a new fad — the tiny, decorated cake on a stick. And with a clever website and back story to match.

Candy Valley Cake Co. is the brainchild of Keya Desai Wingfield, a 25-year-old Mumbai, India, native who moved to Richmond, learned to bake, and started a cake-pop company with farmers' market and national online sales points. Her cake-pop flavors include key lime, red velvet, orange blossom, coconut and several combos, as well as gluten-free versions, all decorated by hand and stuck on a stick. She just turned out 300 pops for a back-to-school function, and does weddings, parties and events.

“A cake pop is probably 50 times moister than a cupcake,” Wingfield says. “Taste is of the utmost importance and I am very particular about quality. We put our heart and soul into it and I think it shows.”

Find the goods at the West End Farmers' Market, Gayton Road at Ridgefield Parkway on Saturday mornings or online at candyvalleycakecompany.com.  

A year of caffeine: Rev It Up Coffee, Beer and Wine celebrates its first year at 1211 W. Main St. Sharon and David Taylor own the business, which seats 50, has free Wi-Fi, and serves house-made pastries, sandwiches — including the best-selling Richmond club (turkey, bacon, swiss and provolone on marble rye) — retro sodas, microbrews and wines. The shop marks its anniversary Sept. 17 with a performance by Elana Hyner with more live music on tap for the fall semester. Rev It Up is open weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 355-5282.

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