Review: Sweetbites Mobile Cafe (Cupcakes & other Baked Goods)

Food Truck Name: Sweetbites Mobile Cafe
twitter handle: @Sweetbitestruck
website: http://www.sweetbitesdesserts.com/
(One of the most aesthetical and functional websites with great pictures and a nice calendar of their schedule, but the prices are listed under their events tab and not the menu tab if you're looking for them.)

cost: (cash, debit or credit)
cupcakes: $3 (wonderful descriptions of each online)
Triple European Chocolate
Cookies 'n' Cream
Chocolate Coconut
Red Velvet
Double Madagascar Vanilla
Madagascar Vanilla with Chocolate Buttercream
Pina Colada (seasonal)
Pumpkin Spice (seasonal)
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache
Carrot Cake
Salty Caramel
Baileys Irish Cream (seasonal)

Bars & Cookies:
Lemon Kiss Bars - $2.50
3C Bar (Chewy Chocolate Chip) - $2.50
Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons - $2
Buttery Sugar Cookies - $2
Dark Chocolate Brownies - $3

Scones, Muffins and Coffee Cakes:
Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Muffins - $2.50
Chocolate Banana Bread - $2.50

Pastries:
Fruit-Topped Cheesecake Bites - $3

wait time: A few minutes to order, pay and receive your order, only the inability to pick from the many different flavors of cupcakes or choices of baked good will add to your short wait.

Today, I decided to take a break from the usual hustle and bustle of the lunch Food Trucks and venture into the niche market of the Cupcake Trucks (or Dessert Trucks can also be used).  After a quick look around, I have to say that Sweetbites is pretty comparable or even better in price than its landlocked competitors.  I got a variety pick of six cupcakes (see above picture) that included the Double Madagascar Vanillla, Cookies 'n' Cream, Red Velvet, Triple European Chocolate, Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache and the seasonal Pina Colada.  Eating them all, though delicious, probably would harmed my "girly figure", so instead I decided to share them with a couple co-workers.  I will focus this review on the cupcake I chose to eat, the Red Velvet (see below picture).

"Red Velvet"

A very good Red Velvet cupcake has three important things.  First, many people are under the false impression that red velvet is just a chocolate cake with red food dye.  They should simply try the Triple European Chocolate instead.  Red velvet does contain cocoa (and it is the reaction between the vinegar, buttermilk and cocoa that created the original red color), but the amounts that should be used shouldn't make it into a chocolate cake.  This particular cupcake balances the nice subtle cocoa flavor without overpowering the senses into thinking that you are eating a chocolate cake, something I cannot say that is successfully done by other competitors.  Second, the frosting traditionally is cream cheese based, but alternatively can be topped with a vanilla buttercream.  This cupcake does the latter to perfection.  The light and airy Madagascar vanilla buttercream melts on the tongue without it being too sweet or heavy.  Third, the interplay between frosting and cake is very important, and here I have to say the whole cupcake works very well.  There's a nice cake to buttercream ratio.

Final Verdict: Most of my co-workers really enjoyed their cupcakes, noting the lovely light buttercream and wonderful flavors.  A small criticism was leveled at the seasonal Pina Colada for the rum buttercream being a little too sweet, but other than that there were plenty of smiles to go around.  So, for an individual quick pick-me-up or an afternoon snack to share with friends, give Sweetbites a try and you won't be disappointed.  If their other baked goods are as good as their cupcakes, then I'm looking forward to trying them soon.