I have never heard of Hummingbird Bakery and do not know about their story. I normally am the type who prefers the small and personal bakeries over the big kahunas of the industry. I'm the type who always go to corner shop bakeries back home or any other countries I had the pleasure of visiting. Those are the places that tells me stories, and who doesn't like an interesting story?
In this bustling city of Dubai however, bakeries ala corner shops are few and far between. I do have strong affiliation to the Davids in this battle with the Goliaths, but as a foodie, I have to think that Davids can't be the underdog forever, at some point in their business lives, they'll hope to grow and belong with the giant leagues.... and so with an open mind and a great appetite, I marched down to Hummingbird Bakery to give it a shot.
The entrance of the bakery is a welcoming sight to behold. It's open and airy and you feel like you're either being welcomed with a humongous hug or you are being enchanted by the gorgeous treats. I love the motif a whole lot. The varying colours of pink contrasting the brown screams "scrumptious" and "decadence". It's classy without being snobbish. Their décor says WELCOME to all walks of life, young and old, man or woman as long as you have sweet cravings, ENTER (at your own peril... hee hee hee! *witch's squeaky voice)
Maybe they'll take some space outside their shop once they get inundated with customers' request or maybe they will not and just promote customers to grab and go. Either way, it's worth a trip.
And so... after just few clicks... tasting begun.
The one in front is the Red Velvet Cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Next to it with brown bits on top is the Black Bottom and the one with the mint colour frosting and confetti on top is the Vanilla Cupcake. The adopted child next to BB sporting a walnut on top is the Carrot Cupcake
I started with the controversial name, the Black Bottom. Wowser! It is chocolate indulgence. I'm not much for the icing, it's hard to please me with icing. I'll look at it, adore it, taste a little of it but that's just about it. I always go straight to the essence and these baby has flavours reminscent of a cross between Chili's Molten Lava Cake (yes, unless you've been living under a rock, you know what I'm talking about) without the caramel & ice cream, and yummy fudgy brownies. It's so good, it's obscene. Dessert glory indeed.
Next in line was the Red Velvet, it's what you expect from a red velvet, it's chocolatey cupcake garbed in red robe. The cream cheese frosting adds a good dimension to the cupcake but still... too sweet for me.
The Vanilla Cupcake is the mellowest of them all and so if you are not into scientific combinations or you want to balance out the other sinful treats in front of you, make Vanilla your breather cupcake. :P
Last of the cupcake I tasted was the Carrot Cupcake. It had a wonderful texture, balance flavour, it's almost close to home for me... almost tasting like a home-made carrot cupcake and that's how I want carrot cupcakes to make me feel.
As if I'm not yet full to the brim... additional goodies were asked for tasting.
Of all the goodies given to me for my boys, one stood out... the BLACK BOTTOM, hands down. My youngest even did a pause, a stare and a "WOW, that . is. so. good!"
I didn't get the chance to taste the others because frankly, though I would l ike to be the epitome of a true fooderati, I'm still human and I cannot taste every single thing on offer no matter how much negotiation I made with my will power.
It was an enjoyable tasting day but here comes a tiny wee bit of my constructive suggestions: more tables, better quality paper bag (mine started deteriorating before I reached the car), hummingbird dusting on some drinks just like on the brownie bar and a little less grainy on icing, unless of course that's how it's always been, then pppfffft! DO. NOT. MIND. LOONY. ME.
I took lots of pictures of the other ones though, they look yum. Enjoy the rest of my humble shots!
If you're like me who have not heard of Hummingbird Bakery... then CLICK HERE to know a little of their history.
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