Cupcake update: Joan's on Third

I'm revisiting the cupcake world since I've been asked to talk about cupcakes on KCRW's Good Food in a few weeks! My first stop was Joan's on Third, where everyone was in quite a kerfuffle this morning. First of all, they're paving Third St., so the construction was creating problems. Then, they were getting new deli cases, so there were no cold salads available. Nerves already seemed a bit frayed when I took a picture of a cupcake tower without asking and a counterperson nearly jumped me. Joan then materialized and hovered over me, telling me they were only "half open." "But you're still making sandwiches, and selling cupcakes?" I asked. "Yes," she said. "Well, that's open enough for me," I decided.



Fending off the suspicious counterperson, who must have thought I was planning to open a competing cupcakery or something, I ordered a tarragon chicken salad sandwich, a peanut butter chocolate cupcake and a chocolate coconut cupcake. The chicken salad sandwich was great -- I wonder where they get their wheat bread? With the help of Claude, Dana and Lisa at work, we decided the peanut butter chocolate rated a four out of five -- the dark chocolate frosting was rich and not at all sweet, with a dab of peanut butter. Real peanut butter lovers might also like a ribbon of peanut butter in the cake itself, however. The chocolate coconut had the same airy chocolate cake topped with an overly sweet coconut buttercream. Since the flavor of the coconut didn't come through very well, we'd give that one a three out of five. Joan's cake was so light, and Auntie Em's was so heavy...where to find one that's just right? The quest continues.
Joan's on Third
8350 W. Third
(323) 655-1967