Wednesday, June 01, 2005

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

8 comments:

Maria said...

On our recent trip to Susina Bakery, I noticed that they had cupcakes on the menu. I'd love to hear what you think, it's next on our list.

Anonymous said...

sprinkles on little santa monica...

mmm

best cupcakes I've had since new york, and since they seem to be modeled on the new york cupcake boutique, I'm surprised you have no mention of them!

Anonymous said...

Ooh, would you try Leda's Bakeshop in Sherman Oaks/Studio City next? I'm dying to know how it is.

http://www.ledasbakeshop.com/

And they're gorgeous, aren't they?

Anonymous said...

your photographing stint cracked me up! i tried to take a picture of my 2 little ones sharing some cupcakes in joan's on third and was nearly assaulted by one of their employees. i was instructed that they don't allow photography in their store. what? i'm trying to take a picture of my daughter and her brother on her 3rd birthday. what's the problem here. i asked to talk to joan and joan went on to explain (very poorly) that she doesn't want people "copying" her interior design and atmosphere. oh come on now! i could open any interior magazine and see it right there in front of me. needless to say, it ticked me off enough to keep my distance from joan's on 3rd and now my new most favorite cupcake place is leda's. leda's ranks #1 in my book in LA.

have fun.

elmomonster said...

Lookin' forward to your guest spot on Good Food! Love that show and love your blog!

Anonymous said...

You're going to be reviewing cupcakes on Good Food? That is so cool, though I thought you're not a big fan of cupcakes if memory serves. Well, have fun with Evan.

God, Joan's on Third is so full of themselves - please, who cares? Their food is just fine, but the scene is just so silly.

Sprinkles is good, Mom reported Leda's in Sherman Oaks was ok but really poor service, and haven't tried Alcove's yet. When I have a cupcake hankering, I just pick up a few from Victor Bene's at Gelson's in Silver Lake. They are nothing spectacular, but they do the trick.

Anonymous said...

Susina Bakery makes great cupcakes (they even do Red Velvet cupcakes).
They also just put up their website and expanded the hours to 11pm everynight. Yummy!

www.susinabakery.com

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