Trend Continues for Cupcakes as Best of Party Food Ideas

The mother and daughter duo of Lisa and Connie Brighton recently received word that the business garnered “Best Cupcakes in Santa Cruz” award in the Good Times Weekly voter poll. They are celebrating with a customer appreciation special from Friday, June 25th through Tuesday, July 6th, 2010. Customers who purchase or order ten cupcakes receive two cupcakes free, or a dozen for the price of 10.

Family Recipes Date Back to Early 1800s

Owners Lisa and Connie have built their reputation on recipes dating back seven generations to the early 1800s; taking customers back to a time when baking was a true art. Family members have held such positions as cook/baker on a California ranch, lead baker for PG&E company employees, lead hotel bakers and restaurant owners. Grandmother Mabel baked for the Valley Hunt Club in Altadena, CA, then moved on to the renowned Catalina Island Casino. Today, Connie Brighton is executive baker.

Contrary to advice received, pre-packaged mixes are not acceptable. The company reputation is built on moist and delicious cupcakes made fresh from scratch with only the best ingredients without preservattives.

Cupcakes – The Ultimate Party Food

For children’s parties, customers can choose Chocolate Peanut Butter, SnickerLicious or Funfetti, among others. For weddings or bridal showers, heavenly Red Velvet, White Chocolate Raspberry and Triton’s Daughter (white cake with strawberries and whipped cream) are popular. Towers are available to rent for a dramatic cupcake presentation.

A recent visit during the company anniversary special by a mom and her college-graduate son concluded with the order of a variety of eight dozen creations.

Starz Cupcakes Daily Lineup

The Starz day-to-day menu features up to 19 different varieties from the total count of almost 200 types of cupcakes. Some cakes are left un-frosted so that customers may choose their own favorites. Most cupcakes cost $2.95 each. Also included every day are Weight Watchers-friendly, diabetic and gluten-free cupcakes, made with the same precision and loving care. Colorful peaked paper liners designate the different types.

Other popular varieties include: Triple Chocolate, Tropical Fusion, Oreo Cookie, Chocolate Caramel Craze and Carrot Cake. Mini cupcakes are available for special order as well as wine flavored creations, such as Chocolate Merlot. There are also cupcakes for dogs, called Pupcakes, made with bananas and ginger.

Starz Gives Back to the Community

The business has donated both time and their product to many Santa Cruz non-profit organizations during their year in business. In a recent interview Lisa Brighton said, “We spent a lot of time figuring out what Santa Cruz residents would like and a cupcake shop seems to be the right thing. Some days we’ve had people lined up out the door. We believe we’re here to stay.” She added that being able to present a special offer of thanks is a big landmark for the business.
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Examiner.com San Jose 

The insider source for local

Starz Cupcakes celebrates one-year anniversary by offering customers free cupcakes with purchase

Tara Fatemi Walker
June 26h, 2010 5:48 pm PT

Starz Cupcakes in Capitola turned one year old yesterday, and to celebrate it’s offering customers free cupcakes: buy 10, get 2 free. This promotion lasts until July 6th, 2010.

Store co-owners (and mother/daughter) Lisa and Connie Brighton opened Starz Cupcakes in June 2009. Starz bakes more than 180 total sweet cupcake varieties, and 24 savory cupcake flavors, with up to 19 varieties available each day. I can personally recommend the chocolate peanut butter, which is moist and sweet with a decadent peanut butter center. Other flavors include Tropical Fusion, White Chocolate Raspberry, Red Velvet (and different colors each day, such as Pink Velvet or Turquoise Velvet), and Blueberry. They have cupcakes that cater to many dietary needs such as gluten-free, diabetic (sugar-free), heart-healthy, and Weight Watchers-friendly (two- and three-point varieties). They have a few seats inside the shop, and many take their cakes to go -- you’ll love the packaging. They offer standard-size (very big!) cupcakes as well as “minis.” Beverages include coffee, tea, chai, milk, and Italian sodas.

All the cupcakes are baked from scratch, several from Brighton Family recipes handed down across many generations (even Lisa’s great, great, great grandmother!). It’s definitely a family business; Connie is actually Executive Baker at Starz.

Starz Cupcakes is located on 41st Avenue near Brommer, in the Four Star Center me plaza as Outdoor World, Verizon, Tanner's Cove – shop is between Yogurt Delite and Max Muscle). Hours have been extended for the summer: 10am-9pm Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-7pm Sunday. Starz is closed Mondays.

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Good Times - Santa Cruz Best 

Wednesday, 21 April 2010 
Josie Cowden

Best Cupcakes
STARZ CUPCAKES

Opening up in June, 2009 in Capitola (1420 - 41st Avenue, Suite B), Starz has been a successful venture for Lisa Brighton and her business partner, daughter Connie Brighton.  Lisa and Connie are very picky about the ingredients that go into their cupcakes.  They make sure that they get the very best of everything, right downto the cupcake wrappers.  It took a great deal of research to find exactly the right colors they wanted.  Although Starz has more than 100 different cupcakes to choose from, about 15 varieties are offered each day.  There's even one that comes with an umbrella - just like a cocktail.  It's called Tropical Fusion, a marvelous melange of mango, peach, coconut and pineapple.  Customers say "it's like biting into a Hawaiian sunset",  Lisa notes.  But the icing on their cake has to be the pupcakes, each one decorated with faces of dogs.  There's even a cupcake made that your dog can eat, too.  All in all, there's something for everybody.  More at starzcupcakes.com