The Event - Iron Cupcake Challenge

About three years ago, Sandy Ploy found herself with friends, dining at Fratellos restaurant in Milwaukee with her girlfriends and ordered the restaurant's signature cupcakes. One of Ploy's friends warned the server, "They better be good because this is the Cupcake Queen," pointing out Ploy. Chef Jeff Reinke apparently took the warning to heart, because when Reinke himself walked out to the table, with über-decorated cakes in tow, she knew she'd found her cupcake doppleganger.

The game was on! Ploy brought Reinke her trademark bacon-dark chocolate cupcake. He brought his masterpiece, flavored with cigarette tobacco steeped in milk. Yes, cigaratte tobacco steeped in milk. Next was a a face-off with cupcakes spiced with wasabi. Soon other bakers began to trickle into the showdowns, and by April 2008, the first official "Iron Cupcake: Milwaukee" competition was launched at Fratellos.

Each month has a particular theme. There was the "cereal challenge," where the winner was a Reese's Peanut Butter Cereal Cupcake. The "Barbecue Challenge," won handily by a bacon-infused red velvet cupcake with maple barbecue frosting. And the "Thanksgiving Challenge," won by Reinke, with his "complete dinner" (stuffing, turkey and all) in one savory cupcake. As you'll note in the video, a fellow competitor indicated this particular win was based on the fact that the public came hungry and Reinke fed them dinner!

By May 2009, the monthly competition moved out of Fratellos. Reinke still has "a hand" in the challenges, but he admits, Ploy "is the whole body" of Iron Cupcake. While it continues monthly in Milwaukee, Ploy can take credit for inspiring the Iron Cupcakes popping up in cities across the globe like Chicago, Las Vegas, Toronto, San Francisco, London and more!

And it should be noted that Iron Cupcake always gives back. Every month Iron Cupcake chooses a local non-profit to share the money raised at each event so simply said, it's always good food for a good cause! Sandy Ploy has trademarked the Iron Cupcake name and wears a necklace adorned with cupcake pendants and sometimes dons cupcake-themed Converse Chuck Taylors. Her stash of cupcake tchotchke includes jewelry, buttons, books and table ornaments, as well as a large sign over her stovetop!

Sandy Ploy, AKA Milwaukee Cupcake Queen, is one of the 100 coolest Milwaukeeans (that you've heard of). For real. In the August 31, 2010 edition of the Milwaukee Buzz, her name is right there. If it's on the internet, it's gotta be true! Kidding aside, Sandy is definitely one of those public figures whose ideas, actions, and creations make Milwaukee a cooler place to be. It says that on the internet as well!

Graphic Designer and Cupcake Maker Extraordinaire, as well as founder of the Iron Cupcake Challenge, Sandy fills every room with her presence and infectious enthusiasm. Known and recognized wherever she goes, this lady can bake! It is important to note that Sandy is no idle cupcake enthusiast. This is not a hobby. This is a passion. With a home filled with cupcake cookbooks and cupcake kitsch, steer clear of this queen's cupcake-shaped scepter. It flings sprinkles into the eyes of anyone who challenges her royal status!

I miss my cupcake,
where has it gone,
i wish it were here,
at the wave of my wand...

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