Name: Dorothy Hall
Title: Owner, New England Cupcakery
How long have you been making cupcakes?
Forever. Since I was maybe 9, when I used to go to my nana's house.
When did you open the store in Concord?
At the end of September. And the response from the community has been absolutely awesome.
Have you run a bakery before?
I've never run a bakery before, but I worked in one years ago. But I did contracts for a software company in Manchester before opening up here.
What is your favorite cupcake creation?
I can't say I have a favorite, but I'm like that with everything. I'm one of those people that loves everything. I can say I prefer vanilla more than chocolate.
What is the weirdest cupcake you've attempted?
It's been so crazy since we opened I haven't tried even one-tenth of what I want to try. I want to make a breakfast cupcake, which is a blueberry pancake cupcake with maple frosting and crumbled up bacon on top.
Cupcakes are hot right now. What do you think the next underground pastry is that's going to blow up?
I think cupcakes are really popular right now, but I don't think that's going to go away. You can buy 12 of these, and it's definitely as big as any cake you are going to find, but you get to have some variety. I can't imagine why we didn't think of (cupcakes as a business) before.
How many cupcakes can you bake in a day? And how many can you eat in a day?
We've had days where we've had to bake 400 cupcakes, to fill special orders and just to fill the display case. We offer free delivery, with a minimum of one dozen ordered, and I'd like to get connected with the larger business community. If they call and place an order, we'll make it and drop it off for them.
As for eating, I could only eat one, I think. It's all baked from scratch, so it's a little richer. I think if its baked from scratch, it should be a gourmet item. It's the real thing.
What is the strangest request you've ever had?
It isn't necessarily strange, but we had a wedding request where they wanted us to make cupcakes that looked like hydrangeas. It may be a little too much for us, but I was thrilled that she even thought to ask us.
Do you ever eat normal cakes, or do you only eat miniature versions of all food?
I can't imagine making a traditional cake now. But you can make a cake entirely out of cupcakes.
What is the tiniest surface you could decorate with icing?
We do mini-cupcakes. They can be very cumbersome to do, but we will do them for special orders.
Hidden talent?
I love music. I used to sing and play several instruments – the trumpet, the French horn, the clarinet, the flute. I can also play the piano. (Her son, Rob Cabana, said he believes her hidden talent to be interior decorating.)
