Back on Monday, I was enjoying a day off (so I thought!), and happened to catch a segment on Showcase Minnesota that caught my attention. Jim Leighton was on the show, talking about the upcoming Social Butterfly event. It was a benefit for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

He talked a bit about what they do for families through the Care Partners – particularly assisting families that are in town for their child’s treatment programs. I couldn’t possibly do justice by paraphrasing what he said, but it really inspired me. So.. I looked him up and emailled to offer a donation of desserts for the event – which was only a few days away!

After a few emails, I was all set on what I was doing: a few hundred butterfly cupcakes, in 4 different flavors. (They requested Chocolate Caramel Hazelnut Ecstasy, Almond Amaretto, Raspberry Dream, and Zesty Lemon, Fyi!). I haven’t had an opportunity to do butterfly cupcakes in awhile, and they’re so cute! Decapitated cupcakes, filled/frosted, then the sliced top is placed back on to resemble upright butterfly wings. Cute, and accented the butterfly theme followed by both the event, and the organization itself!

So, after much baking and filling – as well as thinking about and missing my mother in law and
grandfather, who both passed away from cancer – I loaded up the delivery truck and set off for Epic, where the event was being held.

I was expecting an 8′ banquet table to host, but was pleasantly surpised to find this really cool bartender’s station with LED lights shining down on us and a big screen up on the wall behind us! It was a really neat set up, and the whole club was very impressive to me. I’ve had pretty much NO exposure to the night life in well over a decade, it’s amazing to see how the interior design of clubs have come along – first on Thursday night, now this. Kinda makes me want to become a club kid again… LOL!

Anyway, I met up with the others, and…what a bunch of cool people! I met Jim, Katie, and a bunch of other people from the foundation, as well as representatives of their other sponsors (D’Amico and Wolfgang Puck Catering).. and I have to say.. awesome people. I really have to sit down and talk to whoever hired the *entire* staff at Wolfgang Puck, because I want to know their secrets when it comes time for me to hire! Really fantastic people. I guess I can’t say that enough!

Actually, on the subject.. let’s talk food! At one point, the D’Amico people brought some hors d’ouevres to our little cupcake station. One was an orange glazed satay chicken (yum! The glaze was really zesty!), and the “OMG THESE ARE %$$#!$ AMAZING” (my term) Cuban Sandwiches. Holy freaking YUMMMM!! Highly recommend those. Wow. It was like.. soft pumpernickel (tasted very fresh, too!) with really tasty and tender meat.. then a yummy mustard sauce on it. A food writer, I’m not.. but wow. I’m not even a sandwish kinda girl, but I could have done some serious damage to a platter of those if given the opportunity!

Then at one point, this super sweet guy from Wolfgang Puck brought my husband and me a little tray with a bunch of hors d’ouevres. I seriously don’t even know where to start. I wish I’d known of these guys when we got married. If what I saw last night was *any* indication of what couples can expect dealing with these guys.. wow. Polar opposite of the completely lackluster service we’d received from the caterers we’d had to go with. I bet having them handle the catering would be pretty much the ultimate in pampering. (How can you tell I was impressed?). One day, I *will* convince my husband to marry me again, so we can get everything right! I digress…

I’m trying to remember what all was on that platter. It was like every thing we tried was even better than the last! There was this cute spear of a layered beet / what I think was goat cheese that was really nice.. I know the fresh mozzarella in pesto was a stand out to me, as I am a pesto FIEND. Oh, and the mini samosa! It was wild!! Yum. I’ve never been to the Wolfgang Puck restaurants, or to an event they’ve catered before last night.. but you can pretty much consider me a fan for life now. Yes, it was that damn good!!

Wow, a bit off track. Lol, we’re foodies here, what can I say?

Anyway, the event was great. After a slow start, the cupcakes started flying off the table – we had a bunch of people come back for seconds, thirds, and eventually having to try each flavor we had! The crowd was really fun, and it was great to meet everyone!

They played great music (for the most part!), the people were all fabulous, and I can’t wait to work with the foundation again in the future. We’re looking at doing some pretty cool stuff together, and I’ll definitely post about that as it happens!

And, because we get asked it all of the time – as far as the flavors went at this event, the Almond Amaretto emerged as a favorite. A lot of the reactions to it were.. well, not quite G rated!