Street Food: The Tasterie  and Gigi's Cupcakes

Warm and fuzzy Valentine’s Day kisses be upon you this February. It is the month of love and love is in the air in two of Denver’s sweet-making trucks. They can help you crown your Valentine’s meal with a spectacular dessert and they can also fix up your four o’clock sugar rush whether it is February 1st, 14, or anything in between and after. 

The Tasterie is a Boulder-based dessert making machine brought to life by Shannon, a Coloradoan who worked in New York in finance and Nate, a former pastry chef of the well-loved The Kitchen Cafe. The Tasterie’s truck, named after the famous Proustian French treat, Madeleine, rolls around the streets of Boulder and Every day, these two run the business and the kitchen keeping their eyes on the prize: making outstanding desserts that please and surprise. Their donut muffins are a signature but the croissants, whoopie pies, and sticky matchbox bundt cakes are not to be missed. Look them up on their website (www.tasterietruck.com) and keep an eye out for updates on their new kitchen and store for a more permanent physical location. 

Gigi’s Cupcakes, while a national franchise, is rooted in the community through the ownership of Carrie Bach who has found countless ways to make Gigi’s a well-loved Denver name. Gigi’s, among other things, sources local milk and eggs from farms in the area and sells local drinks like Big B’s Apple Cider and Oogave Sodas. The original Gigi store, located at 550 Grant Street, expanded into a colorful truck last summer. Pinky, the cupcake truck, roams the streets of Denver from markets to office buildings, next to hospitals and at school fundraisers, bringing smiles on every face that tastes the stunning cupcakes. Classics like Red Velvet and Coconut Cream Pie are joined by more creative counterparts like Hot Chocolate Mama and Champagne and seasonal favorites like Pumpkin Cream or Canadian Maple in a selection that changes often and never ceases to delight. Find out Pinky’s whereabouts by following them on twitter @gigisdenver. 

XOXO