“I want them to be like ‘this is the best freaking cupcake I’ve ever had,” said Picasso’s Pastries and Cafe owner David Zacyznski.
Thursday marks National Chocolate Cupcake Day, and Syracuse bake shops are celebrating accordingly. Zacyznski’s spot cooked up Dark Chocolate Mexican Cupcakes for the occasion.
“I haven’t met a person who hasn’t liked cupcakes,” said Zacyznski.
Picasso’s is in its sixth year on Westcott Street. Westcott was founded in the late nineteenth century as Syracuse University began to grow and today is one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in the city..
It’s part of a growing number of coffee and baked goods spots in the area, including Recess Coffee and Mom’s Diner. In that six-year span, the shop has ingrained itself in the community.
“A diverse array of people come into this place. We’ve got a lot of SU students and then a lot of families, a lot of older folks,” employee Olivia Corvo said. “I think we certainly help keep Westcott weird. Which is always the goal.”
Happy national chocolate cupcake day!
We’re celebrating in #bdj3643 with a trip to Picasso’s Pastries and Cafe on Westcott Street. Full story coming up later. pic.twitter.com/fK9Mx5SM6V
— Cooper Boardman (@cooperkboardman) October 18, 2018
Today, the bakery on Westcott Street made cakes and pies for Syracuse University’s Orange Central weekend, an upcoming wedding and, of course, National Chocolate cupcake day.
“It’s a supplemental coffee shop… we offer a second option for coffee and more breakfast options,” said Corvo.
Corvo says she enjoys more savoy treats, and Picasso’s has plenty of those as well. The bakery serves vegetable pies, cheese rolls and specialty foccacias.
Brighton Bakery on East Brighton Street and Liberty Bakery on Burnet Street also have chocolate cakes for sale for National Chocolate Cupcake Day on Thursday.
-
The Dark Chocolate Mexican cupcakes include a chocolate cake base.
© 2018 Cooper Boardman -
Picasso's cooks up hundreds of cupcakes each day.
© 2018 Cooper Boardman -
The cupcakes are topped off with a spicy chocolate frosting.
© 2018 Cooper Boardman -
The Dark Chocolate Mexican Cupcakes are a specialty for today's National Chocolate Cupcake Day.
© 2018 Cooper Boardman
CORVO AND ROWLAND: “Mmmmm… That’s chocolatey. That’s so good.”
BOARDMAN: That’s the sound of Lindsee Rowland and Olivia Corvo biting into Picasso Bakery’s Dark Chocolate Mexican Cupcakes. It’s one of owner David Zacyznski favorites. And it’s how he’s enjoying National Chocolate Cupcake Day.
ZACYZNSKI: “I want them to be like ‘this is the best freaking cupcake I’ve ever had.”
BOARDMAN: Today, the bakery on Westcott Street makes cakes for Syracuse University, a wedding, and, of course, National Chocolate cupcake day. Corvo says the bakery’s crazy chocolate cakes have a daily role in the community.
CORVO: “I think we certainly help keep Westcott weird. Which is always the goal.”
BOARDMAN: Brighton Bakery on East Brighton and Liberty Bakery on Burnet also have chocolate cakes for sale. That’s because—
ZACYZNSKI: “I haven’t met a person who hasn’t liked cupcakes.”
