Focus Magazine of SWFL Swimsuit Heat Wave | Page 108

Sassy

Getting
By Trey Bell

There are instances in our lives when it seems that destiny shines
on us; the day I set out to visit Sassy Cakes, a gourmet cupcake
shop in downtown Naples and interview its proprietor, Bayah Harrison, was one of those instances. Recently, The Wall Street Journal
ran a story by journalists Emily Maltby and Sarah E. Needleman
entitled, “Forget Gold, The Gourmet-Cupcake Market Is Crashing”
and of course I read through the article to familiarize myself with
the reality of the cupcake scene, and its eminent decline, or as far
as the largest chain of cupcake stores; Crumbs’, stock prices auger
the future of the cupcake business on a national level. Having
already watched every episode of “2 Broke Girls,” the CBS Network’s sitcom focusing on two New Yorkers trying to make it out
of their current socio-economic situation by baking said gourmet
treats, which I enjoy as only a fairly educated adult man can; postironically, I felt that I was prepared for what I would find. It seems
that the cupcake has thoroughly entered the pop culture lexicon
over the past decade, the gourmet version of the cake in a paper
cup has been sprouting up like high fructose fungi in every major
market across the country, and according to recent trends cited in
the above mentioned Wall Street Journal article, into secondary,
more suburban locales which may just keep this frosted gravy train
a-rolling. What I found was neither a hard selling corporate head,
nor a surly streetwise girl from Brooklyn, no, I met Henry.
First, in the interest of
full disclosure:
I am
not a “sweets” person,
and I AM a great fan of
the cooking competition
show.
So as I made my way
into the heart of Naples
in search of the cupcakery and its baker, I ended
up circling around and
coming around the back.
Located on 4th Ave South
in Naples the shop is behind the restaurant Ciao,
which does not make it an
easy place to find. When
I mentioned this to Bayah
I said this would make it
a hipster’s dream… If only
Naples had more hipsters.
The shop itself is as sweet
as the confections that
are offered for sale. All
pastels and bright white, it is an icing topped treat in and of itself.
Resplendent with cupcake themed decorations to let you know,
just in case you missed it, that there were glorious cupcakes to be
had here. It’s a cozy corner shop with light from the afternoon sun
lighting up the interior with its diffuse high cloud overcast-ness that
makes it that much more inviting. All of that notwithstanding it is
just a building, what truly make Sassy Cakes the place that it is, are
Henry and his Cupcake Warrior mother, Bayah.
A Chicago transplant that came to Florida with her husband almost
a decade ago, Bayah Harrison, is the force behind the little corner
shop on 4th Ave South. With almost 3 years in this location she
has made the store front her second home. In most mornings by
8 a.m. to bake at least 40 cupcakes, more depending on special
orders, so she can be open by 11. I ask about the traffic into

the shop, and just like everything else in Southwest Florida, it’s
seasonal, that season of course being “snowbird” season. Packing
an arsenal of 25 specialty flavors, she rotates the offerings weekly
with a few perennials thrown in for good measure and to keep the
regulars happy, her Carmel by the Sea, the local favorite.
I had done a little research prior to my journey and found that
Ms. Harrison had been a participant on the third season of the
Food Network show “Cupcake Wars” I asked what the theme was,
the episode that she appeared on happened to be the Tim Burton
Bake-off, I inquired about the experience, knowing full well that she
has probably answered these questions more than enough times,
but she was gracious enough to indulge my guilty pleasure, just
another reflection of the Zen of the cupcake permeating her whole
being. It seems that 2011 was a good year, not only did she land
the TV show, and a feature in the “Best of” issue of Gulf Shore Life,
but she and her husband were also blessed with a little boy, Henry.
Henry, the real boss of this joint, was very gracious as well, sharing his toys and showing me around the shop, as well as hopping
behind the counter to show me everything that his Mommy had to
offer the public. He was a wonderful host, even if he had skipped
his nap that day. He himself is a reflection of his mother’s profession with bright blonde hair and eyes as blue as the M&Ms on the
top of his mom’s Build Me Up Buttercup cupcake. He really liked
my camera too.
Now finally you may ask how a non-sweets person is really suppose to take away the true essence of the gourmet cupcake shop
when they aren’t enticed by the idea of sweet, sweet icing on top
of moist airy cake and every iteration and combination that those
two can be arranged. It’s a valid question after all; well you go for
what you know, and you take a few home for your wife to try. I had
the Cookies N Cream and it was good, it fit my idea of a specialty
cupcake and the flavor and textures where all there, if I was sitting
at the judges table I would have voted for this classic. As to what
my wife thought, “they were each a different little piece of heaven.”

Sassy Cakes - 837 4th Ave South - Naples - Florida - 34102 - 239.687.5100
1
08 FOCUS of SWFL 2014

www.sassycakesinc.com