Cupcakes are the food trend that won’t die. They are immortal; they’ve been around since 1998. In food trend years, that’s more than a few life cycles.

The 3rd annual Cupcake Throwdown – February 16, 7pm – 10pm, at Chapel Arts – celebrates the longevity of mini cake while raising funds for the H.A.V.E. Culinary Training Society, a DTES institution.

Find out more about who will compete for cupcake supremacy and how to taste the goods after the jump.

Origins

The Cupcake Throwdown, which began in 2009, is organized by Stephanie Frigon a cupcake lover and baker who works for Canada Post. According to a recent profile in the Straight, Frigon likes to pull community together through culinary adventures. In this case, she’s bringing together amateur and professional bakers, plus those of us who like to scarf cupcakes, in order to benefit H.A.V.E. Culinary Training Society.

Frigon discovered H.A.V.E. when delivering mail in the DTES. H.A.V.E., DTES non-profit, changes lives by training and placing individuals with employment barriers in BC Restaurant and Food Association sanctioned kitchens.

How the bake-off works

Each baker will bring 100 cupcake samples. Bakers include Vancouver culinary pros like Organic Lives (raw, vegan, gluten-free cupcakes) and avid home bakers. Attendees pony up a $10 entry fee and receive 5 tasting tickets. If attendees wish to taste more than 5 cupcakes, they can purchase additional tickets for $1 a pop. They then vote for their favourites by ballot. The evening ends with prizes for the Supreme Cupcake Champs and a raffle of a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for guests.

The 3rd Annual Cupcake Throwdown: Bakers Vying for Cupcake Supremacy takes place at Chapel Arts, 7pm to 10pm, February 16.  Tickets are $10 and include 5 tasting tix. Proceeds benefit DTES non-profit H.A.V.E. Culinary Training Society.