CultureMap Video

Behind the scenes at Houston's own cupcake wars: High energy, higher cause

CoupleCake competitor Haley Glasco holds up her correct answer in the NewlywedGame portion of the competition.
Photo by Sarah Rufca
Emcee Cleverley Stone introduces the CoupleCake Wars teams.
Photo by Sarah Rufca
CoupleCake winners Rick Luckett and Melissa Smith
Photo by Sarah Rufca
CoupleCake judges Katie Stuckey, Candace Nelson and Cerón
Photo by Sarah Rufca
The Food Bank walked away with a $10,000 check from Sprinkles owners Charles andCandace Nelson.
Photo by Carey Kirkpatrick

When things get tough, the tough get cupcakes.

Seven couples were put to the test last weekend at Sprinkles Cupcakes in Highland Village. The first annual CoupleCake Wars, an event that culminated a week-long drive to raise funds via a signature promotional "Houston Food Bank" vanilla cupcake sold at Sprinkles, was a high energy fun happening bringing couples and spectators from all over Houston.

Inspired by the success of the Food Network's Cupcake Wars show, CoupleCakes put real couples in challenges that assessed their knowledge of each other, and their decoration and presentation skills.

"One of Sprinkles' core missions is giving back to our local communities," Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes and judge on the Food Network's Cupcake Wars, explained. "We donate all of our leftovers at the end of the night to homeless shelters and food banks."

"Culminating with this CoupleCake Wars event, we were able to raise $10,000 for the most amazing organization that will take this $10,000 and turn it into $30,000 worth of meals," Nelson said.

Cleverley Stone, founder of Houston Restaurant Week, Fox 26 Morning News contributor and host of The Cleverley Show on Talk 650, emceed the event and received the donation graciously and emotionally.

"Sprinkles designated 100 percent of the sales of a vanilla cupcake to the Houston Food Bank," Stone said. "It gave me chills. I was in tears."

Stone has made it a personal mission to help eradicate hunger in Houston and the Houston Food Bank is one organization that she supports personally and professionally.

Editor's note: Don't miss Sarah Rufca's day-of story of the event that details the winners.

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Mutiny on the White Oak

Staple Heights wine bar and restaurant will shutter after 6 years

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Mutiny will close on January 31.

A wine bar and restaurant in the Heights is coming to the end of a six-year run. Mutiny in the Heights will close on January 31.

In an email to the restaurant’s supporters, co-owner Mark Ellenberger writes that rising costs for ingredients, insurance, and labor contributed to the decision to close Mutiny. “The closing is driven by increased costs and the traffic just did not sustain the operation,” he writes in response to CultureMap’s request for comment about the decision.

He also thanked Mutiny’s customers for their support. “You weren’t just customers. You were the familiar faces who stopped in after work, the couples who always sat at the same table, the friends who brought visiting family ‘to their spot.’ You celebrated birthdays here, toasted milestones, celebrated wedding receptions, had first dates, and made this place feel alive.”

Ellenberg and his wife Emily Trout opened Mutiny Wine Room in January 2020 as a companion to Kagan Cellars, their award-winning winery. It featured selection from boutique wineries that produced between 500 and 5,000 cases per year. Patrons could sample more than 30 by-the-glass options along with an extensive selection of bottles.

Food has always been part of Mutiny’s offerings. Originally, the restaurant served California cuisine, but last year it changed its name to Mutiny in the Heights and adopted a more family-friendly menu that includes a burger, meatballs, and steak frites.

Between now and January 31, Ellenberger writes that Mutiny will run specials for up to 50-percent off wines for both dine-in and to-go. Details about an anniversary/farewell on January 22 will be shared on social media.

As for the future, Ellenberger explains that he’ll continue to focus on Kagan Cellars, including launching a wine club. “We will also keep our hand in the hospitality sector through our investment in Stella Kenwood in Sonoma, CA.”

Elsewhere in the Heights, The Kid, a craft beer and burger concept from the owners of The Flying Saucer, quietly closed at the end of the year, Chron reports. Earlier this week, Rocket Farm Restaurants announced it will replace it’s Tex-Mex restaurant Superica with a casual steakhouse called Star Rover.

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