San Francisco - August 24, 2009

Crown Royal

Kingdom Cake's Iron Cupcake Challenge

In Fantasyland, you’re the queen of San Francisco, wielding a peppermint stick scepter atop a lemon meringue throne.

And for sport, your loyal subjects compete in the Iron Cupcake Challenge, a bake-off hosted by Kingdom Cake.

The company that oversees a fiefdom of unique flavors like Basil Blueberry Lemon and Orange Nutella at its SF location in the Island Earth Farmers Market has organized an Iron Chef-esque competition. But instead of Kitchen Stadium, Leland Tea Company is the battleground — and contestants come armed with a batch of cupcakes that incorporates the secret ingredient (this month, it’s pepper).

The monthly competition is open to the public: Anyone can bake, sample, and judge.

And should anyone be overwhelmed by the bound-to-be-fierce competition?

Let them eat cupcakes.

This month’s Iron Cupcake Challenge will be held on August 31, 6 p.m., at Leland Tea Company, 1416 Bush Street, at Polk Street (415-346-4832 or lelandtea.com). For more information, go to kingdomcake.com or meetup.com.