There is a new cupcake in town.

Trending for several years on both the East and West Coasts, the cupcake business is about to get a little sweeter in West Michigan.
Classically trained pastry chef Campbell Evett sensed an opportunity when she moved back to Grand Rapids from Chicago after receiving her pastry degree from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago and her food and beverage degree from Kendall College (Chicago).

"I wanted to start to a business when I moved back to Grand Rapids," Evett states.  Relying on her baking skills and coursework while in Chicago, Evett launched Sweet Revenge Patisserie in 2010.  

"The name 'Sweet Revenge' comes from school projects involving business strategies and menu development," Evett says. "It's a play on the quote, 'revenge is sweet.'" Working out of a shared kitchen, Evett began selling her cupcakes, French macaroons and tarts at the Fulton Street Artisans Market during the summer. At the same time, she set up a web page with her menu and a Facebook page to promote her business.  

Evett also sells some of her specialty products at Rowsters Coffee. One is a cookie she developed especially for the coffee roaster. "It's called a Noz, and it's based on a Portuguese recipe and features the African peri peri pepper," she says.

Business is exceeding her expectations and if all goes well, she plans to open a storefront in spring of 2011. For the time being, customers can go to her website for the menu and instructions on how to order. Evett cautions buyers to expect anywhere from 2 days to 1 week to fulfill orders. Besides what is on the menu, Evett says her business is really based on custom orders, and she can create whatever the customer desires.

Source: Campbell Evett
Writer: John Rumery