Those words were first spoken by Ralphie’s little brother in the best holiday tale ever told, A Christmas Story, but they have echoed in my mind every time I’ve been confronted with the dreaded dish. For others, it may hearken feelings of comfort and home. For me, it has always felt (and usually tasted) like the most mundane, least inspired execution of beef ever devised in a kitchen. That is, until I heard about The Meatloaf Bakery.
Located in Chicago, this little shop’s carnivore confections have completely eradicated my single-minded loathing of the loaf. Founder, owner and chief meatloaf maker Cynthia Kallile clearly revels in the form, elevating the flavors with exciting combinations and — here’s the best part — serving them up as beautiful cupcakes and bite-size “loafies.” The descriptions alone were enough to make me reconsider meatloaf’s status as a second-class meal. (The LOAF-A-ROMA, for instance, contains “gooey fresh mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and a splash of red wine, topped with a swirl of angel hair pasta and served with our own marinara sauce,” and the CHICKEN SHISH KA LOAF boasts “chicken, lemon, parsley, extra-virgin olive oil, red onions and herbs, topped with Yukon Smashers and served with Shish Kamint sauce.”) Alas, while I haven’t had a chance to sample the goods just yet (see the last question), Cynthia was kind enough to answer a few questions about her burgeoning carnivore cupcake empire.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Your Meat Tooth.
