Thunder Pig’s gluten free, fat free take on a cupcake, the Mallowcake. Photo courtesy Thunder Pig.
There has been a proliferation of pop-up shops in Washington, but none may be as sweet or savory as the one opening tonight on Capitol Hill.
Thunder Pig, a confectionary and dessert business run by chef Megan Murray, will open inside the Hello Cupcake shop on Barracks Row for a short retail run.
The pop-up shop is Murray’s first time opening inside a retail space, and she earned the chance to show-off her caramels moon pies, truffles and other homemade desserts by winning StartUp Kitchen, a Top Chef like cooking competition for food entrepreneurs and organized by Think Local First DC and NURISH.
Right now, Murray leases out space inside a commercial kitchen, and her clientele is largely built around wholesale — You can find her cookies for sale at Qualia Coffee in Petworth — and catering. It’s a long term goal to open up a retail shop, she says. And, while at Hello Cupcake, Murray will be getting advice from the store’s managers, as well as some direct feedback from the public, who can participate in the weekly tastings.
Tonight is the first of those tasting experiences. Tickets are still available, and the hour-long event will be held each Monday night in April.
Thunder Pig’s unusual name, Murray says, comes from an affectionate term that she uses for her husband. Photo courtesy Thunder Pig.
Murray is calling the experience a “three ring circus” because it offers a variety of desserts that she routinely cooks. Her rings are divided by dessert category. Inside ring one are the mallows: marshmallows, moon pies and mallow cakes. Ring two has a variety of chocolates, truffles and candies, and ring three is a variety of biscotti.
“I love the concept of a full experience. And, I’ve always wanted to open a small shop somewhere in DC,” Murray said.
The former Hill staffer turned lobbyist decided to trade in the business suit for a chef’s apron after her husband convinced her to further a lifelong passion for cooking and baking. She took some classes at L’academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg and started Thunder Pig, which she says is an affectionate name for her husband, and a phrase she came across while on a trip to Germany.
Already, just a few months in business, Murray says her customers recognize Thunder Pig and its swine logo. After her month-long stint at Hello Cupcake, she’s hoping more Washingtonians have a sweet tooth for her locally made, locally sourced treats.