Friday
May232008
Cake Poll: Regional Specialties and a Giveaway!
Friday, May 23, 2008 
What's sweeter than a long weekend? How about Cakespy's Monthly Cake Poll and Giveaway?
This month, you're in for a treat: the kind folks at Yummr have donated a great book for our giveaway, Dorie Greenspan's Baking: From My Home to Yours (c/o Houghton-Mifflin Books). This tome of sweetness has recipes ranging from pinkies-out desserts like Coconut- Roasted Pineapple Dacquoise to simpler but no less delicious Brownie Buttons or mouthwatering pecan biscuits. Can we say delicious?
But wait, there's more: the lucky winner will also win a 2-pack of Cakespy Buttons and a jumbo magnet featuring the sweetest scene, like, in the world--a robot giving a cupcake a flower!
*Also, readers who don't win the cookbook also have other chances to win by visiting Yummr's "Cookbook a Day in the Month of May" Giveaway.
Of course, if you're bummed that you missed out on the buttons, they're for sale at jessieoleson.etsy.com!
How can you put your name in the running? It's easy! All you need to do is this:
- To satisfy our nosy tendencies (we are spies, after all), fill out the below Cake Poll! You can leave your responses in the comment section, or send your responses via email to jessieoleson@gmail.com.
- At 5pm PST on Monday, May 26, the Cake Poll will be closed. The winner will be chosen at random, not based on their responses. The prize(s) will then be shipped to the lucky winner within 48 hours, via the most economical method.
- As for our fine print: The results of this poll will be used for entertainment and Cake Gumshoeing purposes only; we may summarize the results of this poll in upcoming posts. Your private information will not be shared with any outside parties. Also, we've elected to leave the cake poll open to all US Territories, Canada and abroad--so even overseas cake enthusiasts can take part!
Cake Poll: Preferences and Regional Specialties!
- Where are you originally from?
- Where do you live now?
- *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
- What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
- What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
- What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
- Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
Reader Comments (124)
1.Where are you originally from? West Yorkshire, England
2. Where Do you live now? Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area? Um. I'm not sure....there's actually a distinct lack of bakeries in Dunedin. :(
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little? I always liked the cream horns my grandma would buy from this little bakery while she was doing her shopping just to shut me up. :)
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now? Cupcakes
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you? Believe it or not, a frozen grape. Well, frozen grapes on top of ice cream. They were like little balls of sorbet.
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand? Anything with hazelnuts because I'll swell up and die. :D Well, maybe not die...I'd just be severely itchy.
Where are you originally from?
Phoenix, Arizona (USA)
Where do you live now?
Chandler, AZ
*If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
I don't know any REALLY good ones (across the board) but I love the cupcakes from Wildflower Bakery.
What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
My mom's cherry pie.
What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
Chocolate cake
What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
A new recipe for chocolate cake I tried that has a fluffy white frosting filling and a chocolate ganache coating.
Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
Banana anything. Banana cream pie (blech) banana bread (blech) Banana Foster (blech)....
1. Where are you originally from? Puerto Rico
2. Where do you live now? New York
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)? The Hudson Valley is known for it's apple orchards... there are some unbelieveable apple crisps, apple pies and many, many desserts. There is an endless array of Farmer's Markets. Of course the Culinary Institute of America (CIA)is nearby so that is definitely a place which needs to be checked out by some Cakespy crew!!
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little? I have always loved anything with chocolate on it, in it, mixed in, sprinkled on or smeared with chocolate. Growing up in Puerto Rico flan was a traditional dessert but I have a weak spot for flaky fruit filled desserts. Especially plums and apples!
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now? I really like mini-cupcakes because they are just the right size, but I also like brownies!
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you? My neighbor made me a pumpkin flan that was so mouthwateringly delicous, I nearly ate the entire plateful in one sitting.
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand? I really like any kind of desserts; but I don't like licorice.
Where are you originally from? Edmonds/Seattle, wa
Where do you live now? Auburn, Wa (unfortunately)
*If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)? I really feel like you've done such a great job with the whole Seattle area there are very few places left. However I really love the cakes at Chantrelles in Edmonds. yum carrott cake!
What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
my mom used to make the very best Almond Cresents covered in powdered surgar, I could eat thousands of those, especially during the winter holidays.
What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
These days I love (love) any sort of white chocolate coconut delight!
What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
The first dessert I made my husband after we got married was from the 1950 better homes and Gardens dessert cookbook. Chocolate satin cake with chocolate satin frosting covered in raspberries was pure decadent perfection.
Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
As a vegan, crem brule' is my idea of torture.
1. Where are you originally from? Marion, Illinois
2. Where do you live now? Newburgh, Indiana
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)? I can't think of any really good ones around here. ~lol~
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little? Brownies
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now? Brownies
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you? Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand? Rice pudding
1. Where are you originally from?
Dunedin, New Zealand
2. Where do you live now?
I'd love to be able to say Paris or London or something very cosmopolitan and glamourous, but no - still Dunedin, New Zealand. :)
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
It would have to be more of an air trip, I think, but I would say that you'd absolutely have to have the Black Forest Gateaux from Charlotte French Bakery. It's delicious. The sugar buns from the Danish Bakery are also yummy. I feel my waistline expanding just thinking about them.
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
Biscuits (cookies to Americans) fresh from the oven. Either chocolate chip or these gorgeous gingery chocolate button biscuits that my Mum made. I also loved sugar and cinnamon pinwheel scones. Scones in general. Again. Waistline expanding.
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
Still freshly made biscuits and scones. And I can't resist a sponge cake with vienna cream icing.
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
REALLY wowed would have to be creme brulee from the French Cafe or my Mum's crytallized ginger cake and super rich chocolate cake.
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
I'm not a fan of nut desserts or anything too wet or alcoholic. I also don't like the taste of treacle and molasses very much. Oh, and love banana, love pie, hate banana cream pie.
1. Where are you originally from? San Diego, CA
2. Where do you live now? Boise, ID
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)? Just Fabulous Kensington (San Diego)
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little? German Chocolate Cake
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now? Sacher Torte
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you? An eggnog cheesecake
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand? Blueberry Pie
1. St. Louis, MO
2. St. Louis, MO
3. Gooey butter cake
4. Black-bottom cupcakes
5. Bread pudding
6. An opera cake I had at a restaurant in Pittsburgh about five years ago, that’s how badly we need a good pastry chef in St. Louis.
7. Just about anything with white chocolate
Where are you originally from?
California; Ventura County... Moorpark
Where do you live now?
Oklahoma; Southern Oklahoma... Ardmore
*If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
Red Velvet cake... as its original start was in the south!
What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
The confetti cake with the confetti frosting! and Cheesecake
What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
Cinnamon Rolls, Red Velvet Cake, Homemade Bread
What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
Creme Brule Cheesecake
Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand? Fruit cakes... the ones they send out around the holidays... eww I never liked those!
1. I'm originally from Tulsa, OK.
2. I now live in Los Angeles, CA.
3. Since I travel around Socal a lot, there is really a wide array: Honey Bakery in Cerritos, Susina Bakery in LA, Jin Patisserie in Venice, Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego.
4. My mom's chocolate bundt cake.
5. Too many to list; essentially anything with chocolate.
6. My cousin's cheesecake with berry topping.
7. Anything with lemon or peanut butter.
pamelayu@gmail.com
1. I'm originally from Providence, RI.
2. I still live in Providence, RI.
3. Hm... well, I would definitely want the Cakespy to try the cakes, pies, and other delights from Gregg's restaurant.
4. Yellow cake, hands down.
5. Probably still yellow cake. With vanilla frosting, of course.
6. A chocolate peanut butter mousse cheesecake concoction that was to die for.
7. Anything with coconut!
1. are you originally from? Northern KY
2. Where do you live now? Northern KY
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)? Graeter's in the Cincinnati area. I haven't tried many of their desserts, but I LOVE their hamburger buns!
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little? My mom made chocolate/peanut butter fudge from a box of pudding, and it was always great (even when it was eaten with a spoon :))
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now? I love me some Gooey Butter Cake.
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you? Haven't been wowed in a while, but I have a recipe for Lemon Tart on the horizon that looks great!
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand? Coconut (it's the texture), coffee-flavored stuff, cheesecake.
1. Where are you originally from?
Voorhees, New Jersey
2. Where do you live now?
Voorhees, New Jersey
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
I'm vegan, so I much more often bake my own treats than buy them!
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
Pumpkin pie!
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
Almost any kind of pie! I'm no longer picky about the fruit filling.
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
One of the best things I ever had was donuts in Las Vegas from a mom and pop place that happened to be vegan. I must have had three donuts in one sitting. They were amazing!
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
I don't really like citrus in my desserts!
Where are you originally from? Barto, Pennsylvania
Where do you live now? Ardmore, Pennsylvania
*If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)? There aren't any that I frequent. I make my own desserts.
What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little? Eating the Rhubarb Pie at Grandmom's after helping her cut it from the garden in the morning. She just turned 90 and we ate Rhubarb Pie!
What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now? I love cookies
What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you? Chocolate cookies made by a co-worker
Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand? I don't really like puddings or flans. It's a consistency thing...
1. Where are you originally from?
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
2. Where do you live now?
Almora, Uttarakhand, India
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
Well, the bakeries here are no great shakes..but I like the Chocolate Ultima at the bakery which is 2 and a half hours away from my house.
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
Doughnuts!!
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
Lime cheese cake
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
Lime cheese cake
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
Tiramisu!!!
1. Kitchener, Ontario, CANADA
2. St. Catharines, Ontario, CANADA
3. If you were ever to come to Canada you must find a place that sell Beaver Tails (a fried dough pastry that is often topped with icing sugar, cinnamon or a fruit filling). Anna Olsons Bakery in Port Dalhousie (St. Catharines) has the most AMAZING sticky buns! 4. When I little my mother made the most amazing European Chocolate Ganache Cakes.
5. Cake truffles are currently my favorite. I am trying to mimic my Mother's European Chocolate Truffles using leftover cake from my baking.
5. My mother-in-laws Christmas Fruit cake....I hate fruitcake and hers surprised me because it was actually good!
6. FRUIT CAKE! The world would be a happier place if there were more cupcakes and less fruitcake!
1. Where are you originally from?
California.
2. Where do you live now?
North Carolina.
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
I'm really not sure. My area actually only has two bakeries that I know of and they're pretty lame. Like you'd get the same quality at the local grocery store lame. However, in my old town we had this cute little donut shop called Donut King that was just awfully delicious.
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
Probably donuts from Donut King.
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
Cupcakes! Ice cream too. I would live off ice cream if it wasn't so bad for you.
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
Mocha Mousse Cheesecake that I actually found in a cookie cookbook. I'm still not sure why they had cheesecake in that book.
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
Pies with fruit. I don't know what it is about baked fruit that grosses me out, but I hate it.
1. Where are you originally from?
Taipei, Taiwan
2. Where do you live now?
New York City, NY
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
Sullivan Street Bakery for their breads, pizza bianca and they make the best pastry cream filled bombolonis.
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
My mom's flan and chocolate cheesecake.
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
Cupcakes, crostatas and tarts.
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
BLT Market's Passionfruit Crepe Souffle.
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
Anything that's overly sweet or executed badly or stale or anything with raisins or dried fruit.
Where are you originally from?
Long Island
Where do you live now?
Long Island
*If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
Rainbow cookies and cannoli from Dortoni's Italian Bakery in Levittown, MY
What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
Grandma's apple pie
Black and white cookies
Tiramisu
What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
Red velvet cake/cupcakes
What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
Chocolate lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
Anything with coconut shavings on it!!
Where are you originally from?
State College, PA
Where do you live now?
State College, PA
*If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
You'd have to try The Diner's famous grilled stickies. They are sticky buns (baked) that are grilled right before they're served up. Hot, gooey and delicious!
What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
Carrot cake. Still a favorite, especially when topped with a tiny marzipan carrot.
What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
I'm sort of on a custard/creme brulee kick right now.
What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
A fruit tart from our local Wegman's. Super good.
Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
Just the ones that taste more like chemicals than homebaked goodness. Blech.
I was just recommended visiting this website by the author Judi Ryan Hendricks (author of Bread Alone and The Bakers Apprentice) I really enjoy this site!
1. Where are you originally from?
Burnt river, Canada
2. Where do you live now?
Ottawa, canada
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
Art-is-in Bakery has the best artisan bread in the area, maybe even the province, as for sweets there is a lady making wonderful cookies here in ottawa, the company is called Isabella &co, shes actually doing designer cookies for holt renfrew.
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
5. chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin pie (not necessarily together)
6. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
7. I have become obsessed with bread, but as a dessert i love pecan tarts/ pies and anything chocolate
8. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
9. I made a pumpkin cheesecake that was surprisingly very delicious
10. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
11. I don't like meringues
1. Where are you originally from? - Michigan
2. Where do you live now? - Michigan :)
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)? - Sweetwater Doughnuts in my college town of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little? - Does puppy chow count?? Other then that the ever classic funfetti cake with funfetti frosting.
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now? - Red Velvet layer cake with a classic cream cheese frosting.
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you? - Carrot Cake. It was moist and flavorful and the cream cheese frosting was great.
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand? - Anything with rhubarb.
1.Where are you originally from: Finland
2. Where do you like now: Finland
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must try in your area (either in the area where you live now or the are where you're originally from?):
I would definitely recommmend Cafe Esplanad and Fazer Cafe in Helsinki. Fazer Cafe offers a wonderful selection of delicious and gorgeous cakes. Cafe Esplanad has the must-try traditional Finnish(and the biggest in Finland) "korvapuustit" or in english; cinnamon buns. They are absolutely delicious.
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?: That's a difficult one:) I always loved my grandmothers german "Erdbeertorte" ; strawberry torte with extra whipped cream.
5.What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?: Again oh so difficult:)I still love all tortes, but i'd have to say homemade ice-cream.
6. What was the latest dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?: That would have to be the chocolate torte from Fazer Cafe.
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?: I've got a big sweet tooth so i like almost anything baked good or dessert related. But I don't necessarily like baked goods that are too dry. Dry and crumbly just isn't good.
I'm gonna fill this our just 'cause I found it and it got me thinking!!
1. Where are you originally from?
Ajax, ON
2. Where do you live now?
Oshawa, ON
3. *If* the Cakespy crew were taking a road trip across the nation, what baked goods or bakeries would be a must-try in your area (either the area you live now, or the area you're originally from)?
Hmm, I would have to say Grany's Bakery's Chelsea Buns from up in Bobcaygeon.
4. What was your favorite baked good or dessert item when you were little?
My mom's shortbread cookies or apple squares.
5. What is your favorite baked good or dessert item now?
My mom's apple squares.
6. What was the last dessert item or baked good that really "wowed" you?
That's a good question, maybe the strawberry shortcake I made in baking class, or the http://yummysmells.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-cookie-for-1-million.html" REL="nofollow"> million dollar cookies
7. Are there any desserts or baked goods that you just can't stand?
Pumpkin pie, anything "cream".