193295 Thu Jan 10 12:54:54 -0800 2002 10 18 Manhattan 0 1031576 Where can I get a really great birthday cake (preferably chocolate) on somewhat short notice? Thu Jan 10 12:54:54 -0800 2002 0 isabelle 1 1031577 Where are you located? There's a place called Buttercup Bake Shop at 973 Second Avenue (around 50th St.) - 350-4144. It's possible they could accommodate you on short notice. It's not *great* but it is pretty good. Thu Jan 10 13:14:43 -0800 2002 1031576 0 Dena 2 1031647 I actually had a GREAT birthday cake from Buttercup -- the chocolate sour cream cake. No frosting (Except a little to write Happy Birthday) but it didn't need it. And I love frosting. Seriously, it was dense, not too sweet not too intense -- Seriously good for any chocolate lover and a pretty good choice for those typically not too thrilled with cakes. Fri Jan 11 11:13:57 -0800 2002 1031577 0 Caitlin Wheeler 1 1031581 I'd give Soutine a call. They can probably do it for you within a day. Thu Jan 10 13:49:09 -0800 2002 1031576 0 gab 1 1031582 I picked up a nice cake (without calling ahead) at a bakery in Chelsea Market (9th ave and 15th St) called (I think) Ruth's. You might also want to try Cupcake Cafe on 9th Ave and 38th St. ALthough sometimes their frosting is a little too lardy for my taste... .but they're beautiful cakes! Thu Jan 10 13:55:23 -0800 2002 1031576 0 JessicaSophia 1 1031589 Pan Bagnat on 55th between 5th & 6th has great pastries/cakes. Thu Jan 10 15:11:29 -0800 2002 1031576 0 asmith 1 1031597 Also, there's that Cupcake place on the West Side (7th Ave / 9th Ave?) in the upper 30's. Thu Jan 10 16:17:27 -0800 2002 1031576 0 lancelotto 2 1031606 cupcake cafe's cakes are certainly pretty but they are not great by a long stretch - too sweet and too dry. Hard to fnd a really good chocolate cake these days. try the outer boroughs where neighborhood bakeries still rule Thu Jan 10 18:04:50 -0800 2002 1031597 0 tigerwoman 1 1031607 I think that Black Hound Bakery might be just the thing you're looking for. They have great dense chocolate cakes. They're located on 11th Street and 2nd Ave. Thu Jan 10 18:19:41 -0800 2002 1031576 0 Hidden 1 1031624 ceci-cela is good. Fri Jan 11 01:51:48 -0800 2002 1031576 0 sooth 1 1032093 Our current favorite source for cakes (used to be Cupcake Cafe, in the early 1990s) is -- believe it or not -- AMY'S BREAD in Hell's Kitchen (on Ninth Avenue in the 40s), which started making *amazing* devil's food cake, along with a few other layer cakes (a great red velvet cake, banana "monkey" cake, etc.) about a year or two ago. They're better than Magnolia and/or Buttercup's versions of the same. For Andrew's birthday last month, I ordered a chocolate cake from Amy's -- and after a three-course brunch with friends at Artisanal, the birthday cake was brought out and served almost as an afterthought. While I suspect no one imagined they could eat another bite after such an incredible brunch, everyone's cake disappeared instantly!! It's really that great. Karen Page Co-Author, BECOMING A CHEF, CULINARY ARTISTRY, DINING OUT and CHEF'S NIGHT OUT Link: http://www.amysbread.com Fri Jan 18 07:47:48 -0800 2002 1031576 0 Andrew Dornenburg & Karen Page