270652 Tue Aug 05 10:59:06 -0700 2003 12 17 What's My Craving? 0 1425993 After noticing the great suggestions in the Manhattan bakeries thread below, it occurred to me that Chowhound's the best place to ask advice re a wedding cake. I'm just starting to compile a list of bakeries for a November wedding. Though I know about Sylvia Weinstock and folks like that, what we're looking for is an elegant (probably tiered) cake that can feed 100, isn't completely overdone with flowers or kitchy stuff, and tastes wonderful--as it will be the primary dessert at our reception. We'd probably want two or three different flavors in the cake. It just seems that, too often, weddings cakes look beautiful but are dry and uninspired--which is, perhaps, the reason people suggest you order a cake that feeds 25% fewer guests than you will have. I went to a wedding in LA last month, and the cake was so good that people were going back for seconds and thirds. That's what I want. Thanks in advance for any ideas! Tue Aug 05 10:59:06 -0700 2003 0 NancyH 1 1425994 There's a very good bakery in Astoria, Ste. Honore Patisserie, 33-18 Ditmars Blvd., 718.278.3558. I've had some wonderful birthday cakes and other pastries from them, and I know they do wedding cakes. They have a tiramisu cake that's delicious. Tue Aug 05 12:14:10 -0700 2003 1425993 0 Puddle 2 1425996 My wife and I were blown away by the wedding cake we had three years ago from Park Pastries in Hoboken. Their retail shop is closed, but they're still doing wholesale. It was perhaps the best tasting cake of any kind we've had, and she's a total dessert snob. Tue Aug 05 13:16:01 -0700 2003 1425994 0 xavier 1 1425995 I got my cake from Ron Ben-Israel. Not sure what his contact info is but you can do a search and will find him. He is a wonderful man who makes the most delcious cakes according to what you want. He does do flowery stuff but will spend a lot of time with you to make sure you are getting exactly what you want. Also, the cakes are amazing. My husband proclaimed that he would not eat the top tier on our first anniversary as he didn't want to eat a 1 year old cake and ended up eating 2 big pieces as it was so delicious. He is quite pricey but worth it in my opinion. Tue Aug 05 12:47:39 -0700 2003 1425993 0 susanp 1 1425997 what about Cupcake Cafe? I've ordered three birthday cakes from them in the past and have always been 100% satisfied. when you order a custom cake, you know it'll be fresh--unlike the cupcakes in their display case sometimes. good luck! Tue Aug 05 17:51:33 -0700 2003 1425993 0 Jason 1 1425998 A dear friend recently got married and used as her baker Carlo's in Hoboken. She had two cakes, both of which were beautiful -- one a "whimsy cake" and one with sugar reproductions of roses grown by the bride's father. The cake was delicious, too. the website is www.carlosbakery.com Tue Aug 05 19:03:09 -0700 2003 1425993 0 Caitlin Wheeler 2 1426006 Thanks, Caitlin. Carlos' is definitely on our list--I've heard great things about them from somone else as well. Wed Aug 06 09:40:58 -0700 2003 1425998 0 NancyH 1 1425999 Try Gail Watson's cake. She does a great job and has a website. Tue Aug 05 19:23:59 -0700 2003 1425993 0 EE 1 1426003 I would recommend Polka Dot Cake Studio in WestVillage.They made my sister's wedding cake for 120 pp. in early july-was the best tasting cake ever!!A delicious passion fruit curd with silky frosting and vanilla(or was it lemon?)cake and a beautiful decoration with edible flowers..they custom design all their cakes and offer lots of tastings! Their website is polkadotcakes.com Wed Aug 06 00:58:53 -0700 2003 1425993 0 bree 1 1426012 Thanks everyone, for the great suggestions. I'll let you know what we end up with, and how it tastes! Thu Aug 07 09:37:54 -0700 2003 1425993 0 NancyH 1 1426026 I really want to just add Colette Peters to your list. She made our cake and the experience was wonderful. She's on West 10th and Washington in the city. Colette herself consulted with us at the beginning. She can do lovely patterns and designs and creations, but you can also work with her on making your own creation -- simple or elaborate. I wanted her to make something very special and unique to our Chinese heritage and gave her patterns and examples and we talked colors, and the cake was beautiful. She even took our names in Chinese and copied them into the cake as part of the design at the top of the cake. Most of all, it was delicious. The flavors of the cake and the creams (they can do jams, too) were great and it was moist and light. And she made us several little cakes to try combining flavors before we finalized our selection (of course you pay for them, but it wasn't much). We had tons of compliments on our cake; it was one of the highlights of our wedding both in taste and visual appeal. Take a look at her website (www.colettescakes.com), and pay her a visit. You want peace of mind at your wedding in so many ways, and knowing that your cake will be just what you want and trusting them to do that for you is a really important thing. It meant a lot to us. Good luck with everything. Fri Aug 08 00:32:15 -0700 2003 1425993 0 kittychow 2 1426028 Thanks, I'll make sure to check her out. Fri Aug 08 09:38:42 -0700 2003 1426026 0 NancyH 1 1426087 I got married in June and I can't recommend Food Attitude highly enough. They will hold a little tasting for you, and every sample was luscious. We ended up with something with a layer of red current, I don't remember what else, but everyone was raving about it. I don't especially like cake, either, but it was SO good. I have no idea about prices -- I had the reception at the Parker Meridien, and they arranged it. I'm telling you, the decision was really difficult, because whether you want something fruity or chocolately, they are all fabulous and beautiful. Congratulations, and good luck with all the planning. Tue Aug 12 11:03:50 -0700 2003 1425993 0 shrimpbird