What are the best cakes and where?

[snoobie]

I need to buy a wonderful cake and am very flexible on the type. What are your opinions on the best individual cakes... and where can I get them.

Many thanks

[laurelmcg]

I'm not sure how these cakes compare to the others mentioned, but I can say they were delicious and they support a great cause: www.eatmywords.org

All proceeds go to the Stephen Lewis Foundations to help those living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. I just ordered some for a baby shower and they were beautiful and delicious. (They do cakes and cupcakes)

[air621]

My wedding cake was a Dufflet's fudge cake with a fondant icing. The best cake I've ever had.

[esf2003]

I enjoyed the mini-cakes at Senses a lot, but they are quite expensive for the size.

[FlavoursGal]

I enjoy the cakes and pastries from Amadeus, on Bathurst between Steeles and Centre. It's a European-style (I assume Austrian, given the name) patisserie that has many offerings featuring not-too-sweet whipped cream and pastry cream, my favourites.

[Charles Yu]

Had an unforgettable ' Tarte Normande' from Rahier a few months ago. Extremely buttery shortcake crust with a 'to-die-for' custard filling covered with small chunks of crisp/chewy/moist apple and topped with roasted almonds. Very similar in quality to the one I had in Paris' "Le Notre". The cake was paired with a glass of German Riesling Auslese from Gunderloch. A match in heaven!!!

[redearth]

Dufflet's!

http://www.dufflet.com/home.asp

[hungryabbey]

I always buy the dufflets "cakelets" which are small enough for like 4-6 ppl perfectly. My favourites are the banana caramel and the mocha..

[wordsworth]

They are absolutely dreadful.

[Poorboy]

Yes to the Harbord Bakery as well.

Here is one though that is a favourite of mine:
Sweet Indulgence on Coxwell Avenue.
I usually get the Black Forest Cake or Peaches and Cream cakes.
They are very creative in decorating and can work with whatever your theme needs are.
It is a small shop that has a brisk storefront business that usually sells out of everything by the end of the day.

[pearlD]

Harbord Bakery makes an exceptionally good open face Lemon Pie. I have to say that " La Rocca Cakes" sold in Loblaws are pretty hard to beat particularly the Chocolate Truffle Cake...however,the fresh Fruit Tartes they sell in the summer look better than they taste. Baker Street Bakery is not bad either(pre-order required). One of my old time favourities was the Gateau Basque at Le Petit Gourmet..not sure if they are around anymore(north of Ramsden Park, west side of Yonge St.)

[idnas]

We got my birthday cake from Sweet Indulgence today. It was an impulse buy so we didn't order ahead. I chose the amaretto and sour cherry chocolate cake and it's a winner. The cake isn't as dark and dense as I usually like chocolate cake but it's very good - light, moist and not too sweet, with the almond/amaretto flavor shining through. Perfect to offset the sour cherries, paired with a light chocolate frosting between the three layers. A thin dark ganache on top (decorated with maraschino cherries) and a dusting of coconut around the sides. Nice and light overall. In fact, I think I'll have a second slice now. :>

[happycamper]

If you are looking for truly scrumptious birthday cakes with a homy touch, try Harbord Bakery near the corner of Harbord and Spadina. The Chocolate cake is to die for.

IF you are looking for an asian inspired cake thats on the less sweet, more airy side, try T&T supermarket's bakery. I like their cheesecake, its very very light, almost like a sponge cake, but cheesy and creamy at the bottom. their birthday cakes like mango pudding is also a favorite.

[BLM]

What about for Chinese or Asian inspiration? Any suggestions? Increasing I've been finding the cakes at traditional shops(French or whatever), to be much too sweet. Asian cakes are generally much less sweeter. I've heard that Belgium pastries are less sweet than French. Any good places in Toronto for Belgium cakes(I don't even know any good Belgium cake places in Montreal)?

[Royaljelly]

Maxim's on Finch, between Leslie and Bayview makes some good asian cakes. Our favorite is the hazelnut cream cake.

The cakes/desserts at MichaelAngelo's supermarket on Hwy 7 & Woodbine is pretty decent too.

Dufflet is over-rated and too sweet.

[Irma]

I agree - Maxim's has really good cakes. They're not too sweet and the presentation is beautiful! We love their tiramisu cake - so light and cloudy!

[sugarcube]

Gateaux de Paris in Pacific Mall has a Chinese pastry chef with nice looking cakes: a lot of mousse based creations.

[corinaci]

For Austrian and Mittel-European inspiration - Sweet Gallery on Mt Pleasant, comfort food to some :).

[Rabbit]

The Red Tea Box on Queen West has very artful, beautiful and innovative cakery (is that a word... what they do feeeeels like "cakery").

You can pop down there for tea and see the very imaginative creations their kitchen is turning out. Very unique (hence probably not entirely economical... still, soooo beautiful).

[wheresthafood]

Noisette at Warden & Steeles in Markham.

http://www.noisette.ca/

They provided the cake for our wedding and 2 birthday cakes for my son.

We always go for the orange/vanilla cake with white chocolate frosting. The orange is very subtle and delicious. We've also tried their banana bread, which has got to be the best I've ever had.

The owner, Hannah, is terrific to work with and the prices are reasonable. Can't remember what we paid for the last birthday cake but I do remember thinking it was a fair price. And they are fairly inventive with the decorations.

[sugarcube]

I noticed their website requires you to have 'desserts ordered in multiples of 6'. Does this mean their bakery is not open to the public for single item purchases?

[Snarf]

Patisserie La Cicogne on Bayview, just south of Eglinton. Large selection, many sizes, and while you're thinking about it, the best almond croissant in the city.

[snoobie]

What cakes are good at Patisserie La Cicogne?

[Splendid Wine Snob]

I love Thierry Schmitt's truffles from La Cigogne. He's good with chocolate.

[Splendid Wine Snob]

Celestin on Mount Pleasant. Martial Ribreau is a genius.

[snoobie]

What is the best cake at Celestin?

[Splendid Wine Snob]

Pretty much anything, but Le Royal is amazing.

One of his talents lies in making the cake consistency the same as the mousse consistency (I'm no baker, so please excuse my terminology), which is extremely difficult to do IMO. In addition, he does amazing things with fruit/chocolate, and it is one of the few places where I've enjoyed cakes and pastries that are both mind-blowingly delicious AND beautiful. Not confectionary sweet either (which I cannot stand)-he allows the natural flavours of the fruit to come through beautifully. Like a beautifully balanced symphony on the palate.