404732 Thu May 24 08:31:29 -0700 2007 108 22 Quebec (including Montreal) 0 2598171 I've tried (and loved) the cupcakes at Cocoa Locale, but how are the cakes? One friend told me that she tried them at Esperanza (she was pretty sure that Cocoa Locale supplied them because the cookies and brownies were the same) and that they had too much icing. Thu May 24 08:31:29 -0700 2007 28292 eoj 1 2604104 Too much icing? Is there such a thing? Is this icing not the sole reason to eat cake? Seriously, having tried manyof the cakes, they are excellent. My favorites are: Blueberry lemon cake (fabulous), Red Velvet (if you see it, grab it, the best ever. She doesn't use much food colouring, she gets the red colour from beets, and so it is healthier than the regular red velvet cake which has tonnes of red food dye in it). and the chocolate orange cake (yummmmm). I tried the chocolate mint cake too. Normally I hate chocolate mint, but her version is very tasty, as it tastes like real mint (not like toothpaste). I was very pleasantly surprised, and would definitely get it again. Again, I ask, too much icing????? Sat May 26 08:35:54 -0700 2007 2598171 89969 moh 2 2616544 Can you please tell me what exactly is a red velvet cake? Thu May 31 07:27:35 -0700 2007 2604104 93639 FrenchPeach 3 2616591 A southern US specialty. Basically, a fine-crumb layer cake flavoured with cocoa, coloured a bright red (usually with red food colouring but traditionally with beet juice) and iced with a gooey white frosting. Cocoa Locale's version tastes strongly of cocoa, is a darker and duller red than many (due to the high proportion of cocoa and the use of beet juice, I'd guess), is less sweet than many, is not particularly fine-crumbed and is iced with cream cheese frosting. It's a winner and has quickly become one of the boutique's most requested items. Last weekend, Reema had a key lime cake that was, of course, absolutely gorgeous. Thu May 31 07:44:01 -0700 2007 2616544 10520 carswell 3 2616601 Red velvet cake is a cake made with cocoa to give a chocolate flavour, but it is dyed red (usually with red food colouring) to give a funky colour. The icing is usually a cream-cheese based icing (like the stuff on carrot cake). The lady at cocoa locale uses beets to give the colour (but don't worry, there is no residual beet taste) I believe it is a southern U.S. specialty. Thu May 31 07:46:51 -0700 2007 2616544 89969 moh 2 3761745 moh, I second the notion that there can NEVER be too much icing. Sun Jun 08 18:50:51 -0700 2008 2604104 196876 bakersdelight 3 3761907 I totally agree. I would eat her icing out of a large mixing bowl with a spoon very happily. And then I would probably die of an icing overdose, but hey, it's a good way to go. Sun Jun 08 20:02:56 -0700 2008 3761745 102149 killedwithkarate 1 2610845 Lol...seriously if the icing is good, is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? Again, I don't like cakes that are made of flour so much. I love mousse, cheesecakes etc. But Cocoa Locale has got me eating cake AND CUPCAKES. I haven't tried as many as moh but i love their ginger/lemon cake & the chocolate chai. Saying that, I haven't noticed that many of a variety of cakes as moh has written about... Tue May 29 12:54:00 -0700 2007 2598171 18988 kit 2 2616100 I must admit, I am a bit of a regular. If you saw my belly, you'd understand.... The close proximity of Cocoa Locale to my home is a good, but bad thing... She rotates the type of cake depending on season. However, I bet she'd be nice enough to take requests. If you like red velvet, it is definitely worth requesting, or just asking when she is next making them. yummmmm Wed May 30 23:35:55 -0700 2007 2610845 89969 moh 1 2616962 I've since tried the spicy chocolate cake ... it's amazing. very rich, but absolutely delicious! Thu May 31 09:24:56 -0700 2007 2598171 28292 eoj 1 2623971 about this time last year, reema sold me a chocolate zucchini bundt cake that was out of this world good. not too sweet and certainly not keel-over-and-die rich, it was perfect as a summer dessert. Sat Jun 02 15:49:31 -0700 2007 2598171 46797 jordan.n 2 4176068 I got a chance to try her chocolate zucchini cake, in a mini bundt format. It was moist and chocolatey, but light at the same time. There were little dots of raisins in it that exploded in my mouth. The overall effect was decadent, but the cake never got sickly sweet. The lady does magic. Attached is a photo of the beauty Sat Nov 15 11:36:10 -0800 2008 2623971 53259 emerilcantcook 1 3108888 Just had the Red Velvet cake for my bf birthday... yum yummy!!! Not too sweet, very tasty and the icing is heaven. Cocoa Locale is pure pleasure. Thu Nov 08 18:18:15 -0800 2007 2598171 139968 wilfred 2 3108949 Agreed 100%! I finally went there today for the first time and had the chocolate-chai cake - unbelievably dense, rich, complex and absolutely delicious. Not too sweet and utterly enjoyable. I don't know what took me so long, but I will definitely be back! Thu Nov 08 18:47:57 -0800 2007 3108888 66614 kpzoo 3 3108981 I had the red velvet cake for the first time today - utterly yummy... Thu Nov 08 19:01:31 -0800 2007 3108949 19331 cherylmtl 4 3109069 Everything that woman touches turns to deliciousness! I'm pretty sure there's nothing she can't make taste good. I highly, highly, HIGHLY suggest the vanilla lavender. It's so obscenely good that I can't even describe it. I'm actually going to have to go there tomorrow and get one. So help me, God, I need one of those tasty treats. Thu Nov 08 19:37:08 -0800 2007 3108981 102149 killedwithkarate 5 3109135 I just finished a second slice of the spicy chocolate cake (which today, is called Birthday cake for me). It's my fave from there. Hubby also picked up a vanilla cupcake and well, okay, I had to eat that too. Hey, Cheryl and KP - did you have that cake in honour of my BD?? LOL Thu Nov 08 20:04:17 -0800 2007 3109069 118582 maisonbistro 6 3109622 Funny, huh? Hey, too bad we didn't bump into each other (and the other Chowhounders who went yesterday) - we could have had an impromptu cupcake taste-off! Fri Nov 09 05:41:09 -0800 2007 3109135 66614 kpzoo 5 3109394 Actually, I would have gotten the vanilla lavender but she didn't have any small ones today - so I had to console myself with the red velvet... And happy birthday, maisonbistro! Thu Nov 08 23:30:13 -0800 2007 3109069 19331 cherylmtl 3 3109233 I've only seen it once or twice, but if you ever happen across Reema's raspberry rose cake, seize the day. It's like something you wished your grandmother made. Thu Nov 08 20:53:30 -0800 2007 3108949 10520 carswell 4 3111562 That sounds awesome. I've definitely never seen it, but I'll be on particular lookout now. Fri Nov 09 15:23:00 -0800 2007 3109233 28292 eoj 1 3111297 Need some advice: I tried the key lime pie, the red velvet and the ginger cookie (all within 7 days I must confest)... and I was thinking of the Chocolate Chai for this sunday... is that good choice? Whats her best-seller of all time... which cake is gonna make me cry :) Fri Nov 09 13:52:59 -0800 2007 2598171 139968 wilfred 2 3111466 Vanilla lavender is my favorite. If no avail, I think spicy chocolate is better than chocolate chai. Not that chocolate chai is bad :) Too bad she runs out very early. With my work killing me, I rarely have the time go to her shop, except for sundays (where she usually runs out around 2). But perhaps this is good, because otherwise I might indulge myself almost every day. Fri Nov 09 14:49:26 -0800 2007 3111297 53259 emerilcantcook 3 3111491 What's wrong with indulging every day huh???? Just because I'm going to be fat like a pig - just joking. We nearly polished off our small spicy chocolate a deux, I devoured the vanilla lavendar cupcake myself - there are some things a woman just can't share with her husband!! and tomorrow I am picking up 3 more cakes for the family version of my birthday celebration. I reserved a strawberry shortcake, spicy chocolate, and ummmm, oh darn, can't remember the third. 2 small, 1 medium all for $33 - not only ridiculously delicious but also incredibly reasonable - cheap I would even say. Fri Nov 09 14:56:59 -0800 2007 3111466 118582 maisonbistro 4 3111712 Does the vanilla lavender come in a cupcake format now? I am excited! Fri Nov 09 16:20:39 -0800 2007 3111491 53259 emerilcantcook 5 3111739 Uh huh. And it's dangerous. Vewy vewy dangerous. Fri Nov 09 16:32:42 -0800 2007 3111712 118582 maisonbistro 6 3111881 I thought the vanilla cupcake was just plain vanilla. Fri Nov 09 17:36:34 -0800 2007 3111739 28292 eoj 7 3112071 I'll ask her tomorrow when I go pick up the cakes, but I definitely detected more than just vanilla. Stay tuned... Fri Nov 09 19:35:32 -0800 2007 3111881 118582 maisonbistro 8 3113028 thanks guys, i will definitely pick up a vanilla lavendar and a chocolate chai and report back.. Sat Nov 10 10:54:58 -0800 2007 3112071 139968 wilfred 9 3114500 Oh, guys, I've been wanting to go to Cocoa Locale for a while now. Now that you gave awesome recommendations, I'm determined to go! Do you guys know if it's reachable by metro? Sun Nov 11 07:18:08 -0800 2007 3113028 142030 gremlin2 10 3114581 The closest stations would be Laurier or Mont-Royal, from where it's about 20 minutes by foot. You can hop the 51 bus from Laurier (or heading eastward from Snowdon, UdeM or Édouard-Montpetit) or the 11 or 97 from Mont-Royal over to Parc, then walk a couple of blocks south or north respectively. From Place des Arts station, you can take the 80 bus to Parc and Villeneuve (1 minute from the store) or the 129 to Parc and Mont-Royal (5 minutes from the store). You can also catch the southbound 80 at Jean-Talon station and the southeastbound 129 at Côte Ste-Catherine station. Check out the Tous Azimuts feature at the STM's website. It'll calculate the shortest trajectory from where you are to where you want to go at whatever time of day you specify. www.stcum.qc.ca/English/a-somm.htm Sun Nov 11 08:06:36 -0800 2007 3114500 10520 carswell 11 3114634 The bus 55 from St Laurent station also goes close. There is a stop at to St Laurent and Villeneuve, which is a short walk to her store at Parc and Vileneuve. I finally tried her lemon-coconut cupcakes. For the last few months, they were always sold out when I was there, but this time they were the only available items in display around 2:30 on a Saturday. I am never a fan of coconut in desserts, but Reema again did her magic and made these light and not extremely coconuty. Fantastic combination. Sun Nov 11 08:30:37 -0800 2007 3114581 53259 emerilcantcook 12 3115783 Okay so here's a not so glowing review. Had the Strawberry shortcake, the orange cream (like a creamsicle) and the necessary spicy chocolate. The first two I was not that impressed at all with. They were basically vanilla cakes, with vanilla icing and a few strawberries for the first and some orange flavour for the second. Don't get me wrong, they weren't horrible or anything, there just weren't what I have come to expect from her cakes. That being said, the quality of the ingredients and the simple beautiful presentation are still notable. I just wasn't overly impressed with the tastes. The spicy chocolate was again fantastic. Sun Nov 11 17:49:35 -0800 2007 3114634 118582 maisonbistro 13 3115810 Haven't tried the strawberry shortcake. While I'm not blown away by the orangesicle, it's very popular, especially with children, which has to be one of the reasons why it's often on offer. A flavour I like and that no one has mentioned in this thread is lemon olive oil. Sun Nov 11 18:03:09 -0800 2007 3115783 10520 carswell 14 3115941 Never there when I go or call to reserve someting. Must keep trying. Must try them all. Must eat cake. Sun Nov 11 19:10:05 -0800 2007 3115810 118582 maisonbistro 15 3152592 I have it on the best of authorities that the raspberry rose cake will be making a reappearance today (Sunday). Sun Nov 25 07:15:14 -0800 2007 3115941 10520 carswell 16 3152617 Ya think there will be a line up???? Last one there is a rotten egg! Sun Nov 25 07:26:19 -0800 2007 3152592 118582 maisonbistro 17 3152751 Aghh! I've already made my weekly trip (I have a rule, must only eat products once a week, otherwise I'd be there every day) Please please please give report on the raspberry rose cake so we can all enjoy vicariously.... Sun Nov 25 08:43:44 -0800 2007 3152617 89969 moh 18 3152758 Sunday's the first day of the week, you know. ;) Sun Nov 25 08:46:33 -0800 2007 3152751 10520 carswell 19 3152777 carswell, that is evil, pure unadulterated evil. It's 11:51, and I am tempted to join the queue (i live too darn close) But now my partner is threatening to not make his cranberry chocolate chip walnut cookies if I go... YOU SEE? YOU SEE WHY THE RULE IS IN PLACE???? Sun Nov 25 08:53:44 -0800 2007 3152758 89969 moh 20 3152996 Yummmy - would there be a recipe for those cranberry chocolate chip walnut cookies???? I'll trade ya for one of mine (recipes that is). Oh yeah, the cake.... GOT ONE Sun Nov 25 10:40:56 -0800 2007 3152777 118582 maisonbistro 21 3157232 maisonbistro, haven't forgotten about the recipe, but my hubbie has been playing with the recipe. He's been watching too much Alton Brown and Hester Blumenthal. But I must say his last batch from this Sunday (in place of the Cocoa Locale cake) was fabulous, so as soon as he finishes writing in the new details to his recipe, I can pass it along. BTW how was the cake???? Mon Nov 26 19:12:37 -0800 2007 3152996 89969 moh 22 3157270 Umm, I need to check out a thesaurus - 'cause I think I've already used up all the positive adjectives I know describing her cakes. Let's leave it at: you can't imagine what you missed!!! Thanks for the recipe - whenever he gets around to it is fine. Mon Nov 26 19:28:00 -0800 2007 3157232 118582 maisonbistro 22 3157368 "BTW how was the cake?" It lived up to my fond memory. Saying it's a vanilla cake studded with raspberries and subtly perfumed with rose doesn't begin to do justice to its balance of sweet and tart, bland and bright, fruit and flower, or to convey its uber-homey quality -- what I was trying to get at by describing it as "like something you wish your grandmother had made." Faced with such riches, who can choose between them? But it may be the cake that best captures Reema's special genius. Mon Nov 26 20:11:24 -0800 2007 3157232 10520 carswell 23 3158196 Mental note: next time Carswell gives me an excuse to go to Cocoa Locale twice in one week (Sunday's the first day of the week...) just do it. And of course, today is Tuesday, and she's closed, and so I'll have to wait at least 24 hours... Tue Nov 27 08:21:55 -0800 2007 3157368 89969 moh 24 3159796 OK, you guys, you are making me seriously doubt myself. I tried Cocoa Locale a few months ago and although I wanted to love it, I just didn't. I got 2 cupcakes, the vanilla and the chocolate chai, at the end of the day. Reema was indeed super nice. The vanilla cupcake had some background flavor (?lavender) that I didn't like and the icing seemed a bit old(?) and the chocolate chai seemed delicious at first but as I had more, it felt too dense yet crumbly at the same time, with a heavy aftertaste. I could not finish it. Did I just get a bad batch or had they sat out too long? Hearing all these raves I am tempted to go again and give it another shot. Maybe the cakes are the way to go? I prefer simple flavors, maybe plain vanilla or plain chocolate. Does Reema do that? Although raspberry rose sounds like a great combo. I've had great cupcakes in the US (San Fran and NYC) but I didn't feel Cocoa Locale was that...gasp... special. Please don't hate me and tell me what I should try there to join in all the love for Reema and her goods! :) Tue Nov 27 16:23:25 -0800 2007 3158196 12421 hungryann 25 3160026 Listen, no need for doubt, people can have different tastes, and that's ok. It may very well be that the chocolate chai is too dense for your liking, there is no question that it is a very dense rich cupcake. I also like light fluffy cupcakes, and so there is no need to feel you're missing the boat. There is more than one boat! If you like simple flavours, then it may be worth trying the red velvet cake. This is a great cake. Her chocolate orange cake is also very nice, it does not have the same flower-based flavours or strong spice flavours that some of the other cakes have. I find the orange flavour of this cake to be very subtle, so it might be less overpowering than the lavender flavours in the vanilla products, and the chai/chile flavours in the chocolate cakes. In the summer, her blueberry lemon cake is really very nice, one of my favorites. I also had her apple crumble cake, it was also excellent. But goodness, if they aren't to your taste, don't worry! Leaves more for the rest of us! And more power to you if you can resist them. I've put on 5 pounds since she opened up.... Tue Nov 27 17:35:32 -0800 2007 3159796 89969 moh 26 3162284 A recipe for Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies has been split to the Home Cooking board - you can find it here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/464499 Wed Nov 28 12:01:47 -0800 2007 3160026 2 The Chowhound Team 23 3172949 Just got my paws on one of the raspberry-rose cakes! just as you described it! My partner found the icing a bit sweet, but I liked it just fine. I thought the tart raspberries balanced the sweetness well. And the vanilla is so perfect. Went very well with a nice vanilla-scented black tea. An ideal way to spend a cold grey afternoon. Oh, important information: Reema will be open on Christmas eve which is a Monday, closed X-mas day then open the regular days the week after. But then SHE IS CLOSED FOR ALL OF JANUARY. So prepare for one month off, just in time for all of us to go on our post-holiday diets. I don't know if this is good or bad. Between this and Bombay Choupati being closed until near the end of January, I don't know what I'll eat. (Just kidding, there is plenty to eat.) Sun Dec 02 12:29:00 -0800 2007 3157368 89969 moh 24 3173753 Say it ain't so Joe (okay, I know your name isn't Joe, but well, it's the song). Man, a month without cocoa locale????? a whole month?????? Crap maybe I will end doing that diet thing after all. I mean, dessert just isn't worth eating if it isn't from Reema.... Sun Dec 02 18:26:40 -0800 2007 3172949 118582 maisonbistro 1 3243198 OK: RUN DON'T WALK! Just tried the eggnog cake! Vanilla cake base flavoured with eggnog and spices, and a cream cheese icing. OMG! She really manages to capture the luxurious eggnog experience in cake form. I might even like it better than the red velvet (blasphemy...) Don't forget she is closed all of January. I suspect we'll have to go back again before the weekend, thus breaking the once a week rule. Fri Dec 28 13:06:30 -0800 2007 2598171 89969 moh 2 3243261 Oooh ...that sounds good! I may have to reconsider my stance on Cocoa locale! How big is the cake and until when are they open? Fri Dec 28 13:27:05 -0800 2007 3243198 12421 hungryann 3 3243298 As I recall, she's open this Saturday, Sunday and Monday till she sells out (which was about 2 p.m. on Monday, the 24th) and then is closing for January. You can always call and ask: 514 271-7162. Fri Dec 28 13:41:45 -0800 2007 3243261 10520 carswell 3 3243352 We got the small cake for $8 and it is enough to serve 4-6 people (But the way we eat it, 2 large servings for two). Then she has her bigger size cake, which can serve 8-10 people. I always err on the side of less people, the cakes are pretty popular... Chocolate Orange with Christmas spices? you've got to be kidding... I didn't see that! Now I'll have to cry until I get solace through the last half of the eggnog cake. Fri Dec 28 14:00:57 -0800 2007 3243261 89969 moh 2 3243291 Haven't tried the eggnog cake but took a seasonal CL cake to dinner a few nights ago and everybody -- including grandparents, fussy kids and the I-never-eat-desserters -- swooned: chocolate orange with Christmas spices. I should have known we were in for a treat because Reema, modesty personified, let slip that she was really pleased with how it had turned out. What's crazy is that not only am I not normally a cake fan, I've never liked dessert spice mixtures (pumpkin pie, spice cake, gingerbread, eggnog and kin all get a big bleh from me), yet there I was wondering whether to fight for thirds. Fri Dec 28 13:38:49 -0800 2007 3243198 10520 carswell 2 3248264 We got an eggnog cake and I cannot wait until next year's batch! Soooo yummy. Sun Dec 30 19:04:58 -0800 2007 3243198 48563 mainsqueeze 3 3248435 I snagged the last one today and we will have it on New Year's Day. I hope it won't disappoint. Reema said it would hold fine until then by storing it in the fridge and then letting it sit out 12-18 hours at room temp. She is closed tomorrow unfortunately otherwise I would have delayed getting it until then. Sun Dec 30 20:14:36 -0800 2007 3248264 12421 hungryann 4 3248744 we had the second half of the eggnog cake 2 days after purchase and it was still great, I think you'll be ok. So I tried to sell Reema on offering the eggnog cake regularly, but it turns out she uses a lot of eggnog in the batter (as the main liquid) and so this cake really is dependent on the availability of eggnog. When we suggested she consider making her own eggnog, she was justifiably reluctant! Mon Dec 31 03:05:51 -0800 2007 3248435 89969 moh 5 3249146 Which is too bad since making your own eggnog isn't actually that hard and then it wouldn't be coloured with tartrazine. Mon Dec 31 08:23:24 -0800 2007 3248744 28292 eoj 6 3249247 And then you could put a bunch of real rum in it... Mon Dec 31 08:58:00 -0800 2007 3249146 89969 moh 5 3252223 The verdict is in about the eggnog cake: very good although it was a tad dry. I can only imagine how much better it is when fresh and moist. I think I will stick with cakes from now on at CL. Tue Jan 01 18:34:03 -0800 2008 3248744 12421 hungryann 1 3753933 Can't believe I am saying this but, I had a bad Cocoa Locale moment today. Finally went there early enough to score the notorious red velvet, made a nice cup of coffee and sat down to writing, hoping that the cake will inspire me out of my writers block. Got a bite. Uh oh! Didn't feel it...Got another... Still not getting the love... The cake was almost tasteless, no cocoa taste at all and the icing was nothing special (and if you may, a little bit too sour even for a cream cheese frosting). I felt odd; I felt betrayed. So a few hours later I tried another slice to see if my mind was playing games with me. It was still exceptionally ordinary. Don't take me wrong, it still tasted "homemade" , but it didn't have any of the complexity of other cakes I tasted from this little boutique. So I waited for my better half to come home and try it as well. He said: the cake is pretty bad, but the icing is fine. Just fine... It is ironic, just last week I had a Jeffrey Steingarten moment with one of her vanilla cupcakes. I bit it into half, and looked at it closely, smelled it, and even thought about sending it into a lab in Switzerland (just like Jeff would do) for a full chemical analysis to crack the mystery behind that frosting; perhaps a ph test and humidity level analysis of her bakery, if not a narcotics report. So I am hoping that this is just an "off day". Or perhaps my disappointment was due to my expectations about the red velvet. We are not talking about her Valhrona cakes for sure, but I think even a old school homey cake like red velvet should still taste like cocoa. And a cake from Cocoa Locale should always taste heavenly. So... booo! Thu Jun 05 15:42:38 -0700 2008 2598171 53259 emerilcantcook 2 3753999 Howdy! I'd suggest that the next time you're there, explaining your predicament (or repeating your post, but in person). I am 100% positive that Reema will not only apologize, but explain, and then let you know that she had a 'feeling' about them as well. Thu Jun 05 15:58:52 -0700 2008 3753933 68073 zekesgallery 3 3754046 Bonne idee. But she is so cute, I don't want to break her heart. Though, it just occurred to me that she might be reading the board already. If then, I still love your cakes Reema! But perhaps next time, I will pass the red velvet and try that key lime cake. Thu Jun 05 16:13:50 -0700 2008 3753999 53259 emerilcantcook 4 3754074 Cute but tuff. The red velvet normally tastes of cocoa. FWIW, the last time I had it I found the frosting sourer than usual. Key lime cake. Mmm. I felt so embarrassed the one time I bought it. Took it (the biggest size) -- along with a homemade chickpea salad, I hasten to add -- to a potluck where other people had brought a whole array of nice homemade desserts. The cake was gone five minutes after I set it out. The other desserts sat pretty much untouched as people were asking "any more of that cake?" Thu Jun 05 16:26:32 -0700 2008 3754046 10520 carswell 5 3754175 I agree; cute but tuff...there's clearly some edge and business savvy under those colourful aprons (perhaps also caused by a busy baking schedule: no time to chitchat when there is deliciousness to create!) For what it's worth, I love the cakes, cupcakes and spicy chili brownie, but was underwhelmed by the red velvet (esp in light of how much it had been hyped on the board). Maybe we both bought from the same batch? Key lime cake, though = sublime, and every variation of chocolate (lavender and orange are our favourites) cannot be beat. Thu Jun 05 17:03:16 -0700 2008 3754074 174294 Loveroffreecell 4 3754637 I've got to think you got a bad batch, i had a cake recently, very freshly made, and it was delicious! But maybe you are just not a fan of red velvet - nothing wrong with that! Still, the fact that you found the cake actually bad makes me wonder about the batch. The red velvet is certainly never been about over the top chocolate. For that, you need to stick to the actual chocolate cakes. I would agree her cream cheese icing tends a little more to the sour side, but that is why I like it. I find many cream cheese icings way too sweet. Anyone seen the blueberry lemon cake recently??? Thu Jun 05 20:06:02 -0700 2008 3754046 89969 moh 5 3754755 Not in the last month or so - last time I asked, she said the quality of the blueberries she'd been finding wasn't good enough for her to bother with. Personally, I'm waiting for the raspberry rose... Thu Jun 05 21:05:18 -0700 2008 3754637 19331 cherylmtl 6 3759327 Funny that I just wrote that yesterday, because today she had raspberry rose cakes! And, of course, I bought one. Now I can hardly wait for dessert. Sat Jun 07 15:38:54 -0700 2008 3754755 19331 cherylmtl 4 3755834 I don't think she reads these boards. When I was there last Friday, I asked her if she was aware of the Chowhound "chatter" of her opening up shop in NDG. She said that she was not aware & "Uh ... no" to opening in NDG. I then tried her lemon coconut cupcakes & was just blown away. Moist & delicious ... huge lemon taste, subtle coconut taste & great icing. Also brought home a chocolate chili cake ... once it came to room temperature I cut a slice, tasted it & was immediatley transported to my happy place. I love Reema! Fri Jun 06 08:48:01 -0700 2008 3754046 43126 RhondaB 5 3758027 I don't think she reads these food boards on any type of regular basis(she has no time), but I did ask her is she would ever consider opening a second location, just after the discussion here(I didn't mention Chowhound or that it would be in NDG). Fri Jun 06 20:44:58 -0700 2008 3755834 11610 BLM 1 4025922 Reema now has a web site: http://www.cocoalocale.com/ It is no more than an opening page for now, but wouldn't that be wonderful if she started posting "tomorrow's cake menu", just like Fuchsia does with the lunch specials? I am going to ask her next time if she is interested in doing this, but it might take a while because I just finished up a slice of my monthly allowance. Thu Sep 11 05:48:46 -0700 2008 2598171 53259 emerilcantcook 2 4169667 I finally made it to Cocoalocale yesterday, I think she beats all the other cupcake places I've tried ; I had a simple lemon cupcake, and brought home a ginger cookie, still untouched, I'm saving it for today's tea break. There she was, putting butter in her big mixer, really a hands on operation. Thu Nov 13 03:12:17 -0800 2008 4025922 166648 superbossmom 3 4177274 fwiw, I had a hard time digesting both bakery items, eaten one day apart. Way too much butter, I think. Much tastier than other bakeries though. Sun Nov 16 03:16:24 -0800 2008 4169667 166648 superbossmom 2 4313512 Darnit, the site is no longer working. I wanted to find out if I could order cakes for a party this month (January) but from this thread it looks like she goes on vacation in January. How's a girl supposed to order a good cake for a January b-day!! pish Sat Jan 10 07:56:13 -0800 2009 4025922 203842 TheSnowpea 3 4313516 The store will reopen on February 3. Though they're quite different in style, good cakes can also be found at Les Saveurs du Plateau and Fous Desserts, both on Laurier East. Sat Jan 10 07:59:22 -0800 2009 4313512 10520 carswell 4 4313573 mmhyeah we may indeed travel to the Plateau: NDG pâtisseries have failed to impress in the past. Sat Jan 10 08:26:45 -0800 2009 4313516 203842 TheSnowpea 4 4314879 Keep in mind that Fous Desserts will be closed next week, I believe they re-open only on the 20th. Sat Jan 10 17:29:09 -0800 2009 4313516 19331 cherylmtl 1 4262313 If anyone is planning to get some cakes for the fatteningdays, Cocoa Locale will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Among the new offerings I saw gingerbread spices and a vanilla-clementine. Sat Dec 20 13:28:23 -0800 2008 2598171 53259 emerilcantcook 2 4262360 Besides gingerbread, her seasonal offering includes eggnog and the fabulous chocolate orange with Christmas spices. She said she expects to be sold out by noon or early afternoon on Wednesday. Sat Dec 20 13:47:52 -0800 2008 4262313 10520 carswell 3 4286935 I went by at opening time and there was already a small line. I picked up a lemon olive oil cake, decorated with edible flowers. It's really fantastic. It has that perfect density of good Southern U.S. pound cake, but much more flavorful. The frosting is primo. Not too cloying with the perfect sweetness. A little more lemon wouldn't have hurt things, but that's really nitpicking. I can see why she's popular. Wed Dec 31 19:13:04 -0800 2008 4262360 248568 william_howard_taft 1 4280160 I don't want to start a panic, but... In a drive-by cake eating session, as I come in and go out of the city, I was reminded that Cocoa Locale is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week (Dec. 29-31), and then she is closed for one whole month!!! So if you need your cake fix, get there in the next few days... Mon Dec 29 10:50:13 -0800 2008 2598171 89969 moh 2 4281176 Any seasonal cakes from Reema only available for the holiday season? Mon Dec 29 15:55:20 -0800 2008 4280160 11610 BLM 3 4281195 Um... http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/404732#4262360 Mon Dec 29 16:02:12 -0800 2008 4281176 10520 carswell 1 4525606 Today there was a new flavour (at least to me): apple-cinnamon cake. Not very sweet vanilla layer cake studded with apple chunks (I'm guessing dried apples) and covered with a tangy, subtly cinnamony cream cheese icing. Simple but greater than the sum of its parts. Worth the detour. Sat Mar 21 13:40:07 -0700 2009 2598171 10520 carswell 2 4525648 Another new flavor was the orange-date-vanilla. A vanilla cake with date chunks, and some orange-vanilla icing. A little sweeter than her usual cakes, but more complex than her regular orange ones. I wouldn't call this one a masterpiece, but if you eat her cakes once a week and get bored with the classics, it is a nice change of pace. Sat Mar 21 13:58:33 -0700 2009 4525606 53259 emerilcantcook 2 4525810 We must have just missed each other. ;-) I was there this afternoon and got a chocolate-orange for the first time. I remarked to Reema that if I had had two clones of myself, I would have also picked up that apple-cinnamon as well as a lemon-olive oil. Glad you got to enjoy one. Sat Mar 21 15:13:39 -0700 2009 4525606 66614 kpzoo 3 5024742 Finally made it to Cocoa Locale today. Utter disappointment. We tried the red velvet cake. Blech. I'd rather eat a chocolate cake from Boulangerie Première Moisson (atwater market). We also got 1 of each type of cupcake: vanilla, chocolate chai, and lemon. Those were also utterly disappointing. We won't be returning. Sat Sep 12 11:38:19 -0700 2009 4525810 1108850 darkvlad 4 5025069 I came to chowhound just now for an entirely different reason and was waylaid by this thread. Then having no clue as to where it was I googled and came up with this clip that might be of interest to some! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXY8MJAF2q8 Sat Sep 12 14:25:56 -0700 2009 5024742 67879 aliris 5 5025776 Very nice video! Sat Sep 12 22:24:26 -0700 2009 5025069 259263 bigfellow 4 5026268 darkvlad: Was it the texture or the taste or both? Sun Sep 13 09:20:55 -0700 2009 5024742 87594 naturelle 5 5026770 thanks for the video, really captures the experience and her outfit sort of fit the fifties theme!. I would presume these cakes are preservative free as much as that is possible, a big plus nowadays. I wonder what the key lime pie is like, guess I will have to go back to give that a try! Love the decorations in this cake boutique and on the cakes! Sun Sep 13 14:16:26 -0700 2009 5026268 39407 wilmagrace 6 5026858 Her key lime pie is actually my favourite. It's nice and citrusy, not too heavy - a perfect dessert, IMHO. Then again, I will take citrus over chocolate any day, so YMMV. Sun Sep 13 15:04:50 -0700 2009 5026770 19331 cherylmtl 5 5053879 It was both. The cake was oddly spongy and heavy with an off-putting flavor. The icing was....just bad. Wed Sep 23 19:00:43 -0700 2009 5026268 1108850 darkvlad 4 5026764 Well, different strokes for different folks! Just means more cake and cupcake for me... :) It is true that the red velvet cake is hit and miss in that some people really love it and some people really don't. There has been debate about this particular cake in previous posts. So not everyone loves everything she makes. (wait a minute).... Wait! Yes you are so right! Yes, what was I thinking, disappointing indeed! Everyone should be going elsewhere.... (Boy I wonder if this will work) Sun Sep 13 14:13:52 -0700 2009 5024742 89969 moh 5 5053883 @ Moh "Yes, what was I thinking, disappointing indeed! Everyone should be going elsewhere...." At least we can agree on something :P Wed Sep 23 19:02:29 -0700 2009 5026764 1108850 darkvlad 6 5054037 So where do you go for cakes Darkvlad? You mentioned Premiere Moisson, is that your place of choice, or re there others? Where are your favorite bakeries? This site is after all about sharing tips to find deliciousness.... Wed Sep 23 20:12:53 -0700 2009 5053883 89969 moh 7 5054582 moh, you should try Chez Bernard in St. Sauveur. They have a very limited selection, but I had a very nice chocolate cake there once. Worth the detour. Thu Sep 24 06:33:56 -0700 2009 5054037 13143 souschef 4 5026995 Cocoa Locale is one of those CH Montreal orthodoxies that is rarely challenged (perhaps because Reema is such a nice person that you just want her baked goods to be the best ever). In my experience the product is generally good, inventive (for Montreal at least) but by no means amazing. These are good cupcakes and cakes but none has come close to being a revelation. The cakes have been better to me than the cupcakes, which often taste like they've been refrigerated...which they have. Sun Sep 13 16:04:05 -0700 2009 5024742 97533 thelonious777 5 5027444 Funny, I much much much prefer the cupcaes. Especially the vanilla ones.... Yum. Oh, umm, no, moh is right. Blech, they are YUCKY, yuck, disgusting. Don't buy them. Nope, don't- especially if there is only one left.... Sun Sep 13 19:33:04 -0700 2009 5026995 118582 maisonbistro 5 5034012 "The cakes have been better to me than the cupcakes, which often taste like they've been refrigerated...which they have." I may be wrong, but I believe she refrigerates all her icing products, INCLUDING the cakes. It is part of the process of setting the icing. She feels it makes her product better. She certainly does not have to refrigerate her cupcakes for the sake of preservation, as they sell out so quickly that she never has to worry about them staying fresh. The cakes move slower. Again different strokes. Fine by me, as she has no plans to expand her business or try to make more products. (see if this sticks?) Wed Sep 16 09:05:04 -0700 2009 5026995 89969 moh 6 5047358 I fell in love with the Szechuan peppercorn chocolate cake and Reema made it a point of mentioning to take it out of the fridge at least 1 hour before serving. Sheesh - giving customers advice like that ... what would ever prompt me to return there (anyone buyin?) Mon Sep 21 16:26:13 -0700 2009 5034012 43126 RhondaB 7 5047627 What horrible horrible customer service. Terrible. What is she thinking??/ Did I mention how delicious, I mean disgusting her vanilla cupcakes are? Ugh. Stay away. I suggest going to Loblaws for cake! Mon Sep 21 18:20:46 -0700 2009 5047358 118582 maisonbistro 7 5048037 Sadly ladies, our ploy is not working so well. On Sunday, by 1:15 she was out of the cupcakes, and nearly out of cakes. No one seems to be switching over. Darn! Our Chowwash has been much too successful :( On the plus side, hubbie was able to snag our favorite lemon blueberry cake. Such a lovely cake. Mon Sep 21 21:30:33 -0700 2009 5047358 89969 moh 5 5053888 Supporting local businesses is something that I champion---but I can't support a local business that doesn't supply something worth buying. Wed Sep 23 19:04:39 -0700 2009 5026995 1108850 darkvlad 6 5053997 How fortunate we are that Cocoa Locale doesn't fall into that category. Wed Sep 23 19:56:13 -0700 2009 5053888 10715 rcianci 6 5054464 Thanks darkvlad, and don't mind if seems like a bit of the the hand bags at 20 paces: ) I'm in Montreal often, but for limited windows of time, and I like to hear both sides. If I only have 45 minutes to walk from the metro to try the cakes I might save Cocoa Locale for another trip if it doesn't sound like my whimsy of the the day is one of the knockouts. Obviously there are great strengths at any place that so many love.... Thu Sep 24 05:29:35 -0700 2009 5053888 283658 Mei 1 5198531 FYI : Cocoa locale is closed for the week (up to nov. 26th) because of the "flu"... Sat Nov 21 11:11:30 -0800 2009 2598171 11828 Maximilien 2 5199021 I saw that too! Poor Reema! Get your flu shots everyone! Sat Nov 21 16:26:00 -0800 2009 5198531 262412 mammab