looking for old-fashion CAKE

[octobercat]

I have a conundrum. I have a big birthday coming up and I just want to find good old fashioned white birthday cake. 6". It can have coconut frosting. No fruity fillings for me. Just dryish white cake - kind of like the kind that Safeway sells. But, here is the clincher. I I'm into LESS SWEET. So, does anyone know of a bakery in the east bay that does simple, not very sweet, white or nearly white coconut cake? Or, actually, I'm not picky about the outside frosting. Just no fancy fruit fillings! I know I could make it myself, but I'm time strapped. Thanks!!

[sarvey]

Virginia Bakery fits the bill. Not too sweet, especially if you get the whipped cream frosting. I'm planning on ordering one for my wedding. No Katrina Rozelle for me, I'll take the $100 cake please!

[Gary Soup]

I've noticed that none of the responses have really addressed the sweetness issue of the cake itself, only the frosting. You probably don't have time to do the field work, but Chinese bakeries usually make cakes that are definitely less sweet, yet are otherwise similar to Western-style cakes. Not really being a cake-eater or cake-eater buyer (that's my Chinese M-I-L's role) I haven't paid a lot of attention to specific bakeries or products. Maybe we can get rworange to do one of her Blitzkrieg surveys!

[rworange]

The not sweet requirement could be met at a Chinese bakery, but the cake texture and coconut don't. Chinese bakeries tend to have the lighter sponge cakes and I don't think I've ever seen coconut except as a creme filling for buns. Oddly enough, Filipino bakeries that have similar cakes don't do coconut either ... you would think.

I double checked Goldilocks
http://www.goldilocks-usa.com/us-specialtycakes02.htm

and the Chinese bakery, Sheng Kee
http://www.shengkee.com/share/cgi-bin...

Even Mexicans don't do coconut cakes. The only coconut things I've noticed are they jelly roll slices with coconut on the outside.

Maybe it has to do with the mousse / whipped cream that doesn't lend it self to coconut ... though now I'm thinking shredded coconut on whipped cream cake might be a good taste. Going have to buy a slice and add some coconut to see how that combo works.

[Gary Soup]

The OP stated vthat he/she was not picky about it having coconut frosting. You cited one Chinese bakery, but there are dozens, with differing takes on Western pastries.

[rworange]

Just provided the links as a back up that those types of bakeries don't do coconut based cakes as far as I know. Hopefully if someone knows of one that does, your post will jog a memory.

Here's a link to info about Princess bakery in Oakland which seems more into mousse and gelatin cakes, but it doesn't hurt to ask at any of the places.
http://www.chow.com/digest/1855

Most of the other Filipino/Chinese bakeries I know are north of El Cerrito and I'm guessing the OP is looking in the Oakland/Berkely area.

Another thought might be Lola's on Solano for a custom order. You could tell Donna exactly how you want it made. They don't have a regular bakery line. They just do an ever changing variety of cakes and baked goods. The cakes I've tried have been wonderful .. .but usually chocolate. Lola's would be pricy though, if they made one.

[kinipela]

i like red ribbon for filipino cakes... very light and spongy.... and less expensive than goldilocks... but i think there's more goldilocks than red ribbon bake shops.. be careful searching red ribbon bake shops, i searched red ribbon for my SO's grad dinner, and well, something else popped up... i'm sure the link i happened to click was off... ack...

good call on the asian bakeshops though... they really are less sweet... =)

[ML8000]

Neldam's is a good choice. There's also Merriot Bakery...also old school and you can tell them how you want it made.

[Bookmark]

I too recommend Virginia for June Cleaver-ish layer cakes.

They take spl orders, so you could prob ask them to dial down the sweetness in the frosting. W/ all the highend, $$$$, frou frou cakes available in the area (which I enjoy) I still find myself at Virginia 2-3 times/yr to relive my childhood.

[kinipela]

safeway and costco cakes are pretty good for last minute cake... i don't know where you are in the east bay, but vienna bakery on mowry in fremont has great cakes.... they sell specialty cakes, but they also do sheet cakes... not very sweet.. very very moist...

[JasmineG]

You could also check with Virginia Bakery (on Shattuck at Virginia in Berkeley).

[rworange]

Neldham's. However I'm not sure of the filling. I think they might put lemon in it. However, if you don't need it today or tommorrow you could probably order it without the lemon filling.

[octobercat]

Thanks! I'll check that out.