409289 Thu Jun 07 16:57:45 -0700 2007 5 2 Los Angeles Area 0 2640157 Okay... I admit, I'm a bit girly. I like skirts, dresses and lipgloss. I dreamed of owning a unicorn as a little girl and having a hello kitty toaster when I had my first apt. For the most part however, I keep the girliness contained and rational. Especially now since I live with a stinky boy... But my one girlie WEAKINESS is for the color purple... if it is purple... I must have it... So you can imagine, how when I walked into the Vans Bakery in San Gabriel on Valley (Right across the street from Petrillos) I was drawn like a magnet to the Taro Cake. It was all PURPLE!!! http://flickr.com/photos/71363164@N00/531098272/ Luckily the cake tasted just as wonderful as it looked. The cake was wonderfully flavorful and moist. There was tarro bits in the center. The frosting was slightly dispointing as it was not as light and fluffy as Pheonix, but still not as pasty or heavy as a lot of other bakeries. P. countered my girliness with getting a plain ole creampuff. http://flickr.com/photos/71363164@N00/531098276 Although the pate choux was nice, crisp and very eggy. The filling inside was more like whipped cream than Pastry Cream. Nope, Angelmaid still has my heart for creampuffs. All in all, it was a very nice visit to Vans (Although their spices and pickle section makes the whole place smell anything like a bakery). I look forward to trying their famous waffles and other goodies next time! --Dommy! Thu Jun 07 16:57:45 -0700 2007 10659 Dommy 1 2640168 Next time you go, make sure to try the pandan boas (which are green!) and the taro rice pudding is eerily addictive. Thu Jun 07 17:02:07 -0700 2007 2640157 11583 ipsedixit 2 2640760 A slice of that cake might go well with Fosselman's Taro ice cream. Purple X 2. Just a few blocks away. Thu Jun 07 20:37:30 -0700 2007 2640168 90917 JeetJet 1 2640318 Do they have a branch in Anaheim/Garden Grove? I happened to be driving down Harbor Blvd. this morning and noticed a huge window full of what looked like tiered wedding cakes, and the sign was "Vans Bakery". Is it worth stopping in next time I'm in that neighborhood? Thu Jun 07 17:54:27 -0700 2007 2640157 10203 CynD 2 2640849 Yes, there is a branch in Orange. Another one in San Jose as well. Thu Jun 07 21:11:58 -0700 2007 2640318 11583 ipsedixit 2 2641786 Yes, there's one on Brookhurst and 11th in G.G. Fri Jun 08 08:33:04 -0700 2007 2640318 10811 Das Ubergeek