Calling all cake mavens: tasty wedding cake in CT?
We're getting married in June in New Haven, and are sort baffled as to where to even begin to look for absolutely delicious wedding cake. We really don't care what it looks like. It has to be tiered, I suppose, for the sake of all the aunts and great-aunts and so on, but other than that, we want a really, really yummy and moist and I-want-three-servings good LORD this is good kind of cake. (Reasonably priced would be nice, too, if humanly possible.) Any thoughts, anyone?
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Lucibello's?!?!?! No offense to those who posted in favor of, but YUCK!!!!!!!!!!! Heavy, cardboard, fatty, crusty. I've had pastry in Italy and believe me- it's nothing like what you get at Lucibello's or any of the Italian bakeries in New Haven; much more delicate. Similiarly- Julia's in Orange bakes from the same 'mold' so-to-speak. Heavy, and sugary- everything is over-sugared. Might as well go to Costco or Big Y.
Hands down...Marjolaine's on State Street. Best patisserie in CT.
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I applaud someone else who reported that Take the Cake are rude and not customer friendly. Although they can at times make an adequate cake, they will not accommodate customers with requests or customs and they are some of the rudest people I have had the displeasure of speaking with. I would make a homemade cake and I hate to bake...before ever going there again.
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re: Minnow555
I've had similar situations with them and with Julia's in Orange. I was standing at the cake counter and no one would help me. You'd ask one those young girls and who's on their cell phone, who's on their break, "I don't work with the cakes, I do donuts", blah blah blah. A lot of places forget that this is the SERVICE INDUSTRY.
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re: triggs73
I can't understand how & why these types of business people succeed!? What is so hard about being semi-friendly and accomodating the customer's requests. You'd think they were giving you the cake for free and we all know that is, by far, not the case. I know that when it's my daughter's time to get married, I will not be calling Julia's or Take the Cake.
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re: joan mar
carbonara
Sep 6, 2008 09:12 AM
Cake was very good, and pretty, though not sure it was quite worth $6 / slice. A few guests said it was the best wedding cake they'ed had, but it still wasn't the light, fluffy, super-moist 1950s style layer cake we love and can almost never find.
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brooklynbrownie
Feb 28, 2008 07:43 PM
I would vote for Rocco's or Marjolaine. Those were our top two when we got married. Our wedding was in August and the bakers at Marjolaine were on vacation so that was the deciding factor. The folks at Rocco's are wonderful and they created a beautiful cake from a design I gave them. The price was definitely VERY reasonable. The cake wasn't super fancy, but it was moist and delicious. I got it with the buttercream frosting instead of the traditional Italian whipped cream.
Good luck with your search and congratulations!!!
BTW, when we got married 4 years ago, I seem to remember the wedding cake fact sheet from Marjolaine saying something about don't save your top tier because who wants to eat 1 year old cake and that they'll bake you a little cake on your anniversary. Don't know if they still offer this, but it's a sweet idea. Though with the money you'll save at Rocco's you could just buy a nice big cake on your anniversary. ;)
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Yuk, Lucibello's is painfully Italian, oversweet, their pastries taste lardy and starchy. Everything I ever had from there left me feeling as though I had been licking the bottom of the sopapilla cart at the end of the Firemen's Fair. New Havenites who grew up here think it is the best thing and perhaps for American-Italian baked goods, it is. However, there are no Italian bakeries in New Haven that stand up as half-way edible if your palette is used to the freshness and flavor of French-inspired baking.
No question the best pastry in New Haven comes from Marjolaine on State St. There used to be a wonderful place called Patisserie Normande on Whitney but I just drove by and they look pretty out of business. The other fabulous cake place is Take the Cake--in Branford, I think. They have a blueberry butter cream (with fresh blueberries ground up in the frosting) that brings a twinge to my mouth and stomach when I remember it--10 years later! It is that good. Marjolaine would be my first choice. Randy is a true artiste when it comes to flavor--sophisticated without pretense, pure fresh ingredients. He's very friendly and will work with you--direct personal touch with the person who will make your cake. Marjolaine can't be beat and you won't go wrong there. I'd also give a nod to Julia's on Grove St. The also understand the importance of fresh real whole ingredients. I love their pastries and their execution, I've just never had a cake from there. I'm not sure if either Julia's or Marjolaine deliver; I'm pretty sure Take the Cake does. Chestnut Fine Foods (also on State St.) is also excellent and does the full menu. They did all the (delicious, interesting, sophisticated and FRESH) food for my last minute backyard wedding and knocked everyone's socks off. They definitely bake VERY well, too. Good luck!
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carbonara
Feb 10, 2008 08:33 AM
We actually ended up going with CakeSuite Specialty Cakes, on the recommendation of our beloved and CHish caterer. Sight unseen, too. Or taste untasted, I guess. We were traveling too much for work-related reasons to be able to taste properly. Dum spiro spero.
Tried calling Take the Cake, but they were sort of rude and brusque over the phone, and we just don't have the time or patience for that kind of customer service. CakeSuite was very civil, and very professional. How the cake will taste remains to be seen, though!
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EastRocker
Feb 8, 2008 12:29 PM
4 and 20 Blackbirds in Guilford makes some insanely good cake.
I am not sure if they do wedding cakes, but Chestnut Fine Foods in New Haven is also top notch. http://www.chestnutfinefoods.com/inde...
Take the Cake makes great stuff, but it sounds like some people have had service issues there. I would check them out for yourself.
Lucibello's and Julia's are both good, but very traditional italian.
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re: EastRocker
javaandjazz
Feb 8, 2008 01:45 PM
Is Chestnut FF just a caterer or is it a shop to go in and buy foods and products also? Thanks, Rich
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Forget Take the Cake- rude people and no customs done. THE BEST cakes are from J Cakes- RTE 80 Branford 488-2800, and Sterling Cakes in Branford near RTE 1- 315-1266. Try a small sample cake from either- all made to order for any occassion- you will be thanking me!
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re: vino5150
Another big vote for JCakes!!!! I am a cake fiend.. and I must say I've never been to a wedding/event/etc that had a cake that compares to those of JCakes. Seriously - so moist.. so delicious. I am starting to drool right now..
And Hope, the owner - is FANTASTIC to work with. Lots of pics and info on their website, too - http://www.j-cakes.com .
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I don't love cake in general - and the worst is cake that has a terrible texture- my sweet of choice is ice cream...but absolutely to die for cakes - Lulu's in Scarsdale. Obviously not in CT, but they do deliver. I may have had other suggestions...but the only cake I've ever had that fits the "I-want-three-servings good Lord this good cake" bill in my opinion is Lulu's.
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javaandjazz
Feb 5, 2008 01:10 PM
We got a cake for my father's 60th birthday at Marjolaine on State St. It was huge and also very good. Not sure if they make wedding cakes but this chocolate mousse cake was both beautiful & delicious.
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re: javaandjazz
I always ask two questions...
1. Do you make the cake from scratch...or is it a mix
2. Is it real butter cream or a commercial product....a good baker can make a real butter cream and it will stand up...but if having it outdoors in July is a necessity...it will not be real.
And if there is cream involved...if you have t ask...
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take the cake is VERY good. The bakery that did my wedding cake in Darien went out of business (alpine bakery) and people still talk about how good it was.
white cake w/raspberry mousse filling.
At take the cake I've had the chocolate cake w/raspberry mousse and white buttercream frosting and it was very good.
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gryphonskeeper
Feb 4, 2008 03:04 PM
Want my advice? Get a spice or carrot cake. I had a special cake made for my wedding, the top was a decadent carrot cake, the middle was a spice cake with apple rum filling, and the bottom was also spice, but with a butterscotch filling. EVERYONE raved about it.
also, look into bridal expos, they are going on all over, and will have tons of free cake samples.
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cheereeo
Feb 4, 2008 01:43 PM
I continue to be partial to Julia's Bakery in Orange. I love their cannoli filling, and it is incredible if you can order marble cake and do one layer of cannoli and one layer of fudge filling with their traditional buttercream on the outside. I am not a fan of those fondant encased cakes--so nasty! I also am not a fan of Italian style soaked cakes with whipped cream frosting. The girls that work at JUlia's can be really unfriendly though; I have tried asking their advice and they just sort of stand there. I have found that it is much better if you can go during the day (preferably morning) when the custom cake specialist is there, along with some of their seasoned staff. www.juliasbakery.com
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Try Lucibello's at the corner of Grand and Olive. Not fancy, but a good , moist and tasty Italian cake. Get it with whipped cream. They did our wedding cake 20 years ago. I still get birthday cakes from them and they still taste good. Rocco's in Fairhaven also has good Italian cakes. BTW they are also priced right.
