Need B'day cake for Oakland foodie's 30th.

[annabana]

I need rec's for a good to great b'day cake for this Lake Merrit living foodie's 30th. For a great cake I can/will travel beyond the Lake district. Cake should serve about 20. Flavor is flexible as long as its good, including the frosting. Thanks much.

[doulat]

Ladyfingers in Oakland

[annabana]

thanks fellow hounds for the recs. Looks like Crixia may be the one. will report back.

[wolfe]

So it's ix-nay on the rixa-cay due to a change in plans?

[annabana]

Probably, also crixa is not open on Sunday, the day of the party, so I'd have to drive over to the east bay from Mill Valley on Sat. to pick up the cake.

[wolfe]

Masse's is open on Sunday and if the party girl is named Andrea you're ahead of the game.;-)
http://www.superherodesigns.com/journ...
Citrus Chantelle with ladyfingers

[Robert Lauriston]

Crixa.

http://www.crixacakes.com/archives/ca...

[milklady]

I would order from Masse's Pastries first, Katrina Rozelle second, Sweet Adeline third, Crixa Cakes fourth, and La Farine fifth. They all make beautiful and delicious cakes, but each in their own style. I think that for a cake that feeds 20 you probably want slighty bigger than the ones you can just walk in and buy, so you probably will want to order in advance. Masse's will probably looks least like a traditional birthday cake. Note I rank Crixa and La Farine lower for cakes than most people, because I don't like alcohol in desserts, and alcohol features prominently in meany of their cakes.

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Crixa Cakes
2748 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA 94703

Masse's Pastries
1469 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709

Sweet Adeline
3350 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA

La Farine
6323 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Katrina Rozelle
5931 College Ave, Oakland, CA

[achefsbest]

I would go with Crixa too. I used to work in the same building with her before she moved into her present location and she always made amazing cakes. They tasted good too.

[bgbc]

We had the tres leches cake from Market Hall bakery for a birthday and it was really delicious. The frosting is quite good -- I think it was some sort of vanilla buttercream. Their largest round cake probably serves 20 easily.

I've had white cake with fresh cream and fruit from Ladyfingers and it was light and refreshing for a party n a warm day, but I wouldn't recommend it for a self-described foodie -- the cake itself is rather ordinary.

The next time I order a special cake it will be from Crixa. You might want to check they make cakes big enough to comfortable serve 20. I had a problem finding a cake to serve 25-30 (we ordered that half sheet tres leches and had leftovers) and can't remember what the "cutoff" is for the largest round cake at most bakeries I called.

[rblomq]

I would highly suggest Crixa Cakes -

http://www.crixa.net/

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Crixa Cakes
2748 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA 94703

[escargot3]

I don't know about the lake area in particular. Possibly La Farine on Piedmont Ave in Oakland, but I've only had their fruit tarts. or a bit further on College Ave, Katrina Roselle Bakery.

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La Farine
6323 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

[wolfe]

Why don't you give Taste Of Denmark a try?
http://www.chow.com/restaurants/91881...

[JasmineG]

They're using the old Neldem's recipes for cakes, and I would not recommend Neldem's cakes to anyone who wants good frosting. If you don't already love those kinds of cakes and you're looking for a great cake, that's not going to be what you want.

For the OP: what kind of cake do you want? Do you want a layer cake? If so, I've had good cakes from the Market Hall bakery in Oakland, though I can't say I have a favorite place for those kinds of cakes (even though they're my favorite, I just make them). Do you want a fancier kind of cake? If so, you might try Crixa in Berkeley. Other recommendations that often come up for cakes (I've had other things that I recommend at these bakeries, but haven't personally had the cakes): Sweet Adeline, and Masse's, both in Berkeley. Oh, and close to you there's Ladyfingers in Oakland -- I haven't been there in years, but remember them having good cakes.

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Sweet Adeline
3350 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA

[Stephanie Wong]

If you go to Taste of Denmark, stick with the Dream of Cream cake (4 layer light devil's food with whipped cream & smothered in chocolate shavings). To maximize shavings, don't get any other decorations. Used to be very reasonably priced @ Neldam's; don't know current prices.

I agree about JasmineG's frosting comment. However, Cathy (one of the employee owners) told me on Saturday, they are updating their offerings in addition to adding new baked goods to the old Neldman's line-up. Should be interesting to see.

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Taste of Denmark
3401 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

[wolfe]

Surely you can taste before you buy at ToD.

[Stephanie Wong]

I haven't asked recently (have been going there for almost 35 years). They do sell slices.

[wolfe]

I was referring to their apparently dreaded frosting..