Before we left for Charleston last week, I turned to the internet for carrot cake advice. I love carrot cake, see, and I’m trying to find the Very Best Carrot Cake on Earth. (You can see my top picks thus far over in the left-hand sidebar.) The people at Trip Advisor gave the carrot cake at City Lights Coffee pretty good marks, so that’s where I went.
It’s is a very cozy spot — read: it’s tiny — and its customers were clearly loyal. Everyone who was already there when I walked in seemed to know each other, and they also knew the other three people who came and went while I was there. I’m sure that’s a wonderful feeling for the regulars, being where everybody knows your name, but it was a little off-putting being an outsider in such confined quarters.
But we’re not here to discuss ambiance. Let’s talk cake.
The carrot cake was pretty, with a lovely autumnal color and visible flecks of carrot. The cream cheese frosting was silky and had a nice buttery flavor, but the cake itself wasn’t impressive. In a blind taste test, I’m not sure I would’ve pegged it as carrot cake at all. It didn’t have a distinct flavor at all. On the plus side, it didn’t have raisins in it. Sadly, the City Lights Coffee carrot cake doesn’t even crack my top five. I spent the last $5 in my wallet on it, too, which compounded the disappointment.
Do you know where the Very Best Carrot Cake on Earth can be found? I probably won’t hop a plane immediately, but I’m definitely keeping a list of places to try.
The best carrot cake on earth WAS at Village Wine and Cheese in CoMo. Sadly, it’s gone the way of the Dodo. I’m 99% sure the recipe was published in the Trib 2 to 3 years ago. Haven’t had time to search for it for you yet.
We had one last night at West End Cafe downtown Winston, omg, soooo good. I split it with your dad and J.
@Miller: I checked the website, and I think I found the article, but there’s no carrot cake recipe.
@Carrie: You’ll be having another the next time I’m there!
Emmet’s in Fayette, MO. Definitely.
The West End Cafe one WAS very good – but the stars will have to align for you to get a slice. The Cafe changes its deserts pretty regularly.
Well, the hotel we were at for the Type-A conference says they have the best in the world. However, my husband says mine is the best. Maybe I will have you over for carrot cake sometime!
Since I am in the Type-D category myself, it will have to be on the spur of the moment, as in, “Hey, I made a carrot cake, can you come NOW?” So, be ready sometime in the next year or so… 🙂
.-= Kym´s last blog ..Life changes =-.
Kym, I am always ready for carrot cake.
Ketchie Creek Bakery in lovely Mocksville, NC. Gabe and I usually spend an extra night at his parents just to be in the vicinity of this place on a weekday. Save enough room for the streusel-topped pumpkin pie. Yummm.