Just a berry cordial away
from an Anne of Green Gables remake.
from an Anne of Green Gables remake.
Image from sweetladyjane.comTaste & See: The name of this well-loved bakery sounds like something Anne of Green Gables might have exclaimed, wearing a straw hat and sipping on a lemonade at the church picnic. In roll the thunderclouds and Anne yells out, "Sweet Lady Jane, I think its gonna rain!" I can see her clasp her bosom buddy Diana's arms now, running to take shelter under a tree--but only after grabbing a big slice of Princess Cake to share while the storm passes.
Image from sweetladyjane.comToday, though, "Sweet Lady Jane!" is probably reserved for exclamations of delight following a first bite (or a hundredth bite) of one of these pretty little cakes from this pretty little bakery by that name.
Image from sweetladyjane.comThe bakery also has a lunch menu with a few kinds of sandwiches and salads, and serves undrinkably strong French Press coffee, but let's be honest, we're here for the cake. They're so pretty, its kind of difficult to disturb the day-dreamy swirls (though once we got going we had no problem polishing them off without a trace, pretty swirls and everything):
Images from sweetladyjane.com
See here for more info on all Sweet Lady Jane's cakes- and to find out what yummy treats the pretty little things pictured above have inside.
The cake the other cakes must love to hate, the one always lauded in reviews, is Triple Berry Cake:
I don't mean to rain on the Triple Berry Cake's parade (or picnic, as the case may be). The bright berries against the ivy-bedecked white whipped cream and yellow butter cake are lovely:
But the cake itself was just . . . cake. Sweet Lady Jane generally makes good cake (though some complain it is too dry) but I like a some pizazz with my sugar high, and this was a little too normal for me. But apparently I'm the only person on the face of this earth who thinks so; even the USDA recommends this cake . . .
Another favorite, the undeniably girly Princess Cake--probably the cake all the boy-cakes get crushes on:
The green outer shell is not-too-sweet marzipan (almond paste).
The red is a layer of raspberry jam. I liked this a bit more than the Triple Berry; a little more mystery to it, with the nutty sweet of the marzipan and jam. The combination worked well.
But maybe beauty really is only skin deep, because delightful as these cakes appeared on the surface they were nowhere near as satisfying as Lemon Tart with Meringue-- the ugly duckling of the cake world.
Little Meringue, you may be big and round and your skin may not be smooth, but don't you worry, you'll grow up to be a beautiful swan of a dessert.
Now cupcakes are quite the rage in NYC- many people pin it to lady SATCs' obsession with a certain hallowed cupcakery-so I've had me a good cupcake or two. Tonnie's Minis, behind NYU law school in New York, is still my favorite. They might not be as pretty, but they're oh so good, and the people there are wonderful.) Sweet Lady Jane's versions make a strong showing, though, with perfect frosting, not too sweet, as perfect frosting must not be, and the moist red velvet cake.
But Sweet Lady Jane, I think your frosting decor needs a little inspiration from my own personal Valentines Day art project.
My favorite:
Well. What I lack in skill I make up for in originality.
Warning: Most of my reviews are overwhelmingly positive, but I should note a fair number of folks have complaints about rude service and dry cake, not worth the pricey slices. (Though others complain the portions are too big--and I'm prone to agree, I couldn't finish one by myself.)
As for me-I had a great time. Maybe it's hit or miss? At any rate, definitely worth going to see the temple to sweetness for yourself.
6 comments:
Nice to meet you Jeannie! Those cakes pics look good! ^^
Thanks Pirikara! I'll definitely keep checking out your blog, and I hope you visit mine from time to time as well.
hi jr, i just went to slj for the first time the other day, and i have to agree that the cakes are just okay. i think they were generally pretty dry, actually. and as far as the berry cake goes, the one at susina (http://www.susinabakery.com/) is actually my personal favorite of the three berry cakes i've tried around LA (at susina, the alcove, and slj). although i did have a fun experience with the service the day i went--the guy who served us was amusing and he gave me a free cookie at the end for my abstract thinking skills (longer story which i can tell you at another time if you are interested). and the "free" part of the free cookie was more exciting than the "cookie" part of it. as in, the cookie was so-so. anyway.
JCL: I'm telling you, Lemon Meringue . . . the overlooked inner beauty of the cake world!
I'll have to try cake-hopping at the other places you suggested. See you soon, I hope!
Hi Jeannie Rose! I love your warning.
Thanks Jessica . . . I'd hate to be accused of sending people off to eat big portions of expensive dry cake without a caveat. :)
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