Lady M - Los Angeles

Most people wouldn't want to spend their birthday at work, but most people don’t get their birthday cakes from Lady M.

One very generous colleague later, I'm staring at not one, but TWO of Lady M's iconic mille crepe creations. A careful cross section showcases impossibly thin layers of fluffy stacked crepes held together by a lighter-than-air sweet cream. 

Citron is composed of light lemon custard, subtle, with a citrus tang you almost have to imagine. The balance is admirable, the finish, ethereal. 

Dubai Chocolate is trending, and I just had to bite. The real stuff is dense and decadent, the cake is merely a caricature that captures a wisp of the chocolate and crunch. Their cake is half full of silky chocolate cream, topped with layers of pistachio, crusted with signature crunchies. Overall a deliciously delicate creation, but the overall effect is like a whisper of what Dubai chocolate really is.

I cannot complain about a single bite of these two of LA's most amazing cakes. They are not merely made but crafted with a care and precision beyond what should be possible. It's the people that made my 40th sweet, but these cakes did make it that much sweeter. 

Yu Cake - Costa Mesa

My first taste of mille-crepe cake.

Matcha doesn't miss, and I can't imagine how they make this. Layers of cardstock-thin spongy sheets softly soaked in matcha cream alternate with with a firmer matcha cream almost-frosting. The cake is so cohesive, but the feel of sinking teeth through so many silky layers creates an unparalleled feeling of luxury that no other cake can match. 

Rose-Lychee is the same, but the cream feels colder, the overall effect so much subtler with lychee like ice water and a lighter-than-air floral finish. 

A Mochi Mango Grapefruit Jar glows irresistibly, all orange and neon, a layers of so-soft cream contrasting stringy mochi and slippery chunks of mango that dance with grapefruit pulp. The circle of cake feels a bit dry in comparison, and the contrast, though welcome, could be a bit less stark. Dig deep to let a little of each layer on your spoon so they can dance in your mouth all at the same time. 

I've never met a cake I didn't like, and I like you, Yu Cake, maybe more than most. These cakes are crafty and not as sweet as the heavily-frosted works of western-style bakeries. They're a welcome break from luxury shopping but continue the theme of luxury that permeates this Costa Mesa mall. There's something to be said about a rich dessert that doesn't make you feel gross, and to that, I'm saying yes. 

Angel Maid Bakery - Los Angeles

When I was hospitalized back in March, I could barely eat. Even the thought of tortillas or toast would make me gag, and anything with flavor was not an option. 

Then an angel saved me...an Angel Maid, to be exact. The Passionfruit Chiffon Cake was the thing, my first taste of real food in over a week. The cake is so fluffy and sweet, and the passionfruit added a tartness that kept the nausea at bay. I ate almost half a slice. 

A bit dramatic but a true story for sure. I went back when I was normal to split a Strawberry Shortcake. Those airy layers of cake are like clouds, and there's barely any sugar in that dense cream which coddles sour summer strawberries. Their cake tastes even better when I'm not dying. 

Cakes are everything, but the Tea Cakes are a hidden treasure so grab them if they're there. Tehse simple little squares of glazed maple breathe a beautiful sigh of citrus. 

Get anything, get everything. It's all made well by Angel Maid. 

Nagomi Cake House - Gardena

A well-kept Gardena secret, this elite bakery never ceases to charm with its collection of not-so-sweet slices and pretty cakes. 

Baked Cheesecake is probably my favorite, though it's the simplest of the bunch. Baking dries up the moisture, making it dense and more flavor-packed. Rare Cheesecake finishes with a very berry tartness that gives it life. Passion Fruit Mousse Cheesecake is another sweet and tart, a pretty little slice. 

The Chestnut Mont Blanc is like a white nutella, strands of chestnut over a bed of cream. 

Strawberry Shortcake is a safe option, a classic wedge of fluffy strawberry air. They were out of the hochija cake I wanted, so we jump from tea to coffee. The Tiramisu is an acceptable sub. Lots of cream, but still much lighter than most. 

Love this bakery, but all the stuff is fancy. Too much for an everyday snack but perfect for any occasion. 

85 Degrees - Torrance

Say what you will, you pastry snobs, but I like 85 Degrees. Butter replaces sugar, savory suffices for sweet, and less is more at this clearly successful Asian bakery chain.

Keep it simple with a fluffy, pull-apart Brioche if your morning coffee is looking lonely. 

Savory options like the Curry Bun are better warm, but what’s not to like about curried meat with corn?

The Potato Croquette can be greasy when cold but I’d still sort a deep-fried mashed potato ball into the “why not?” column. 

They made a Sweet Wreath for the holidays, and I love it. Fluffy sweetbread with a sugar-glaze, like an Asian Krispy Kreme but with more substance and character.

The Berrytale is a fan favorite. The cream cheese unsweetens the berry fruity filling, like a stuffed French toast without the fuss.

The chocolate fillings are a guilty pleasure, and I love the speckled Dino Egg Chocolate bun. The inside is a thin line of crunchy, cookie-sequence chocolate so it’s not too heavy to finish by yourself. 

I love the Custard Bun filling - it’s a happy medium between pudding and cream.

The Red Bean finds the right balance between sugar and bean. 

Everything is sweet, but everything is subtle. Even the Strawberry Chiffon Cake is airy and light. Fluffy cake layers, filled with vanilla cream and strawberry mousse, perfect for a first birthday or an 80th.

I know it's a chain, and I know there are many competitors, but I still really like 85 Degrees. Good selection, good variety, and you can’t go wrong with anything taro. 

The Mad Hatter's - Durham, NC

It hasn't changed a bit. Pretty, airy, casual cafe that cuts some spectacular cakes. Conveniently located next to the best university in the world, housing the only team worth rooting for.

Doubtless that Duke's gothic-inspired chapel is architecture for the ages, this campus never loses its undeniable charm.

Do four unforgettable years at Duke, and you can have your cake and eat it too. The Mad Hatter's sits a mild walk from my former freshman dorm on east campus, and their signature Black & White Cake is always quite a slice. Rich vanilla cream frosts a snowy layer with a chocolate ganache overlay. The cake inside alternates most black and white as well, with a crucial stripe of chocolate cream.

The Strawberry Shortcake is a lighter, more approachable level of luxury, with fluffy sponge-cake soaking up summer strawberries and cream.

Maybe I'm just here for a slice of cake and a cup of nostalgia. Either way, they make a nice cup of coffee, and their pastries are legit. I've never understood the Alice in Wonderland obsession, but I sure am mad about The Mad Hatter's. 

LA Smash Cakes - Los Angeles

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Jenny in person yet, but she is clearly generous and fabulous. I did have the pleasure of sampling a "mini" cake creation, and it was amazing!

Think pinata. But instead of gaudy crepe-paper and small children who lack hand-eye coordination swinging weapons, there is a pretty chocolate dome. Smash it with the party-mallet provided, and all sorts of candy and treats spill forth.

There's no way your party doesn't need a cake like this, and LA Smash Cakes is awesome. I haven't found the right occasion yet, but my bachelorette party is right around the corner...