Author Topic: In search of Cake  (Read 2514 times)

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
In search of Cake
« on: 07 February, 2020, 05:56:42 pm »


Not strictly cycling specific, but I figure if there's one group of people who can answer this question, it's gonna be cyclists.

I miss Coffee and Walnut cake. The cake options in .nl are relatively poor, and seeing as I am going to be in that London for 2 days for a conference, I'd like to use it as a chance to get my cake fix. I failed on my last trip to London, everything seemed to have been gentrified and finding simple cakes was hard.

Which brings me to my question. Cyclists of YACF, where would you recommend I try to find good Coffee & Walnut cake in that London?

Thanks

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #1 on: 07 February, 2020, 06:03:16 pm »
Don't write off all the fancy places, Konditor is hard to beat for genuinely good caek. Poncey is where the money is at, these days, just avoid any place that has "cupcake" in the name.

Where will you be? or are you happy to make pilgrimage.

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #2 on: 07 February, 2020, 06:05:51 pm »
Don't write off all the fancy places, Konditor is hard to beat for genuinely good caek. Poncey is where the money is at, these days, just avoid any place that has "cupcake" in the name.

Where will you be? or are you happy to make pilgrimage.

Well I'll be arriving at Liverpool street, and have 2 days to find cake, a roast dinner, fish n chips, and proper breakfast... I may also take in a museum or two...

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #3 on: 07 February, 2020, 06:14:50 pm »
If you've not visited for a while you should try Look Mum No Hands on Old Street. The coffee and cake is good and there's good safe bike parking and bike books to browse.

I sympathise about the dutch lack of quality cake. The best cake I've ever had was in the Netherlands in a place run by an Englishwoman. Sadly the local council shut her down for having inadequate parking space (....) https://www.facebook.com/LickthePlateCakery/

https://juliaskitchen.wixsite.com/licktheplatecakery-1/cakes
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #4 on: 07 February, 2020, 06:17:44 pm »
If you've not visited for a while you should try Look Mum No Hands on Old Street. The coffee and cake is good and there's good safe bike parking and bike books to browse.

Yeah, they are a great place, tho when I was in the country last, they didn't have any Coffee and Walnut cake :(

Quote
I sympathise about the dutch lack of quality cake. The best cake I've ever had was in the Netherlands in a place run by an Englishwoman. Sadly the local council shut her down for having inadequate parking space (....) https://www.facebook.com/LickthePlateCakery/

Ouch, that sucks!

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #5 on: 07 February, 2020, 06:18:51 pm »
Send an email, they might make one just for you! Especially if you slip in that you're racing from Brest again.
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #6 on: 07 February, 2020, 09:13:06 pm »
Any branch of Paul is good for cake but avoid Patisserie Valerie like the plague. Actually, London has plenty of good cake shops so just have a wander in your local area and you’ll find something.

I concur with your dutch experience that in many places the only cake available is apple
cake, although served with slagroom and a decent coffee it was nearly always welcome on a bike ride. 
I am often asked, what does YOAV stand for? It stands for Yoav On A Velo

Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #7 on: 07 February, 2020, 09:34:40 pm »

Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #8 on: 07 February, 2020, 09:46:08 pm »
Well I'll be arriving at Liverpool street, and have 2 days to find cake, a roast dinner, fish n chips, and proper breakfast... I may also take in a museum or two...

J
Can't help with the cake, but if you're after the roast on a Sunday, Blacklock are worthy of the hype.
https://theblacklock.com/

Proper breakfasts are getting harder to find, the Workers Cafe in Islington still tries, though all the workers are more likely to be in the 'spoons.  It has a bit of history, it was the workers cafe before it was called the Workers Cafe. I used to live round the corner when no one wanted to live in Islington, Ha!
https://www.workersislington.co.uk/

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #9 on: 08 February, 2020, 02:50:45 pm »
Don't write off all the fancy places, Konditor is hard to beat for genuinely good caek. Poncey is where the money is at, these days, just avoid any place that has "cupcake" in the name.

Where will you be? or are you happy to make pilgrimage.

Went past konditor on the way home.

Think this might be what you're eyeing up QG... Though you'll need to find your own space to sit down and eat it.

YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #10 on: 08 February, 2020, 11:02:59 pm »
If you are near the British Museum , then Giovanni's on Museum St does a good breakfast.     The cafe at Tate Britain usually has a good selection of cakes, though I can't specifically remember Coffee & Walnut. 
Not fast & rarely furious

tweeting occasional in(s)anities as andrewxclark

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #11 on: 23 February, 2020, 03:04:21 pm »


Look what I found...



More info to follow...

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #12 on: 25 February, 2020, 11:09:05 pm »

I ended up going here for cake:

http://theenglishrosecafe.co.uk/

Went in on Sunday, had coffee cake. It was delicious.

Went in there this morning, had coffee cake. It was delicious.

Went in this afternoon (it was round the corner from my Hotel...), I ordered coffee cake, but was informed I ate the last slice that morning. So I had the chocolate cake instead.

Based on my sample of London locations, this is the best cake I've had. Nothing pretentious, and also only £3.5 a slice.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: In search of Cake
« Reply #13 on: 26 February, 2020, 08:48:14 am »
I ordered coffee cake, but was informed I ate the last slice that morning. So I had the chocolate cake instead.
Moments like this are what YACF was made for.  :D :D :thumbsup: :D :D
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.