Sometimes you run across things in life that you want to attempt to recreate. Other times you just want to sit back and take it all in, enjoying the talent behind it.
This cake is one of those things.
It’s one of those things that you taste, and not just respond with a “Mmmm…that’s good,” but a “Dayaamn…that’s good,” accompanied by a faint tear in your eye out of pure appreciation for great beauty, for perfection, for the sharing of a true gift.
Yeah, I know, it’s just cake. But then again, why can’t cake be a masterpiece? I say it can. “The eye of the beholder” and all…
Let me tell you about this cake. It’s Highland Mocha Stout Cake from French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Asheville, North Carolina. And yes, I consider it an edible masterpiece. A masterpiece created with a local brew, rich chocolate, and (*tear of joy*) coffee buttercream, topped with dark chocolate curls.
One of the cool things about the folks at French Broad Chocolate Lounge is their desire to find the best local ingredients whenever they can. Read all about their “Manifesto” and see what I mean. Their commitment to high standards for ingredients comes together in perfect harmony in this cake. For me, a chocolate lover, it’s a bite of pure bliss.
Let me put it this way, if I were not already married, and were planning a wedding, this would be my wedding cake. I’d order 10 of them and arrange them in some fancy way as a gift to friends and family sharing our special day. Yep, that good. And again, that’s my opinion. But if you’re a chocolate fan, I think you’d agree.
Not too sweet, it’s a moist balanced cake. And that buttercream? Oh my… I haven’t even touched on the other treats you’ll find at French Broad Chocolate Lounge. They offer a full menu of chocolatey delights. Their Salted Honey Caramels are a whole other post altogether. So, if you’re in the Asheville, NC area or just passing through, take a break and head over to the best tasting lounge I’ve ever experienced, French Broad Chocolate Lounge.
Now it’s your turn.
As a regular feature of Go Savor,™ “Go Savor the best…” will be a resource compiled of recommendations by you, regular people like us. Lists, filed by country, state, city, planet, will be created for each “best” food covered. For example, “Go Savor the best cake” will be the first in the series. If you’re traveling about, you’ll be able to look up, according to the area you’re in, places to find the best cake that’s been mentioned. For future reference, “Go Savor the best…” will be filed here, under Places to Eat.
So, leave a comment telling about your favorite cake in this format please…
Cake
Place (restaurant, store, proprietor)
Address
Link (if any)
Like this…
Highland Mocha Stout Cake
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S. Lexington Avenue Asheville, NC
http://frenchbroadchocolates.com/
Can’t wait to see what cake are best across the land! I’ll certainly be taking notes.
Sweet Potato Cake
Brick Street Cafe
315 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC
http://BrickStreetCafe.com/
Just finished a slice of the famous sweet potato cake. Fabulous.
Oh my… That cake looks amazing! And coffee buttercream sounds just like heaven!
Might save this article to favorites for when I need a sugar hit without the calories!
First of all, THIS cake sounds absolutely divine and I am bookmarking this page.
Here’s my cake recommendation! (I’ve had it at least five times. It is that good.)
Chocolate Raspberry Torte
Phiillips European Restaurant
26 Corporate Woods; Rochester, NY 14623
http://www.phillipseuropean.com/Desserts-Chocolate-Desserts.htm
The best cake I have EVER had… (and keep having over and OvEr AgAiN)
Black Forest Cake
Rose’s Restaurant & Bakery
16015 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd Suite 110 Sherwood 97140
http://www.eatatroses.com/locations/
http://www.eatatroses.com/documents/Roses_dessert_menu_frontback_v4_(2).pdf
I love Rose’s in Portland! Delicious cake!
Well it’s a toss up. My sister’s wedding cake recipe and my classic yellow cake with chocolate icing that all my children (6) enjoy for breakfast every morning of their birthday.
Sachertorte … in New Orleans, LA. Can’t remember the restaurant but it was quite the “experience.” (Too many years ago.)
Congrats on Go SAVOR!
My favorite cake ever is…one my daughter and I made…is that allowed? But, with some irony…or actually something other than irony, how about delight, I’ve since gotten to know the original recipe developer whose cake was in Bon Appetit magazine, one Ms. Abby Dodge. Talk about small world, huh?
We modified the frosting just a bit and it is one amazing combination of flavors.
Espresso Chocolate Layer Cake with White Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting
Bon Appetit Magazine, original recipe by Abby Dodge
http://www.abbydodge.com
http://vinolucistyle.com/2009/10/coffee-chocolate-layer-cake-with-white-chocolate-mascarpone-frosting/
I love this new blog and idea, you are all such talented ladies, glad to have met you in Atlanta at the FBF!
Chocolate cake
Mama Maria’s
Upper Luke Wright Street
Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines
I know right, plain old chocolate cake. I went on a trip to the Philippines and stopped in Dumaguete before traveling out to some water falls. Right off of their beach was a little spanish restaurant named, “Mama Maria’s”. I have never had a better piece of cake in my entire life. It was phenomenal how moist and perfect they made chocolate cake. I often joke about going to the Philippines again just for the cake at Mama Maria’s.
Orange Cream cake with orange liqueur, chocolate ganache filling and vanilla light cream icing (made with whipped cream).
Made by baker Pamela Regentin
owner of Fleur Cakes (wedding cakes)
Mount Hood, Oregon
http://www.fleurcakes.com
Cake: Raspberry Blackout Cake (but really, I haven’t had a dessert from Flying Star that I didn’t like)
Place: Flying Star Cafe
Address: Located across New Mexico
Link: FlyingStarCafe.com, or a a pdf menu here (desserts not featured on menu as they regularly rotate)
Perhaps I will have to snap a pic next time! We love the food at this diner and the dessert case is incredible! They cook everything in the restaurant from scratch and focus on local, organic, and natural foods.
That cake is absolutely gorgeous! We’d love if you could enter it into the Recipe4Living 5th Birthday Contest! You could win a huge gift basket full of Scharffen Berger gourmet chocolate!
Oh my, this looks marvelous. I can’t wait to try this! Great new website too. Congratulations to you!!
Boston Cream Pie
Boston
The Copley Plaza Hotel- Oak Room
138 St. James Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
http://www.fairmont.com/copleyplaza
Carrot Cake
17 North
3563 Highway 17 North Mount Pleasant, SC
But, I LOVE French Broad! Every time I’m in Asheville, I have to stop in for a chocolatey treat. Yum!!!!
Lithuanian Coffee Cake
Claire’s Corner Copia
New Haven, CT
http://www.clairescornercopia.com/
Turtle Cake
Cafe Latte’
850 Grand Ave. – St. Paul, MN
http://www.cafelatte.com/desserts.html
oh my…….
I love it there! How about the cheese cake?! Oh my I see a run to St.Paul soon…..
Red Velvet Cake
http://www.pieceofcakeinc.com/
3215 Roswell Road Atlanta, GA 30305
I want…..no, I NEED the recipe for this cake.
wow that looks awesome…and pics are great too! (hope to see you on foodgawker!)
Oh dear best cake ever? Vanilla bean Cheesecake at Jerry’s in Wrightsville Beach and Bourbon Sponge cake in Dublin.
I absolutley adore your new site ladies!! {{hugs}}
Tres Leches Cake
La Duni Latin Cafe
4620 McKinney Ave. Dallas, TX
http://www.laduni.com
Princess Cake (almond cake with raspberry filling)
Dunbar Tea Shop
1 Water Street Sandwich, MA, 02563 (Cape Cod)
http://www.dunbartea.com/
Sticky Toffee Pudding – I don’t care HOW full you are, you will want to try this!
Schlafly Tap Room
2100 Locust Street
St. Louis, Mo 63103
http://www.schlafly.com/index.html
Thank you, thank you! {curtsy} i appreciate your kind words and beautiful photography! This is indeed one of our most favorite items at the Chocolate Lounge. And why yes I have made it into tiered wedding cakes! LOVE & gratitude! xoxo Jael
I’m not sure I have ever had one, but now I know how to fix it, I will keep a lookout. Thanks.
White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Larriviere’s On The Square
102 N. Water Ave
Gallatin, TN 37066
http://www.larrivieres.com/menu2008/menu4.htm
BEST CAKE EVER!
Classico
Di Bruno Bros.
1730 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
http://www.dibruno.com/gourmet-catering/desserts
Italian Cream Cake
Callahan’s Restaurant and Deli
791 Harbor Blvd. Destin, FL 32541
http://www.callahansdestin.com/Home_Page.php
I want this now!!! I may perish with out it.
I’m going to find a recipe since cake is the embodiment of all that is good in this world.
King Cake
BottleTree Bakery
923 Van Buren Avenue
Oxford, MS 38655
So love this cake!!! We had it the last time we were in Ashville, NC. We also bought a piece of Stout cake from the LAB in Ashville.. My husband like the LAB’s better, I loved the French Broad cake and we both love the Highland Beers from Ashville. We live in our motor home and both of these were the best cakes we have had.
I drive to Asheville often from Charleston so i can get in some yummies I was at French Broad on Monday and enjoyed the quintessential chocolate cake. it is such a great place with delish treats
Patti Cake
Yum! Kitchen and Bakery
Minneapolis, Minnesota
http://www.yumkitchen.com/menu.html
HA! I second this submission. YUM!’s Patti Cake is the BEST!
In fact, I stumbled upon this thread because I was online trying to see if anyone has the recipe.
There are no words for this cake! I would drive to Asheville just to sample it. I don’t have a favorite cake, so I will borrow this one for now.
Recipe???? Please unles I am really stupid I cant find it
Thanks- because of this cake “sighting”, I visited my sister this week (I live in Washington state) and today I stopped by the french broad to sample your “best cake ever”. I am not sure if you are right about it being the best but it was totally amazing. Tomorrow I am going back for the other cake- the maple buttercream one looks fabooo and the other chocolate chocolate layered cake must be sumptuous. Do you live in Asheville? Great reccomendation I am so happy I read your blog and happened upon it!
Thanks again- Blissfully happy in ASheville!
I had the Highland Mocha Stout Cake this past weekend for the first time and it was simply amazing! So good it hurt!
very nice