King Cake Review

Dong Phuong Bakery

http://dpbakeshop.com/

I made the trip to this Vietnamese bakery the Friday before Mardi Gras.  Good thing I was able to place an order before they stop taking orders a week before.  There was a line a block long when a arrived soon after opening.  Because I had pre-ordered, I was able to walk-up and get my King Cakes and go.  In hindsight, I wish that I would have ordered more - there was a 5 cake limit and I only ordered two.  I was afraid that if I ordered more that I would try to eat all of them.  After my posting, a friend graciously offered to help me eat one that I had ordered.  It just so happened that when I delivered the King Cake to their home, his wife was in labor.  She had the baby later that day.  I will always refer to the baby as the "King Cake baby."  I ordered a pecan and cream cheese cake.  I shared half of each so that I could taste both.  First, let me say, that I loved the King Cakes.  They were a little different.  They are advertised as the perfect balance of sweet and savory.  I would say that the cake is like a Danish pastry - flaky with just a hint of sweetness.  The icing is a light and sweet cream cheese icing.  The filings were also very subtle.  The pecan was spread throughout the cake; whereas, the cream cheese just had one pocket of cream cheese that went through the entire cake.  It would be hard to say which was my favorite.  I will say that the icing is wonderful - probably the secret to their success.  I am anxious to try some of the fruit flavor next year and hope that the frenzy does not get any worse. 

King Cake

I can't believe that I have not posted about King Cakes.  I have been researching the subject for many years now and I was sure that I had already shared my thoughts. After searching, I could not find a post - so here it is. 

Luca and Takehiro having the first King Cake of the season on January 6 several years ago.  

King cake is eaten on January 6 in honor of Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, which historically marks the arrival of the three wise men/kings in Bethlehem who delivered gifts to the baby Jesus. (The plastic baby hidden inside king cakes today is a nod to this story.) King cake also appears on tables throughout the Carnival season, which runs from Epiphany to Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent).

After many years of tasting, re-tasting, and trying new contenders, here are my recommendations for King Cakes in the Hammond/Ponchatoula area.  I am going to have to declare a tie for the best because they are so different and yet so good. 

1.  Berrytown and Navarre's

These are my two go-to favorites.  Each for different reasons.  Berrytown uses a donut-like dough that has a nice cinnamon flavor.  As a result, all of their cakes are moist - which is one of the main issues with most other king cakes.  Their filled cakes sometimes go over the edge with delicious moistness - but that's part of the attraction.  On the other hand, Navarre's uses more of a brioche type dough that is plain and not as moist.  It is the perfect compliment to yumminess of their fillings (my favorites are blueberry cream cheese and pecan praline) and icing.

Here are some of the runner-ups that I have enjoyed over the years:

Bohnings Supermarket in Ponchatoula - this used to be my favorite - before Berrytown and Navarre's were available.  I need to try their new Chantilly King Cake - looks delicious. 

Doughlious Donuts - Almond Crunch King Cake - nice almond flavored icing with sliced almonds on top.

Ambrosia (BR) - Zulu King Cake - cream cheese, pecans, coconut, and chocolate.  What's not to love?

Bittersweet Confections (NO) - Chocolate King Cake - cream cheese filling with a dark chocolate icing. 

Rouses - cream cheese - traditional and consistent. 

Sucre - a beautiful king cake that is not too sweet, but very good.  I tasted this cake again recently and it is delicious.  Just a small layer of cream cheese and light cinnamon flavor.  Also the icing is almost translucent.  I saw where you can get these at Cupcake Concept is Hammond.

FOM Bakery - available at Sweet Rolls in Hammond.  Very good brioche style king cake that is moist with a nice cinnamon flavor and almond icing.

I have tried others - that I will not list - that did not impress.  The ones listed above are the ones that I would eat again. 

Future Research

In my online research, I also found a new one I need to try in the future.  A Ponchatoula King Cake from http://mauricefrenchpastries.com/

Although they misspelled the name, it is a nice gesture to our city and the strawberries.

Another King Cake on my must-try list (I have one ordered for Friday, February 9) is the current buzz-worthy king cake from Dong Phoung:  http://dpbakeshop.com/

New Stories related to the frenzy over these cakes:

http://www.nola.com/dining/index.ssf/2018/01/dong_phuong_king_cake_scalping.html

http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/entertainment_life/food_restaurants/article_2a8a0a46-06ce-11e8-90f0-ff3b50acad42.html

*I am driving to Dong Phuong Friday (Feb. 9) if anyone would like to come along.  Order first - if they still have some available.

PS - This research has got to stop soon.  I have got to get back on my diet. :)

Here are other lists of favorite king cakes:

https://www.louisianacookin.com/kings-king-cake-9-best-louisiana-king-cakes/

http://www.kwbbrlaw.com/blog/2018/02/02/kwbbrh-king-cake-contest-2018/

http://www.thenotsoblog.com/2011/01/top-five-places-buy-king-cake-nola/

https://nola.eater.com/maps/best-king-cakes-new-orleans-nola

http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/article_9a8fc516-fc8c-11e7-9d7a-cf6396d7876b.html