🚀 go-pugleaf

For what it's worth, the Aspen Hill bakery that started with an "E" was 
Radford's.  I suddenly remembered.


"Paul Green" <pgreen @ comcast.net> wrote in message 
news:vJmdnSlK6O3aYKfcRVn-sw@comcast.com...
> Who makes a decent chocolate cake (with good chocolate icing) here in
> Northern Montgomery County? There used to be a fine, old-style bakery in
> Aspen Hill (not all that Northern, but doable), but it is long gone. I am
> tired of mediocre grocery store cakes, with their Crisco icing. I am 
> shocked
> and horrified by some of the fancier bakeries, with their pretty cakes 
> that
> taste as if they were made from sawdust. Someone once told me that the 
> Giant
> Gourmet makes a decent cake, but that was back when there actually was a
> local grocery chain called "Giant" that actually baked its own stuff. Will 
> I
> have to bake my own? What is a chocolate cake lover to do?
>
> [While I know that most of this board's traffic has migrated to Chowhound,
> hope springs eternal.]
>
> And if I may wax nostalgic for a second, I well recall walking into one of
> those old-style bakeries as a kid and almost going crazy over the 
> wonderful
> aromas.  The Aspen Hill bakery (I can't even remember the name, except 
> that
> I think it may have started with an "E"--it was next to the hardware store
> that no longer exists) was one of those.  I suppose the other question is
> will I do better just buying a cake mix, and whipping up some good icing
> (even Alton Brown concedes that it is hard to do better than a good mix
> cake)?
>
> Paul
>
> 

In article <vJmdnSlK6O3aYKfcRVn-sw@comcast.com>, "Paul Green" <pgreen @ 
comcast.net> says...
> Who makes a decent chocolate cake (with good chocolate icing) here in
> Northern Montgomery County? There used to be a fine, old-style bakery in
> Aspen Hill (not all that Northern, but doable), but it is long gone. I am
> tired of mediocre grocery store cakes, with their Crisco icing. I am shocked
> and horrified by some of the fancier bakeries, with their pretty cakes that
> taste as if they were made from sawdust. Someone once told me that the Giant
> Gourmet makes a decent cake, but that was back when there actually was a
> local grocery chain called "Giant" that actually baked its own stuff. Will I
> have to bake my own? What is a chocolate cake lover to do?
> 
> [While I know that most of this board's traffic has migrated to Chowhound,
> hope springs eternal.]
> 
> And if I may wax nostalgic for a second, I well recall walking into one of
> those old-style bakeries as a kid and almost going crazy over the wonderful
> aromas.  The Aspen Hill bakery (I can't even remember the name, except that
> I think it may have started with an "E"--it was next to the hardware store
> that no longer exists) was one of those.  I suppose the other question is
> will I do better just buying a cake mix, and whipping up some good icing
> (even Alton Brown concedes that it is hard to do better than a good mix
> cake)?
> 
> Paul
> 
Oh yeah - that was Eradford's - I remember it well.  (Sorry, couldn't 
resist.)

Many people rave about Costco's cakes.  I've heard praise for all the 
varieties they sell, including the monster chocolate cakes I've seen in 
their stores, but never tried.  They look pretty deadly.  I have peeked 
at the ingredient labels for the various Costco cakes, and they seem to 
use decent quality ingredients, and not skimp on the more expensive 
items like butter and chocolate.

I've seen a "German Bakery" that recently opened in a shopping center on 
Muddy Branch Road in Gburg.  I don't know the name of the center, but 
it's the one with a Giant, Radio Shack, Chop Stix, etc.  

A couple of years ago I would already have notches in my fork handle for 
all the Costco cake varieties, the bakery on Muddy Branch and all the 
rest, but I'm steering clear of the more flagrant sweets these days, so 
I can offer my own opinions on the quality of any of the above.

Bob 

In article <vJmdnSlK6O3aYKfcRVn-sw@comcast.com>,
Paul Green <pgreen @ comcast.net> wrote:
>Who makes a decent chocolate cake (with good chocolate icing) here in
>Northern Montgomery County? There used to be a fine, old-style bakery in
>Aspen Hill (not all that Northern, but doable), but it is long gone. I am
>tired of mediocre grocery store cakes, with their Crisco icing. I am shocked
>and horrified by some of the fancier bakeries, with their pretty cakes that
>taste as if they were made from sawdust. Someone once told me that the Giant
>Gourmet makes a decent cake, but that was back when there actually was a
>local grocery chain called "Giant" that actually baked its own stuff. Will I
>have to bake my own? What is a chocolate cake lover to do?

You MUST make the _Rombauer Special_ recipe from the Joy of Cooking.  It is
very simple and easy to make, and requires nothing more sophisticated than
a bowl and a spoon.  It is the best chocolate cake I ever put in my mouth.

>[While I know that most of this board's traffic has migrated to Chowhound,
>hope springs eternal.]

What is Chowhound?  Is it some kind of 'web thing?

>And if I may wax nostalgic for a second, I well recall walking into one of
>those old-style bakeries as a kid and almost going crazy over the wonderful
>aromas.  The Aspen Hill bakery (I can't even remember the name, except that
>I think it may have started with an "E"--it was next to the hardware store
>that no longer exists) was one of those.  I suppose the other question is
>will I do better just buying a cake mix, and whipping up some good icing
>(even Alton Brown concedes that it is hard to do better than a good mix
>cake)?

Who needs icing?  Just a little powdered sugar on top will be just fine.
--scott
-- 
"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

We were pleased with a chocolate cake we got at the French Confection on 
Olney-Sandy Spring Road.  It used to be in Olney but now it's in 
'downtown' Sandy Spring in a former firehouse.

I have not tried their chocolate cakes, but we liked their wedding 
cake-- Tiers Of Joy in Rockville.  But I think you need to order in 
advance.  They were located in the same building as the Montgomery 
Donuts place you could see from Gude Dr.

-- Damon

PS-- if you find one you like, let us hear about it!


Paul Green wrote:

> Who makes a decent chocolate cake (with good chocolate icing) here in
> Northern Montgomery County? There used to be a fine, old-style bakery in
> Aspen Hill (not all that Northern, but doable), but it is long gone. I am
> tired of mediocre grocery store cakes, with their Crisco icing. I am shocked
> and horrified by some of the fancier bakeries, with their pretty cakes that
> taste as if they were made from sawdust. Someone once told me that the Giant
> Gourmet makes a decent cake, but that was back when there actually was a
> local grocery chain called "Giant" that actually baked its own stuff. Will I
> have to bake my own? What is a chocolate cake lover to do?
> 
> [While I know that most of this board's traffic has migrated to Chowhound,
> hope springs eternal.]
> 
> And if I may wax nostalgic for a second, I well recall walking into one of
> those old-style bakeries as a kid and almost going crazy over the wonderful
> aromas.  The Aspen Hill bakery (I can't even remember the name, except that
> I think it may have started with an "E"--it was next to the hardware store
> that no longer exists) was one of those.  I suppose the other question is
> will I do better just buying a cake mix, and whipping up some good icing
> (even Alton Brown concedes that it is hard to do better than a good mix
> cake)?
> 
> Paul
> 
> 

I've had the Costco chocolate cake, and it is pretty good.  We ended up 
getting a cake from a French bakery in Rockville.  It was OK, and very 
pretty.  However, not a very intensive chocolate experience.  I may take a 
look at the German bakery you mention (although not necessarily for the 
cake).


<bob@yab.ogr> wrote in message 
news:MPG.1ba649d8733580d59896b5@news.erols.com...
> In article <vJmdnSlK6O3aYKfcRVn-sw@comcast.com>, "Paul Green" <pgreen @
> comcast.net> says...
>> Who makes a decent chocolate cake (with good chocolate icing) here in
>> Northern Montgomery County? There used to be a fine, old-style bakery in
>> Aspen Hill (not all that Northern, but doable), but it is long gone. I am
>> tired of mediocre grocery store cakes, with their Crisco icing. I am 
>> shocked
>> and horrified by some of the fancier bakeries, with their pretty cakes 
>> that
>> taste as if they were made from sawdust. Someone once told me that the 
>> Giant
>> Gourmet makes a decent cake, but that was back when there actually was a
>> local grocery chain called "Giant" that actually baked its own stuff. 
>> Will I
>> have to bake my own? What is a chocolate cake lover to do?
>>
>> [While I know that most of this board's traffic has migrated to 
>> Chowhound,
>> hope springs eternal.]
>>
>> And if I may wax nostalgic for a second, I well recall walking into one 
>> of
>> those old-style bakeries as a kid and almost going crazy over the 
>> wonderful
>> aromas.  The Aspen Hill bakery (I can't even remember the name, except 
>> that
>> I think it may have started with an "E"--it was next to the hardware 
>> store
>> that no longer exists) was one of those.  I suppose the other question is
>> will I do better just buying a cake mix, and whipping up some good icing
>> (even Alton Brown concedes that it is hard to do better than a good mix
>> cake)?
>>
>> Paul
>>
> Oh yeah - that was Eradford's - I remember it well.  (Sorry, couldn't
> resist.)
>
> Many people rave about Costco's cakes.  I've heard praise for all the
> varieties they sell, including the monster chocolate cakes I've seen in
> their stores, but never tried.  They look pretty deadly.  I have peeked
> at the ingredient labels for the various Costco cakes, and they seem to
> use decent quality ingredients, and not skimp on the more expensive
> items like butter and chocolate.
>
> I've seen a "German Bakery" that recently opened in a shopping center on
> Muddy Branch Road in Gburg.  I don't know the name of the center, but
> it's the one with a Giant, Radio Shack, Chop Stix, etc.
>
> A couple of years ago I would already have notches in my fork handle for
> all the Costco cake varieties, the bakery on Muddy Branch and all the
> rest, but I'm steering clear of the more flagrant sweets these days, so
> I can offer my own opinions on the quality of any of the above.
>
> Bob 

I don't think I own the Joy of Cooking.  My wife might have had had one, 
although it was probably lost more than 20 years ago.  As for Chowhound, it 
is located at http://www.chowhound.com.  They have a very active 
Washington/Baltimore area bulletin board (as well as other local, regional 
and topical boards).


"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix.com> wrote in message 
news:chn3bk$elc$1@panix2.panix.com...
> In article <vJmdnSlK6O3aYKfcRVn-sw@comcast.com>,
> Paul Green <pgreen @ comcast.net> wrote:
>>Who makes a decent chocolate cake (with good chocolate icing) here in
>>Northern Montgomery County? There used to be a fine, old-style bakery in
>>Aspen Hill (not all that Northern, but doable), but it is long gone. I am
>>tired of mediocre grocery store cakes, with their Crisco icing. I am 
>>shocked
>>and horrified by some of the fancier bakeries, with their pretty cakes 
>>that
>>taste as if they were made from sawdust. Someone once told me that the 
>>Giant
>>Gourmet makes a decent cake, but that was back when there actually was a
>>local grocery chain called "Giant" that actually baked its own stuff. Will 
>>I
>>have to bake my own? What is a chocolate cake lover to do?
>
> You MUST make the _Rombauer Special_ recipe from the Joy of Cooking.  It 
> is
> very simple and easy to make, and requires nothing more sophisticated than
> a bowl and a spoon.  It is the best chocolate cake I ever put in my mouth.
>
>>[While I know that most of this board's traffic has migrated to Chowhound,
>>hope springs eternal.]
>
> What is Chowhound?  Is it some kind of 'web thing?
>
>>And if I may wax nostalgic for a second, I well recall walking into one of
>>those old-style bakeries as a kid and almost going crazy over the 
>>wonderful
>>aromas.  The Aspen Hill bakery (I can't even remember the name, except 
>>that
>>I think it may have started with an "E"--it was next to the hardware store
>>that no longer exists) was one of those.  I suppose the other question is
>>will I do better just buying a cake mix, and whipping up some good icing
>>(even Alton Brown concedes that it is hard to do better than a good mix
>>cake)?
>
> Who needs icing?  Just a little powdered sugar on top will be just fine.
> --scott
> -- 
> "C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."