Saturday, March 13, 2010

Chocolate Cake Trifecta

I could argue on any day of the week that chocolate cake is the foundation of dessert cuisine. Remove it, and the whole food pyramid crumbles. For me, there is no treat as satisfying as really good chocolate cake, and nothing more dissatisfying than bad chocolate cake. You might be tempted to think that chocolate cake is, merely by its nature, good. Not so. Sometimes chocolate cake is just brown. Homemade chocolate cake is almost always good, but for some reason, when you venture out into the realm of bakeries and restaurants the more likely verdict is that it's just brown.

After spending years in field research on the subject, I feel completely confident putting a wager on a chocolate cake trifecta. Over the next few weeks...or months... I'll introduce you to all 3 contenders. (I have to pace myself: these cakes are huge and I can't post if I'm in a sugar coma.)

Specimen number 1, The Black-Out Cake from Cheesecake Factory:






That is real whipped cream folks. Essential to a really good chocolate cake. You don't necessarily have to have cream on chocolate cake for it to be good, but if you do it must be real whipped cream. Go anywhere near it with Cool Whip and you've just knocked it down to mediocre, regardless of how good the cake is on its own.






The pictures will have to suffice because I'm at a loss for words. I just let Brig have a couple of bites. His eyes rolled back into his head like a Great White shark moving in for a kill. I think that means it's good.

6 comments:

Mom said...

Sooooo looking good!! I just had one of those "Brown" things you mentioned at my prebirthday breakfast. It looked wonderful, but only tasted strange. The rest of the meal was great! Your dad took me to G.C.

Julie said...

My mouth is watering!!! That looks so good! I am bummed because the closest Cheesecake factory is in like Sandy and always has a huge wait...I haven't been there since moved here...Poor me...Last time I went was with some of the girls before I moved...I can't wait to hear more about it !
P.S...I love that your mom visits my blog and leaves messages...She is so sweet!!!
Miss you all...Don't get in too much of a chocolate coma....you still have to drive places!

Lauri said...

I love the description of Brigham tasting it. I can imagine Lily doing that. 7 year olds are sooooo dramatic!

Quin's momma said...

That kid is so yours!

Gardner Family said...

I am definitely not a chocolate lover but when it comes to a good chocolate cake you always know it's good when you need no toppings at all to eat it. Best with a blob of butter on hot cake and let it melt in. OH the thought of it!! :0) But I do have to admit this cake looks really good. I always get the carrot cake at Cheesecake Factory and leave the chocolate cake up to Scott but my all time favoritae chocolate cake is Red Velvet or German Chocolate. Although I do make a homemade chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting dipped in coconut and oh man is that heavenly as well! Okay this is not good for a pregnant woman to think so much about sweets so I had best stop. Enjoy your cake adventures!

Gina F. said...

Can I have a piece of that Chocolate Cake Trifecta. My mouth is watering!!! That looks so good! I enjoyed reading your blog. Please visit my new blog also.

www.motherof1princessand2princes.blogspot.com

HAVE A FAB DAY!!!