Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Carrot Cake Cafe



I love that New York City can support entire stores and districts devoted to such specific products; there's a flower, lighting and restaurant supply district in Manhattan. Not to mention the a Phlli Cheese Steak shop and the Cheese Cake bakery downtown. East Harlem is no different, over here it's our carrot cake cafe, Lloyd's. Lloyd's prides itself on its fresh ingredients, according to their Website, "In a world of artificial industrial mass-produced products, Lloyd's Carrot Cake stands out as one of the few all-natural wholesome and artesian bakeries worth fighting to preserve."

I picked up one of these all-natural wonders a few weeks ago for an early Halloween party. I knew the cake was dense right away as it made my short walk home very uncomfortable while carrying my small but heavy cake. It was worth it; the cake was a huge hit at the party, moist and perfectly frosted. Now, this could be a plus or minus for some folks, but in the past I've had a few carrot cakes that have had strings of carrots throughout the cake, I'm not the hugest fan of this, and I liked that this one was more blended more cake-like less actual pieces of carrot. If you are a fan of this cake-like style definitely think of picking up a cake for Thanksgiving, it's such a perfect fall dessert. If you can't finish a whole cake they also sell slices at the shop.

Lloyd's Carrot Cake Cafe (note the East Harlem shop is not on the site)
2051 Second Ave
212-831-9156

EnJoy!



After a grueling, yet disappointing volleyball game my team hit Joy Burger for some burgers and beers. The joint has a great 1950's vibe -- vintage Coke ads, retro bar stools and the guys working the grill line have these great mechanic jump suits that are right out of Grease. They serve classic "road side" burgers, but if you're interested in mixing it up a bit order one of their sauces like garlic mayo. The team loved the burgers, the milkshakes and the fantastic prices. The burgers start at $3.50 (they come in three sizes depending on your craving) and the beers are $3.75. We also got some Patatas (they're sweet potato fries served with maple syrup) on the house. Score! Our dinner was way more successful then our game!


Joy Burger
1567 Lexington Ave at 100th St
(212) 289-6222