"A Confusing Tale of Chaat, Chocolate Cake and Corey Feldman" ...Otherwise known as Checking in at Cake World Bakery and Café.
I am so confused.
I have literally driven by Cake World Bakery and Cafe at least a hundred times and never stopped in. One time while eating at a restaurant next door, I looked in, saw an empty front case, and never thought about it again. For some reason, today I did.
( I must digress from the review to ask you, dear Yelper, to consider a question.
What comes to mind when you hear the name Cake World Bakery and Cafe? Do you imagine a counter full of cakes, cupcakes, perhaps even scones or croissants? Do you imagine the smell of fresh baked goods, the aroma of espresso drinks being poured? Do you envision a friendly greeting by a matronly proprietress or an overly energetic barista? Please hold your image for a moment as I return to the review)
I walked in and found myself inside a characterless, spartan fast food Indian restaurant featuring chaats, biryani, and pav bhaji pizza. Instead of coffee, it was a rush of Indian spices that filled Cake World. The barista I expected was instead replaced by three Indian twenty-somethings working together to manage the counter. Had I walked into the wrong door? Or had I found myself in the twilight zone? I am so confused.
The menu is hung up in traditional Indian fast food style, where you need either a translator or personal experience to know the difference between Dahi Behl Chaat and Alu Papdi Chaat, or between or a Vada Pav or Pav Bhaji sandwich. Luckily I was Indian in a former life, so I manage very well in these situations.
Having never known that I had an Indian fast food restaurant so close to my house, I know I must have had a very surprised look on my face, surpassed only by the surprised look of the employees, since I was the only customer who was not from India or Pakistan in Cake World this evening, or maybe this month.
I quickly perused the menu boards. The bakery did include croissants, but these included paneer tika and channa masala croissants. Other baked goods included puffs, plaits, and Indian cookies. They had several sandwich options, from Vada Pav to wraps to Paninis. I was most excited to see the selection of Chaats, awesome Indian snack foods. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaat)
They also offered three types of briyani; chicken, egg and vegetable. Individual sized Indian inspired pizza is also available.
I usually have to go to Decatur or Global Mall to get this style of Indian food, so having it within walking distance from my pad is crazy!
I ordered the Alu Papdi Chaat, which was made up of puris, potatoes, chickpeas, yogurt, tamarind, garlic, and a helluva lot of spices. It was fantastic and fresh. I also ordered Pav Bhaji, which is mashed vegetables served up next to a seasoned bun you fill up with the stuff. Awesome.
I finished my meal and walked over to the front counter where I found CAKE of all things! I chose the Black Forest Cake. I took my first bite with some trepidation, still in my "Cake World Bakery and Cafe confusion" I didn't know what to expect. My first bite immediately led to my second, third and fourth. This was no ordinary cake. Not quite Black Forest, yet it had a taste that was strangely familiar. Confused again! Finally it came to me, Drake's Devil Dogs! I haven't had these since I was a kid, but there was no mistaking that Cake World must have found the original recipe and somehow turned it into a yummy cake! Now I'm really confused!
During my dinner, and dessert, I had a chance to catch up on some Indian TV. For some reason, I don't get the Bollywood channels in my cable package. It's not often I get to see a soap opera that includes choreographed dancing and very bad fight scenes. I was particularly interested in this very attractive Indian actress, when another character appeared in a scene with her. He was Indian, but looked exactly like Corey Feldman. I mean exactly, only Indian. Maybe it was Corey Feldman. I haven't really seen him do anything lately.
I'm so f@€king confused... read more