Time for Best of Asheville Survey!

...and , ahem, while I wouldn't expect to win, it would be nice to get an honorable mention as best bakery in Asheville. So...if you've tried a cupcake, a sticky bun or tart and loved it or just really liked it, please consider voting for Take the Cake as your favorite Bakery! And if you ever got a bouquet of flowers from our wonderful friends at Spotted Dog Farm that brightened your day, please vote for them as your favorite farm. Here's the link to the survey. It's a chance to let your voice be heard on what you love and what you hate about our fair city.

I've been scrambling to put together a new menu for the summer (better late than never) between toddler naps, toddler illnesses, laundry and baking and I think I'm happy with it. Summer is the absolute most exciting season for us culinary people. The sheer abundance and variety of fresh fruits, veggies and herbs is such an inspiration. I've been putting basil in everything it seems, from salads to ice cream and had to do a basil cupcake. I've also included peaches, lavender and zucchini in the new menu. Here it is....

Take the Cake Summer Menu


Cupcakes A-Go-Go
$2.50 each/ $24.00 a dozen

Vanilla Cake Vanilla Buttercream or Dark Chocolate Buttercream*
Vegan Vanilla Cake Vegan Chocolate Frosting*
Vanilla Coconut*

Chocolate Cake Vanilla Buttercream*
Vegan Chocolate with Vegan Chocolate Frosting*
Triple Chocolate*
Mexican Chocolate

Vegan Cinnamon French Toast
Almond Green Tea
S’Mores
Hummingbird
Tiramisu

Seasonal Specials
Carrot-Zucchini Ginger with Cream Cheese Icing
Vanilla Peach*
Lemon Basil
Margarita (lime/orange with lime Buttercream)
Honey Lavender blueberry

*Gluten-Free available. Add .25



Breakfast and More…

Brioche aTete $2.50 each
Brioche Sticky Buns $3.00
Scones $2.00
Sour Cream Coffee Cake $2.25
Blueberry Almond Muffins $1.75
Cheese Herb Biscuits $1.50


Espresso Brownies $2.00
Lavender-Rosemary Sugar Cookies (GF)$1.50
White Chocolate Cranberry Walnut Cookie $1.50

Peach Berry Tart
Chocolate Raspberry Tart
Lemon Meringue Tart

For Celebrating

6 or 9 inch cakes
Carrot Cake
GF Carrot Cake
Vegan Chocolate Cake
GF Chocolate Cake
Lemon Cake
Orange Cream Cake
Vanilla Cake
Apple Spice Cake

Fillings
Strawberry
Praline
Chocolate Ganache
Lemon Curd
Pastry Cream
Buttercream

Cakes start at $16.00

Taking a Break from Cupcakes? Or, How I spent my Vacation at the Vet

Well we had big plans for a fun family vacation at the beach this week. Soundfront house with a pool, maybe some kayaking, definitely some lounging and frolicking in the surf. I was looking forward to some free babysitting from B's aunt, grandparents and cousins and perhaps (gasp!) a date with my husband! But as the time to pack it up and go approached, I completely talked myself out of it. Driving to the Outer Banks on July 4th weekend?? How crazy is that? And with a toddler whose moods change from sunny to Defcon 5 in a mere moment! We promised we'd plan an off-season beach adventure and take this week to relax, clean..or so we thought. It started Monday morning when my cat started twitching uncontrollably and acting generally bizarre. We brought him into our Vet who diagnosed him with poisoning from the dogs' flea treatment. Who knew that Advantix is extremeley toxic to felines? So while Sebastian was recuperating at the hospital, our beagle was not eating, losing weight, depressed. It had actually been going on since the weekend, but I was hoping he'd shake it off in a couple of days. We brought him in and the Vet took some blood tests which came back not good. So we're waiting to see what exactly is wrong and Skeeter is now at the hospital and Sebastian is home. I'm so grateful we decided against going away or the poor petsitter would have had a horrible time and we'd be 10 hours away.

I have found time this week to work on a new menu. It's using some of the wonderful produce of the summer season and I hope to introduce some new flavors at the City Market in the next few weeks.