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Started By
Message
TulaneLSU's Top 10 king cakes of the NOLA Metro
Posted on 1/24/20 at 3:20 pm
Posted on 1/24/20 at 3:20 pm
Friends,
Thank you for the kind words and invitation to share with you my favorite ten king cakes. I have been noticeably absent in this hotly contested discussion. As some of you know, the foundations of my list are shaking. I am a traditionalist, and many of my favorite king cake purveyors make king cakes outside of this holy season. They also have degraded themselves to selling themed cakes, such as LSU or Saints themed, taking away from the purpose of the cake: to remind us of the Christ child. It was on King's Day, Epiphany, January 6, that our season begins, joining with the magi in our joint revelation of Immanuel, God with us.
My king cake tasting has for the last few years been in utter tailspin. I don't know my up from my down, my brioche from my danish. I am no more an authority on this matter than Gross Gross or Mar-tiny are on restaurants of New Orleans. To note, I do not give business to businesses that support abortion.
Nonetheless, since you asked, I will provide a TulaneLSU Top 10 king cakes list. I do not purport to say which one is the best. My mind is so challenged by the corruption of the cake that my opinions are likewise to be challenged. Garbage in, garbage out.
TulaneLSU's Top 10 kingcakes of the NOLA Metro:
10. District Donuts new school
The cinnamon roll variety king cakes are legion in this town. I don't generally like them, and I think of Randazzo's, Caluda's, Antoine's, and O'Delice. District, though, makes me rethink that position.
9. Haydel's
For a time, this was my favorite. But then I walked in to find a Saints' themed one and I haven't eaten one since.
8. La Louisiane
I haven't been to Sam's this year to see if they still sell them. I believe they are baked in Harahan. They are among the most economical of all the king cakes and taste every bit as good as the fancy brand ones that will make fancy "best of" lists online and in print.
7. Maurice's
Maurice's is the best bakery in the NOLA Metro. Top to bottom, everything is solid. Doberge, wedding cakes, shortbread, it doesn't matter: Jean Luc is a master baker. His king cakes don't miss.
6. Dorignac's
Dorigac's has a terrible doberge cake, but a very good king cake. How can a bakery be so good at one thing and so bad at another?
5. Dong Phuong
It's a good king cake, but it certainly is not the top nor in the top four, as most people try to say. Its hype exists because it is a good cake that is now extremely hard to get. You once were able to make the 30 minute drive to nowhere and get a cake as long as you arrived early. Now you have to pre-purchase weeks ahead of time, remember that you purchased it for a specific date, and then make the laborious journey out there. Quite a smart plan, as I bet 20% of their local purchases never come pick up the cake.
4. La Boulangerie
The reigning #1 from a decade ago, I don't know if they've changed or I have, but I just don't crave them like I once did.
3. Hi-Do
I don't like the non-ovoid shapes that are available, such as the seafood and fleur-de-lis shaped cakes. But if we're being honest, this is the best brioche cake produced the last two decades.
2. District Donuts old school
This is everything an old McKenzie's king cake could be. I had my first one last week, a gift anonymously mailed to me by I can only assume one of you. Whoever it was, thank you. It was wonderful and nearly cracked the top spot.
1. Tastee's donut
Those arguing that Meche's is close are fools. I'll eat one a week from Epiphany through Mardi Gras. These taste healthy, free range, and plenty sweet. My favorite. I'm so glad Tastee's got rid of the cherry and sprinkle section a few years ago.
I hope this list sets your troubled hearts at rest and gives you peace.
Yours faithfully,
TulaneLSU
Thank you for the kind words and invitation to share with you my favorite ten king cakes. I have been noticeably absent in this hotly contested discussion. As some of you know, the foundations of my list are shaking. I am a traditionalist, and many of my favorite king cake purveyors make king cakes outside of this holy season. They also have degraded themselves to selling themed cakes, such as LSU or Saints themed, taking away from the purpose of the cake: to remind us of the Christ child. It was on King's Day, Epiphany, January 6, that our season begins, joining with the magi in our joint revelation of Immanuel, God with us.
My king cake tasting has for the last few years been in utter tailspin. I don't know my up from my down, my brioche from my danish. I am no more an authority on this matter than Gross Gross or Mar-tiny are on restaurants of New Orleans. To note, I do not give business to businesses that support abortion.
Nonetheless, since you asked, I will provide a TulaneLSU Top 10 king cakes list. I do not purport to say which one is the best. My mind is so challenged by the corruption of the cake that my opinions are likewise to be challenged. Garbage in, garbage out.
TulaneLSU's Top 10 kingcakes of the NOLA Metro:
10. District Donuts new school
The cinnamon roll variety king cakes are legion in this town. I don't generally like them, and I think of Randazzo's, Caluda's, Antoine's, and O'Delice. District, though, makes me rethink that position.
9. Haydel's
For a time, this was my favorite. But then I walked in to find a Saints' themed one and I haven't eaten one since.
8. La Louisiane
I haven't been to Sam's this year to see if they still sell them. I believe they are baked in Harahan. They are among the most economical of all the king cakes and taste every bit as good as the fancy brand ones that will make fancy "best of" lists online and in print.
7. Maurice's
Maurice's is the best bakery in the NOLA Metro. Top to bottom, everything is solid. Doberge, wedding cakes, shortbread, it doesn't matter: Jean Luc is a master baker. His king cakes don't miss.
6. Dorignac's
Dorigac's has a terrible doberge cake, but a very good king cake. How can a bakery be so good at one thing and so bad at another?
5. Dong Phuong
It's a good king cake, but it certainly is not the top nor in the top four, as most people try to say. Its hype exists because it is a good cake that is now extremely hard to get. You once were able to make the 30 minute drive to nowhere and get a cake as long as you arrived early. Now you have to pre-purchase weeks ahead of time, remember that you purchased it for a specific date, and then make the laborious journey out there. Quite a smart plan, as I bet 20% of their local purchases never come pick up the cake.
4. La Boulangerie
The reigning #1 from a decade ago, I don't know if they've changed or I have, but I just don't crave them like I once did.
3. Hi-Do
I don't like the non-ovoid shapes that are available, such as the seafood and fleur-de-lis shaped cakes. But if we're being honest, this is the best brioche cake produced the last two decades.
2. District Donuts old school
This is everything an old McKenzie's king cake could be. I had my first one last week, a gift anonymously mailed to me by I can only assume one of you. Whoever it was, thank you. It was wonderful and nearly cracked the top spot.
1. Tastee's donut
Those arguing that Meche's is close are fools. I'll eat one a week from Epiphany through Mardi Gras. These taste healthy, free range, and plenty sweet. My favorite. I'm so glad Tastee's got rid of the cherry and sprinkle section a few years ago.
I hope this list sets your troubled hearts at rest and gives you peace.
Yours faithfully,
TulaneLSU
This post was edited on 1/24/20 at 4:11 pm
21
Posted on 1/24/20 at 3:20 pm to TulaneLSU
P.S. So that you might compare lists from eight years ago, here I include TulaneLSU's Top 10 kingcakes, 2012 edition:
Tomorrow night, we enter King Cake season. More importantly, we remember the Epiphany, the night God revealed God's self to the Gentiles, the magi. We recall, as Timothy wrote, that "it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
To celebrate Epiphany or to eat king cakes outside of King Cake season is an embarrassing and humiliating faux pas of the highest magnitude. Wearing a tuxedo t-shirt to a black tie affair pales in comparison. It has recently, due to the greed of bakers, become popular to sell king cakes outside of the season. These poachers on our tradition deserve the highest ridicule and scorn. If I could issue king cake citations, I would. Speaking of which, I am now considering going to the City Council and the J.P. Council with a proposal to ban the sale of king cakes or anything purporting to be the king cake's cousin outside the time between sunset on January 5 and 11:59:59 PM on Mardi Gras. Having said that, we can now look forward with eager hope to tomorrow night. We should, and we should also consider and share with others our favorite king cakes. As is the custom here, your comments and personal insults directed at me and my character are always welcome.
The top ten king cakes:
10) McKenzie's - Sold at Tastee's (throughout the year, sadly) these dry coffee-like cakes don't hold sugar well, but the taste is unmistakeably awesome.
9) Dorignac's - This spot was previously held by a cinnamon king cake, Rouses, which I have since sworn off forever. In its place is a delightful, inoffensive bready cake that reminds me somewhat of the McKenzie's of old, but much fresher and fluffier. The sugar is good, not overdone, and the icing sparse. This is a fine king cake.
8) La Louisiane - I had never tried it until three years ago when someone on TD recommended it. Very delightful. I believe Sam's sells them for around $12.
7) Swiss Confectionary - Another TD recommendation that paid off. I respect that, even though they could make a killing off te tourist king cake trade, they only sell during the season.
6) Haydel's - A local favorite that I find good, but not worth the wait in line some people believe it's worth.
5) Hi Do - Reminds me of the original McKenzie's, but with greater taste. Superior ingredients and workers who take pride in their work make this one of the best.
4) Antoine's - Like Hi Do, I find it almost worth it to have the king cake shipped to me, so great is my fear of crossing the CCC or Huey P, but the increased stress is worth it for this, one of the truly best and most consistently awesome king cake.
3) Tastee's - Wait, didn't you already list this? No. I listed the old McKenzie's. This is for Tastee's donut king cake, which, IMO, has the best taste of any king cake, but since it is not traditional, I have a hard time putting it at #1.
2) Manny Randazzo's - I only put this here because if I didn't people would accuse me of trolling. IMO, it's only slightly better than Rouses, but costs twice as much and often is sold out. It's little more than a cinnamon bun with sprinkles on top. I'll eat the random slice at a Mardi Gras party, but I don't get excited over one. Not in the least. In reality, NOLA Cake Cafe and Bakery should be here, but unless you read this, you'll assume I really think M Randazzo's is #2. It isn't.
1) La Boulangerie - Those on the board familiar with my work know that I'm skeptical of the raves many Uptown establishments receive. I am not afraid to knock down an Uptown favorite like Casamento's as overpriced and overrated. But La Boulangerie has a traditional French king cake that is as real as it gets. It may not be #1 everyday, but today, it is.
Overrated king cakes.
I feel it necessary to list a few king cakes that get a lot of undeserved love, because, well, I care about you peeps. I don't want you persuaded by the masses to try something that isn't very good.
Sucre - by far the most overrated and worst king cake I've ever had.
Gambino's - like the Randazzo king cakes, they are okay, but not much better than Rouses. And they cost through the nose compared to Rouses.
Dianne's - second in low quality only to Sucre.
Tomorrow night, we enter King Cake season. More importantly, we remember the Epiphany, the night God revealed God's self to the Gentiles, the magi. We recall, as Timothy wrote, that "it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
To celebrate Epiphany or to eat king cakes outside of King Cake season is an embarrassing and humiliating faux pas of the highest magnitude. Wearing a tuxedo t-shirt to a black tie affair pales in comparison. It has recently, due to the greed of bakers, become popular to sell king cakes outside of the season. These poachers on our tradition deserve the highest ridicule and scorn. If I could issue king cake citations, I would. Speaking of which, I am now considering going to the City Council and the J.P. Council with a proposal to ban the sale of king cakes or anything purporting to be the king cake's cousin outside the time between sunset on January 5 and 11:59:59 PM on Mardi Gras. Having said that, we can now look forward with eager hope to tomorrow night. We should, and we should also consider and share with others our favorite king cakes. As is the custom here, your comments and personal insults directed at me and my character are always welcome.
The top ten king cakes:
10) McKenzie's - Sold at Tastee's (throughout the year, sadly) these dry coffee-like cakes don't hold sugar well, but the taste is unmistakeably awesome.
9) Dorignac's - This spot was previously held by a cinnamon king cake, Rouses, which I have since sworn off forever. In its place is a delightful, inoffensive bready cake that reminds me somewhat of the McKenzie's of old, but much fresher and fluffier. The sugar is good, not overdone, and the icing sparse. This is a fine king cake.
8) La Louisiane - I had never tried it until three years ago when someone on TD recommended it. Very delightful. I believe Sam's sells them for around $12.
7) Swiss Confectionary - Another TD recommendation that paid off. I respect that, even though they could make a killing off te tourist king cake trade, they only sell during the season.
6) Haydel's - A local favorite that I find good, but not worth the wait in line some people believe it's worth.
5) Hi Do - Reminds me of the original McKenzie's, but with greater taste. Superior ingredients and workers who take pride in their work make this one of the best.
4) Antoine's - Like Hi Do, I find it almost worth it to have the king cake shipped to me, so great is my fear of crossing the CCC or Huey P, but the increased stress is worth it for this, one of the truly best and most consistently awesome king cake.
3) Tastee's - Wait, didn't you already list this? No. I listed the old McKenzie's. This is for Tastee's donut king cake, which, IMO, has the best taste of any king cake, but since it is not traditional, I have a hard time putting it at #1.
2) Manny Randazzo's - I only put this here because if I didn't people would accuse me of trolling. IMO, it's only slightly better than Rouses, but costs twice as much and often is sold out. It's little more than a cinnamon bun with sprinkles on top. I'll eat the random slice at a Mardi Gras party, but I don't get excited over one. Not in the least. In reality, NOLA Cake Cafe and Bakery should be here, but unless you read this, you'll assume I really think M Randazzo's is #2. It isn't.
1) La Boulangerie - Those on the board familiar with my work know that I'm skeptical of the raves many Uptown establishments receive. I am not afraid to knock down an Uptown favorite like Casamento's as overpriced and overrated. But La Boulangerie has a traditional French king cake that is as real as it gets. It may not be #1 everyday, but today, it is.
Overrated king cakes.
I feel it necessary to list a few king cakes that get a lot of undeserved love, because, well, I care about you peeps. I don't want you persuaded by the masses to try something that isn't very good.
Sucre - by far the most overrated and worst king cake I've ever had.
Gambino's - like the Randazzo king cakes, they are okay, but not much better than Rouses. And they cost through the nose compared to Rouses.
Dianne's - second in low quality only to Sucre.
This post was edited on 1/24/20 at 3:21 pm
Posted on 1/24/20 at 3:24 pm to TulaneLSU
No Whole Foods king cake? I do like you ensured an Asian styled king cake is on the list. Your mother would be proud.
Posted on 1/24/20 at 3:29 pm to TulaneLSU
My man! 
Posted on 1/24/20 at 3:46 pm to TulaneLSU
This post was edited on 1/24/20 at 3:47 pm
Posted on 1/24/20 at 3:52 pm to TulaneLSU
quote:
a gift anonymously mailed to me by I can only assume one of you
You're welcome baw. Just keep being you.
Posted on 1/24/20 at 3:54 pm to TulaneLSU
that was quick...good list 
Posted on 1/24/20 at 4:03 pm to TulaneLSU
No Tartine or o’delice. Smh
Posted on 1/24/20 at 4:08 pm to ellishughtiger
quote:
No Tartine or o’delice. Smh
Agreed.
Posted on 1/24/20 at 4:11 pm to DomincDecoco
quote:
that was quick...good list
Well, except he is wrong about Caluda's..... or it's me who's wrong. TulaneLSU makes me question what I know about myself
Posted on 1/24/20 at 4:20 pm to TulaneLSU
TulaneLSU, you a fool for this one
Hah...
Oh lord, TulaneLSU made another one
Hah
Pack in the mail, it's gone...
Hah...
Oh lord, TulaneLSU made another one
Hah
Pack in the mail, it's gone...
Posted on 1/24/20 at 4:21 pm to ellishughtiger
quote:
o’delice
I've been always Hi-Do as the go to, but I tried this after my boss told me about it.
Costly, but its pretty goddamn good.
Blind taste test, a few of us described this as "If Hi-Do and Randazzo's had a baby cake"
Legitimately my 1A-1B to Hi-Do now.
Posted on 1/24/20 at 4:48 pm to htran90
O’delice is owned by a Vietnamese family as well, maybe there’s some connection with the two cakes.
Posted on 1/24/20 at 5:15 pm to TulaneLSU
Your list is dogshit on this board without pics.
loser
All that aside, I think most will agree that your posts are the exception to nobody reading walls of text.
loser All that aside, I think most will agree that your posts are the exception to nobody reading walls of text.
This post was edited on 1/24/20 at 5:16 pm
Posted on 1/24/20 at 5:37 pm to TulaneLSU
This seems remarkably low effort from you.
This post was edited on 1/24/20 at 5:53 pm
Posted on 1/24/20 at 5:43 pm to TulaneLSU
This feels phoned in. No pictures, no Randazzos? You need more time to develop your thoughts. You put much more effort in the Piccadilly thread.
Posted on 1/24/20 at 5:59 pm to ellishughtiger
quote:
O’delice is owned by a Vietnamese family as well, maybe there’s some connection with the two cakes.
I know both families, there's not one. I usually only get the cake from odelice lol.
I think it's because of how soft it was and the granulated sugar which makes it "like hido" and the taste and frosting was "like randazzos"
Posted on 1/24/20 at 6:01 pm to TulaneLSU
I agree that Sucre is a horrible king cake
Posted on 1/24/20 at 8:05 pm to TulaneLSU
This thread is hot garbage, I need at least 4,000 more words of exposition
No TulaneLSU pic in sprinkles?
TulaneLSU has jumped the shark
Pour one out
No TulaneLSU pic in sprinkles?
TulaneLSU has jumped the shark
Pour one out
This post was edited on 1/24/20 at 8:07 pm
Posted on 1/24/20 at 8:10 pm to TulaneLSU
No pics and Dong Phuong at 5?
Bitch please
Bitch please
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