Best King Cake in Louisville

Who makes the best King Cake for Fat Tuesday in Louisville......I got the baby last year in our office, so it's my turn to provide.

Thanks!

I got one from Heitzman's on Shelbyville near Hurtsbourne last year. It was ok. I lived in New Orleans for many years and ate more than my fair share of king cakes. Every grocery store does a version and most are pretty bad. I prefer the ones filled with cream cheese or strawberry filling; the plain ones tend to be on the dry side.

I have to make these things every year for Lou Lou, and I must admit I haven't been happy with any version I've done. The funny thing is, everyone that's had the real, traditional version always says "they're not that good" or "they're actually kind of dry". Never, ever have I heard someone pining for the way they TASTE. "It's tradition - you have to have one" is the closest they get.

My theory: nobody really likes them, because they're crappy pastry if served traditionally. But, like the mint julep - there are so many horrible versions, very few people have ever had the really good ones. I'd be thrilled to be proven wrong.

I have to make these things every year for Lou Lou, and I must admit I haven't been happy with any version I've done. The funny thing is, everyone that's had the real, traditional version always says "they're not that good" or "they're actually kind of dry". Never, ever have I heard someone pining for the way they TASTE. "It's tradition - you have to have one" is the closest they get.

My theory: nobody really likes them, because they're crappy pastry if served traditionally. But, like the mint julep - there are so many horrible versions, very few people have ever had the really good ones. I'd be thrilled to be proven wrong.

Mm. You've never had MY julep.

We've made King Cakes at Sweet Surrender for the past few years. I had a baker from New Orleans who showed us how to make them correctly. When done the traditional way, a King Cake is really more bread-like than cake-like. I enjoy a good King Cake (with a cup of coffee), but they can be very labor intensive. We make them plain or with a cream cheese filling if anyone is interested. We even put a baby inside.

A few years ago we got one from Phlens that was pretty good, can't remember if it had filling or not. It was more like a coffee cake as I recall. Joe's O.K. Bayou used to carry them this time of year but I'm not sure where they get them or if they do bake them there.

Brad, I'm down for a mint julep throwdown. Mine is HEAVENLY - but it in no way resembles those abominations they serve at the track and the ones with the pre-mixed mixers they serve in local bars. We should do it, Derby Week!

But, like the mint julep - there are so many horrible versions, very few people have ever had the really good ones. I'd be thrilled to be proven wrong.

Ive always preferred the Henry Watterson Julep recipe. For those unfamiliar: Pluck the mint gently from its bed, just as the dew of the evening is about to form on it. Select the choicer sprigs only, but do not rinse them. Prepare the simple syrup and measure out a half-tumbler of whiskey. Pour the whiskey into a well-frosted silver cup, throw the other ingredients away, and drink the whiskey.

But, like the mint julep - there are so many horrible versions, very few people have ever had the really good ones. I'd be thrilled to be proven wrong.

Ive always preferred the Henry Watterson Julep recipe. For those unfamiliar: Pluck the mint gently from its bed, just as the dew of the evening is about to form on it. Select the choicer sprigs only, but do not rinse them. Prepare the simple syrup and measure out a half-tumbler of whiskey. Pour the whiskey into a well-frosted silver cup, throw the other ingredients away, and drink the whiskey.

That's great, and has some truth.

Marsha, yes we can julep throwdown. That's just about the only drink I've spent any time trying to make better, after having both well-made homemade versions and TERRIBLE at-the-track versions. It's such a simple drink, but doing it right and getting that breath of mint with the bourbon is the start to spring for me.

Great. I'm writing it down for Derby Week - I'm going to throw out Tuesday as mint julep-off day. That's the day of Run for the Rose, but not too much else official Derby-Festival-wise. That would make it Tuesday, April 28, 2009. I think I have a venue in mind, one that would be close to downtown.

I have to make these things every year for Lou Lou, and I must admit I haven't been happy with any version I've done. The funny thing is, everyone that's had the real, traditional version always says "they're not that good" or "they're actually kind of dry". Never, ever have I heard someone pining for the way they TASTE. "It's tradition - you have to have one" is the closest they get.

My theory: nobody really likes them, because they're crappy pastry if served traditionally. But, like the mint julep - there are so many horrible versions, very few people have ever had the really good ones. I'd be thrilled to be proven wrong.

I'm with you Marsha. I've had several, including bringing some of the "very best" back from N'Orleans with me one year after a business trip. I gave up trying to make it years agao, I just make a great cake with a baby ( from Horners) buried in it and frost with icings in traditional King Cake colors. Everybody loves it.

Deb

Oh gosh. I'm teaching a King Cake class.
The gauntlet has been thrown.

Most king cake in New Orleans tends to be eaten after it's been sitting on the break room table for a couple of hours. There was a now-defunct chain of bakeries called McKenzie's that was famous for their king cakes, but if you hadn't grown up with it you would have though it was horrible. Maurice's Bakery http://www.mauricefrenchpastries.com/ probably does the best in town.

Funny enough there is an article on boingboing.net today about a good King Cake. It's not a local source, but if you want to order one, with your choice of filling, try this source: http://rouses.com/

[Robin Garr]

We had King Cake from Plehn's bakery for an Epiphany social event at St. Matthew's, and it looked like the real thing; tasted okay, but more like a coffee cake with purple, green and gold colors. It did have the proper babies in it, though.