Posted by Michael Stern
, December 14, 2008 06:59
People from the New York area take crumb cake for granted. Once they move away, they realize that the mighty cakes with which they grew up do not exist elsewhere. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look at Entenmann's "Ultimate Crumb Cake," which is a corporate facsimile of the real thing, whose primary characteristic is maximum crumbitude: at least as much crumb on top as cake below. If you know a cake-starved expatriate or want to have what is truly the ultimate coffee companion for Christmas morning breakfast, check out Hahn's Old Fashioned Cake Company at www.crumbcake.net. They ship magnificent examples that are 9x13 inches and over 3-1/2 pounds each. In addition to classic cake heaped with what Hahn's calls "extra large hand made crumbs," the repertoire include cakes layered with chocolate or with raspberry preserves and walnuts. As Bruce and Sue have warned in their review of B & W Bakery (whose crumb cake is pictured above), be certain you have coffee on hand when the cake is served. It is as necessary as butter on popcorn.
