Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?

spudshirley

I called a bakery to set up a tasting to see if we would want to use their bakery. Her response to me was, "Your wedding isn't until December, so why don't you wait until it gets closer. This way if someone else calls for an appointment because they need a cake that week, there's an appointment available for them." Am I missing something? Shouldn't we try out multiple bakeries ahead of time so we can then decide who had the best and who to use?

I'll admit, I'm a bit of a cake snob, especially since we want red velvet. 

agu101

My bakery was included with my venue, so fortunately that was one less thing to worry about.  Our venue suggested we go for our cake tasting 6-8 weeks before our wedding, which is what we did.  I think 2 months out will be more than enough time.  The bakeries usually do a few a day, so you shouldn't worry too much.  In the meantime, go around to a few of the bakeries you're interested in and try their red velvet cupcakes or get a small cake to try out so that way you can narrow down your list of the places you want to do tastings at. 

HobokensFury

Our cake came from a bakery chosen by the venue. We went 3 months before the wedding and even that was a little early.

Giaspo

Our cake was included with the venue. We went 2 months before and it was a part of our overall tasting. It was so much fun! Agu101 had a great suggestion about the cupcakes... I did this when I was trying to find a bakery for H's birthday party.

spudshirley

I guess for you guys, though, you had your bakery so you didn't have to go around trying various places, you know?

Anyone who doesn't have their cake included?

Lobsters25

Most places only do book tastings 2-3 months out max.  Remember, for them, this is routine business so it's not something they need to prep way in advance. 
If you want to nix bakeries early, just ask for the list of available icing/cake flavors, and maybe sample a pastry from the bakery - that should help you decide who has the flavors you want, and whose buttercream or cake consistency you like better, and maybe narrow you down to two finalists.

ljsquintz

Our cake was included with the venue, but they get it from an outside bakery so we got to pick from 2 bakeries and do the tasting at the bakery.  We chose Palermo's in Ridgefield Park.  I highly recommend them - the cake was delicious and beautiful.  We did our tasting about 2 months before the wedding, and that was plenty of time.  We also designed the cake during the tasting.

avolker1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:09aaa909-cfec-485d-ab9f-59271a1902ed">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]Our cake was included with the venue, but they get it from an outside bakery so we got to pick from 2 bakeries and do the tasting at the bakery.  We chose Palermo's in Ridgefield Park.  I highly recommend them - the cake was delicious and beautiful.  We did our tasting about 2 months before the wedding, and that was plenty of time.  We also designed the cake during the tasting.
Posted by ljsquintz[/QUOTE]

<div>My venue also uses Palermo' s so that's nice to hear you were happy with them.  I'm scheduling a tasting in March and I can't wait! </div>

ljsquintz

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:44a560ad-8e7b-46b4-94e1-5a08a14b57ca">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use? : My venue also uses Palermo' s so that's nice to hear you were happy with them.  I'm scheduling a tasting in March and I can't wait! 
Posted by avolker1[/QUOTE]

You will LOVE your cake!  The tasting is pretty simple and quick, nothing fancy.  We chose vanilla cake with hazelnut mousse for two layers and vanilla cake with lemon mousse for the other two.  It was delicious!  Here is a picture
<a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/12/12/5c5bc58d-bc38-4ad3-9cf2-cb0d00f5ab1c.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" class="PhotoLink"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/12/12/5c5bc58d-bc38-4ad3-9cf2-cb0d00f5ab1c.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

B2Z728

I think we booked with our bakery about 6 months from our wedding. We met with the head baker, talked about design ideas, and tasted some cake. From taste alone we knew that was bakery we wanted. We used Le Gateau Suisse in Rockland County NY. The cake was absolutely delicious and way under budget. 

http://www.legateausuisse.com/

HobokensFury

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:908867db-c3bb-4c83-aed4-4cd1ae022b40">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use? : You will LOVE your cake!  The tasting is pretty simple and quick, nothing fancy.  We chose vanilla cake with hazelnut mousse for two layers and vanilla cake with lemon mousse for the other two.  It was delicious!  Here is a picture
Posted by ljsquintz[/QUOTE]

We used Palermo's too and it was amazing.  Bottom and top layers were red velvet with cream cheese filling, then chocolate with hazelnut mousse and white with coconut mousse.  I still can't decide which flavor I loved more.


<a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/4/5/146ead6e-f4e0-4157-b512-0259569d3049.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" class="PhotoLink"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/4/5/146ead6e-f4e0-4157-b512-0259569d3049.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

ljsquintz

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:28cd02a2-abbd-433d-ba8c-29884d8eccb3">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use? : We used Palermo's too and it was amazing.  Bottom and top layers were red velvet with cream cheese filling, then chocolate with hazelnut mousse and white with coconut mousse.  I still can't decide which flavor I loved more.
Posted by HobokenBride2012[/QUOTE]

So pretty!  I love that cake stand - did you provide that, or did you venue provide that?

HobokensFury

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:376ed1b0-3488-4561-bbf9-8a5e0eb7cc33">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use? : So pretty!  I love that cake stand - did you provide that, or did you venue provide that?
Posted by ljsquintz[/QUOTE]

Our venue provided it.

xxstardust

So glad to hear all the good reviews for Palermo's - we're at the Greycliff too, and  that's who we were planning to go see.

HobokensFury

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:5416395d-095c-45c6-81d8-422adf51966c">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]So glad to hear all the good reviews for Palermo's - we're at the Greycliff too, and  that's who we were planning to go see.
Posted by xxstardust[/QUOTE]

FYI just be prepared for the up charges.  They wanted $1300 for fondant.  So that was a no go.  I paid a $400 fee for the fondant ropes, crystals and monogram.  The Graycliff only covers the cake, buttercream and basic designs (ribbon but no color accents).  I wanted something with a little more flair.

gelaine22

My venue uses Palermo's. i thought their red velvet was the worst of their flavors. I may be biased bc I love Cake Man Raven. We went with a strawberry shortcake pound cake and the chocolate cake with baci filling. However, if my cake wasnt included I would have chosen a different bakery.

avolker1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:908867db-c3bb-4c83-aed4-4cd1ae022b40">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use? : You will LOVE your cake!  The tasting is pretty simple and quick, nothing fancy.  We chose vanilla cake with hazelnut mousse for two layers and vanilla cake with lemon mousse for the other two.  It was delicious!  Here is a picture
Posted by ljsquintz[/QUOTE]

I LOVE that cake.  It is so pretty and I love the color accents.  Sounds delicious too!

avolker1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:28cd02a2-abbd-433d-ba8c-29884d8eccb3">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use? : We used Palermo's too and it was amazing.  Bottom and top layers were red velvet with cream cheese filling, then chocolate with hazelnut mousse and white with coconut mousse.  I still can't decide which flavor I loved more.
Posted by HobokenBride2012[/QUOTE]

Your cake is so pretty too! And red velvet is my favorite so I can't wait to try it.  I like the idea of having different flavors in each layer.

Chrissy241987

I love chocolate cake and buttercream. My plan is to just buy a cupcake at several places and then narrow the choice down by how much I liked the cupcake.

spudshirley

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:44a560ad-8e7b-46b4-94e1-5a08a14b57ca">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use? : My venue also uses Palermo' s so that's nice to hear you were happy with them.  I'm scheduling a tasting in March and I can't wait! 
Posted by avolker1[/QUOTE]

<div>Funny you guys mention Palermo's.  They were the ones who told me not to schedule incase someone else who needs a cake that week needs to come in!  I just thought that was poor customer service.  I'm not going to use them LOL!</div>

spudshirley

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_cake-tastings-when-do-you-go-for-yours-to-see-what-bakery-youd-like-to-use?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:8fa1ee27-bc08-4ee5-8e87-7876be0bcb05Post:65717a0b-7942-48c9-ae37-1080ae7ed6c5">Re: Cake Tastings. When do you go for yours to see what bakery you'd like to use?</a>:
[QUOTE]I love chocolate cake and buttercream. My plan is to just buy a cupcake at several places and then narrow the choice down by how much I liked the cupcake.
Posted by Chrissy241987[/QUOTE]

<div>I guess the main reason I want to go for an actual tasting is because the bakeries our venue recommends are all up in North Jersey by them (Nanina's in the Park).  So if we're going to make the drive up there, I want to make an experience out of it, you know what I mean?  If they were closer, I'd just grab a slice :)</div>