Cake World
Concha
Guava Turnover
Tres Leches
Carrot Cake
Cheese Danish
Vanilla Donut
Located on North Tenaya Way in a strip mall one would just as soon pass by without paying any attention lies a tiny space titled Cake World Bakery, and although neither the space nor selection is as voluminous as that of many other bakeries the quality of the goods is to-date unsurpassed by that of other Mexican bakeries found in cities including San Francisco, Detroit, and Chicago.
Owned by a second generation baker and open at 7:00am seven days per week, Cake World occupies a small corner of the shopping plaza and with the ceiling decorated in pinata my 5pm arrival found shelves still stocked and baking ongoing, a small line forming more than once as others arrived to gather custom cakes in several styles and flavors, the tres leches undoubtedly a most popular order.
Greeted by the baker as his female counterpart was busy helping two young women design a Sweet 16 styled cake, it was with a big smile that he made suggestions when asked what he recommended, and adding on a few personal interests $13.34 was traded for six items, only the dry cinnamon Concha proving anything less than excellent.
Admittedly taking the non-traditional path for a couple of items, it warrants mention that the donuts at Cake World are reportedly made from the store’s bolillo bread base, and with a soft crumb that picks up little-to-no grease the bite is a bit more dense than many, though the lard and leavening each work wonders beneath the light glaze to offer a sweet/savory balance not unlike that of a traditional European Paczki, the filled versions sold out during this visit but perhaps worth a return for those seeking such a thing.
Impressed by a slice of carrot cake that saw plenty of raisins and nuts studding a spicy moist batter beneath tangy cream cheese it was onward to the items chosen by the baker that the tasting progressed and although the guava turnover was a little underfilled the golden pocket was crisp and well suited to stand up to the substantial sweetness while the cheese danish was still warm from the oven, a bit of caramelization adding a crackling top-note to the savory filling while puff pastry shattered and flaked to the table, a very worthy contender for best of its kind and certainly the best I’ve had for a mere $1.25.
Tempted by flan, cheesecake, fruit turnovers, and no less than a half-dozen other items, it was in being mindful of dinner plans to come that the sampling wrapped up with Cake World’s signature Tres Leches Cake, and although flavored and fruited options were offered a single slice of the traditional version was selected with results exceeding admittedly high expectations, each bite well balanced given the high quality of house whipped cream juxtaposing layers of yellow custard, the base not nearly as ‘wet’ as some with sweetness equally scaled back.
FOUR STARS: Purporting no expertise as relates to Mexican pastries, and actually quite disappointed with several iterations of such in the past, Cake World is turning out some truly delicious goods in a place that many would never think to look, the friendly service an added bonus and the sort of thing that leaves little doubt that an early morning visit when everything is fresh will soon see me back.
RECOMMENDED: Tres Leches, Cheese Danish, Donut.
AVOID: Conchas seem to have suffered from a day on the shelf, far dryer than others in the past.
TIP: 7a-7p M-Sa, 7a-5p on Sunday. Whole cakes available in store and custom orders with 48-hours notice.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor
http://www.cakeworldlv.com/
