los angeles: the sycamore kitchen

tommy lunches at the sycamore kitchen...

grilled short rib sandwich; charred broccolini, chili flake, reggiano 

double b-lta: crispy and braised pork belly, butter lettuce, balsamic, tomatoes, avocado, mayo, country bread; butternut squash soup

salted caramel pecan babka roll; butttercup

flourless lemon custard cake; chewy molasses cookie; chocolate hazelnut fudge cookie

tommy says: fantastic sweets, so-so savory sandwiches.  the grilled short rib sandwich was a bit greasy and a bit bland.  it really could've used some salt and an acidic component.  the double b-lta was fine, but nothing particularly special.  the soup was very tasty.  the best things here are the baked goods! salted caramel pecan babka roll, buttercup, and flourless lemon custard cake were all delicious!  the buttercup is like a sweetened buttery, flakey, croissant. salted caramel roll is the most amazing sticky bun.  cookies were good, just not as good as the other sweets.

the sycamore kitchen
143 s la brea ave
los angeles, ca 90036
(323) 939-0151
http://thesycamorekitchen.com/

los angeles - atwater village: proof bakery

tommy discovers that the proof is in the dough (not the pudding)...

oatmeal raisin cookie, paris brest, almond croissant, empanada, tea cake with cherry, savory gallette

tommy says: a really fantastic bakery!  the croissant had a nice crisp and flaky exterior with a buttery slight chew and more flaky goodness on the interior. the cookie was super oatmealy, so a bit different from a typical oatmeal cookie.  the hazelnut cream in the paris brest was so delicious, but the shell itself was a bit dry.  the empanada was really good - the dough and the veggie and cheese filling were excellent!  the tea cake was a bit denser than anticipated, and was a bit reminiscent of cornbread, but much, much better (and cornbread already gets high marks in my book).  it is a stretch to say that the tea cake has a filling, it was just one tiny half cherry - a delicious half cherry, but still not enough to say it is filled. the savory gallette was also quite good.  proof really knows their dough/crust/pastries/shells.

proof bakery
3156 glendale blvd
los angeles, ca 90039
(323) 664-8633
http://www.proofbakeryla.com/

burbank: porto's bakery

tommy hearts porto's potato balls and sweets...


meat-filled potato balls





pan con lechon (roasted pork sandwich): slow roasted pork, mojo garlic sauce, and grilled onions, on a grilled cuban bread


tres leches
strawberry shortcake

tommy says: yummmm... potato balls! sandwiches were ok. desserts were really good. have had breakfast sandwiches in the past which were yummy. also, bonus: pretty cheap! they've also got another location in glendale.

porto's bakery
3614 w magnolia blvd
burbank, ca 91504
(818) 846-9100

www.portosbakery.com

west la: jamaica's cakes

tommy digs jamaica's cakes in west la...


cookies-n-cream: cookies baked into vanilla pound cake, layered with chocolate mousse and whipped cream, frosted in rich chocolate ganache
vanilla bavarian: vanilla pound cake filled with vanilla bavarian cream, frosted with white chocolate buttercream
raspberry champagne: champagne sponge cake filled with raspberry mousse and topped with raspberry puree

tommy says: tasty cakes. the raspberry was the favorite of the three, but all were good. cakes were slightly on the dry side, but were still pretty good. buttercreams were smooth and not too sweet! a nice option to take care of a cake craving.

jamaica's cakes
11511 w. pico blvd
los angeles, ca 90064
(310) 478-1971
http://www.jamaicascakes.com

west la: susiecakes

tommy samples susiecakes in west la...


sour cream cheesecake
classic marble cake: chocolate, chocolate chip cake swirled with vanilla cake filled with chocolate and vanilla buttercreams

tommy says: so-so... the cheesecake is neither light nor dense, but somewhere in between. it was not bad, and the better of the two cakes. the marble cake tasted like it was made from a cake mix.

susiecakes
11708 san vicente blvd
los angeles, ca 90049
(310) 442-2253
http://www.susiecakesla.com

west la: amandine

tommy gets some satisfaction at amandine in west la...


delice au chocolat: chocolate cake with a graham cracker and walnut crust
gateau fraise: sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream
cheesecake

tommy says: yummm. the gateau fraise was light and tasty. the delice au chocolat was rich, and the cheesecake is quite light and airy, so may not appease those who like dense cheesecake. the gateau chocolat (not photographed, chocolate cake with ganache, raspberries, and chocolate shavings) is also really good. a tasty spot to satisfy your sweet tooth!

amandine
12225 wilshire blvd
los angeles, ca 90025
(310) 979-3211
http://www.amandinecafe.com/

west la: pink orchid

tommy spells disappointment p-i-n-k-o-r-c-h-i-d...


chocolate cake, orange walnut cake, cherry cake, and pistachio cake

tommy says: super cheap, but sickeningly sweet. cakes were all pretty bad. will not be returning.

pink orchid
1927 westwood blvd
los angeles, ca 90025

santa monica: caprice pastries

tommy satisfies his sweet tooth at caprice pastries...


various pastries

tommy says: the most amazing customer service! jean louis is extremely helpful and friendly, and bakes up some mean pastries! be sure to try some of the cookies, the almond cookies with orange marmalade filling are fantastic!!

caprice fine french pastries
3213 pico blvd
santa monica, ca 90405
(310) 453-1932

los angeles: susina bakery & cafe

tommy satisfies his sweet tooth at susina bakery...


individual chocolate molten cakes


apple crumb tart


berry blossom cake

tommy says: fantastic bakery! the berry blossom cake was heavenly and blows sweet lady jane's triple berry cake out of the water!! the cake was light and moist and tasty, and the cream was soooo yummy. the chocolate molten cake was really good too, and not too sweet or too rich! the apple tart was quite tasty as well. easily the new favorite los angeles bakery!!

susina bakery & cafe
7122 beverly blvd
los angeles, ca 90036
(323) 934-7900
http://www.susinabakery.com/

nyc - chelsea: billy's bakery

tommy satisfies his sweet tooth at billy's...


chocolate and red velvet cupcakes

tommy says: the cake is perfectly moist, but not too moist, and the frosting is the right amount of sweet. easily the best cupcakes in the city. magnolia's, crumbs, buttercup, and the rest can't compete.

billy's bakery

184 9th Avenue

New York, NY, 10011

(212) 647-9956
http://www.billysbakerynyc.com/