WEB EXCLUSIVE A piece of chocolate cake a day keeps the doctor away, right? So venture to these 5 local bakeries on National Chocolate Day Jan. 27 for a slice—or, heck, the whole cake!
It’s time for a cake up call. One of the sweetest holidays of the year—National Chocolate Cake Day—is today and, lucky for us, Raleigh is home to some amazing bakeries and cafes serving up delicious versions of the classic dessert. Here, we rounded up some of our fave local cake ops that are sure to make today a whole lot sweeter. After all, chocolate makes everything better…
We couldn’t talk about cakes without mentioning the local legend that is Hayes Barton. This Raleigh establishment has been serving up the community for almost 25 years and offers a huge variety of made-in-house desserts. And when it comes to chocolate cakes, this Five Points fave has got you covered in a huge way (have you seen these slices?!). From your classic chocolate cake to a white and dark chocolate layer “patty” cake to a triple chocolate masterpiece, there’s something for every kind of chocolate cake lover here.
When the words “heavenly delicious” are in the name, you know the sweets will live up to the hype… and boy does Hereghty deliver! This adorable coffee and bake shop is the perfect one-stop shop for all things sweet. Sip on their liquid brownie (a decadent combo of espresso, caramel and chocolate powder) as you debate which one of the chocolate creations you’ll choose. Our rec? The Paris cake—layers of chocolate cake filled with a rich dark chocolate mousse. Ooh la la!
Once you taste a cake from this bakery, no other cake will ever be the same. Whether you’re looking for a birthday cake or just a slice for a little pick-me-up (no judgment!), Blue Moon has tons of delicious flavor combos that will have you coming back for more. And with Girl Scout cookie season upon us (!), right now we’re loving the Thicc Mint, which tastes just like your fave Thin Mint cookie. Or if you’re a real chocoholic, try the aptly named—you guessed it—chocoholic cake with dark chocolate mousse and frosted with chocolate buttercream and enrobed in chocolate ganache.
Feeling groovy? This Northwest Raleigh bakery has been whipping up delicious confections for almost 10 years. Choose from one of its specialty cakes or DIY your own creation from its list of cakes, fillings and frostings—you really can’t go wrong. For National Chocolate Cake Day, however, we rec the Triple Chocolate—layers of chocolate cake, chocolate mousse filling and chocolate buttercream frosting, topped with dark chocolate ganache and garnished with dark chocolate shavings. Bring on the chocolate!
This hidden gem tucked away in Cary’s MacGregor Village serves us some deliciously unique desserts—plus classic cakes, natch. But why settle for a traditional chocolate cake when you could have a chocolate raspberry cake or a chocolate sahlab (a chocolate cake covered in chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream with cinnamon, unsweetened coconut and pistachio hiding between each layer of icing). Basically—love at first bite!
WEB EXCLUSIVE This Valentine’s & Galentine’s Day, show some love to your partner—or best gals!—and plan ahead for these fun events around town.
Don’t you just love when your SO plans something early for Valentine’s Day? Reservations are always hard to get for the day of love here and Raleigh, so we’re giving you the scoop on where you should go now—as well as some other date ideas your boo will love. And if you’re more about spending the day with and showing love to your gals, peep our top Galentine’s Day picks.
Want to cuddle up with your cutie over a beer, delicious dishes and one of the best views in Raleigh? Getting a rez at Wye Hill is a sure recipe for success! While they haven’t released their menu yet, we’ve never been disappointed before—and we know they’ll be upping the love factor for Valentine’s Day!
Escape from Raleigh to this Bull City boutique hotel for a quick getaway. Take advantage of 20% off an overnight stay—plus a complimentary bottle of bubbles and a private igloo experience (!). Sounds like the perf perch for some eskimo kisses… how romantic.
Let Mulino play Cupid this year! Warm up for a four-course meal with welcome drinks; then dive into dishes like scallops, mushroom ravioli, braised beef over polenta, and tiramisu—plus a bottle of red or white wine to pair with your meal. Hungry yet?
Love will (literally) be in the air at Raleigh’s new fave rooftop, which is hosting a dessert + Champagne pairing from Feb. 11 to Feb. 14. Cap off your evening with a flute of Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne paired with your choice of dessert—warm petite brie with fig and blackberry jam, or a trifle with chocolate and vanilla custard, whipped cream, white cake and strawberry jam. How sweet indeed.
The fun doesn’t have to end with dessert… Post dinner and drinks at The Willard rooftop, stay the night below at the newest, hottest DTR hotel: the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown. The hip hotel is offering a special Valentine’s Day room package and a $60 credit to spend at The Willard (that can be used toward your Champagne and dessert pairing!), a bottle of sparkling, chocolate-dipped strawberries, European-style breakfast for two in the morning, and—perhaps sexiest of all—complimentary parking.
What’s more romantic than bubbles and chocolate? Toast to your love with a bottle of Prosecco while you sample a unique selection of craft chocolates from The Chocolate Boutique at Dram and Draught. Sounds like a pretty sweet V-day to us.
Girls rule, boys drool. Gather your bestie, sister, mom—or whoever—for a four-course dinner for two that’s perfect for sharing with that special someone. The menu includes lobster, baked feta, filet mignon and chocolate mousse. What better way to spend some quality time with your gals!
If your perfect GNO involves getting stabbed by needles, hit up Heights House for an exclusive piercing party on Feb. 13. Your ticket includes two piercings, the jewelry, a tip for the piercer, aftercare and aftercare instructions—plus a More Self Love tote with local chocolates, a Heights House signature scent perfume and a few more goodies.
It’s Britney, b*tch! Leslie Knope would be so proud. Celebrate “the best day of the year” while jamming out to your fave Britney hits, sipping on cocktails and treating yo’self to brunch at Tin Roof for what’s sure to be a fun-filled Sunday Funday.
Play bartender with your girls during this interactive bartending experience courtesy of the certified mixologist team at On my Way Bartending. Each attendee will receive a rose—lookin’ at you, Bachelor fans!—and learn how to make three Insta-worthy libations… then sipping on your crafty creation while snacking on Valentine’s Day-themed snacks, of course.
Yas, Queen! What would a Sunday Galentine’s Day be without drag brunch?! Make your reservation to see some of Raleigh’s best queens take the stage at Young Hearts Distilling. Tickets include brunch, a signature cocktail and a donation to the Transgender Initiative—look at you showing the love!
Show your girlfriends how much you really lilac them by coming out to The Willard’s rooftop lounge for this flower bouquet workshop hosted by Tiera George of TG Floristry. Tickets include a curated scheme of blooms for your table, a standard glass vase and everything you need to create your bouquet—plus the option to add on some vino.
Galentine’s Day at Dram and Draught
Raise a toast to your girlies at Dram’s Galentine’s Day event on Sunday, Feb. 13, which will involve drink specials, live music from DJ Deckades and more.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Stay warm this winter by sipping on some deliciously dark brews from our fave local breweries.
As the temps drop this winter, instead of reaching for a hot cocoa, spike things up with a decadent dark brew from some of our favorite Raleigh breweries. (After all, that alcohol blanket really makes a difference…) These 5 local winter warmers are guaranteed to keep you warm and toasty through the cold.
Savor the flavors of the holiday season all winter long at Cotton House Craft Brewers. Its Not My Gumdrop Buttons, which combines the spices of your fave gingerbread cookie with everything you love about a stout, is guaranteed to give you the warm and fuzzies.
Looking for a beer to satisfy your sweet tooth? Pour out a pint of Carolina Brewery’s Chapel Hill Toffee Stout that puts everything you love about Chapel Hill Toffee in a pint. This dessert in a can is full of flavors of dark and milk chocolate combined with the sweetness of caramel. Cozy up with a pint this Valentine’s Day at a Carolina Brewery taproom!
Crank Arm’s signature winter warmer is back for another season. Its Icycle ale is a fan fave for good reason, with festive flavors like orange zest, cardamom and ginger. Sip on a pint after a Wednesday night ride or bring it home to enjoy while cozying up on the couch.
Trophy Brewing Company’s Milky Way Stout is ideal for keeping the winter chills away. This salted caramel stout is the perfect combo of sweet and salty—and is the perfect accompaniment to Trophy’s creative pizzas and snacks. Our fave pairing? The Milky Way Stout and Daredevil pizza. Sip on this beer at Trophy locations, State of Beer, or pick up a six-pack at the grocery store.
Channel the Flannel Brown Ale is the beer collab you didn’t know you needed this winter. This brown ale combines the brewing power of Southern Peak Brewery with beans from Peak City Coffee to create a balanced coffee ale. Grab a pint (and a bite from the rotating food truck!) at the brewery in downtown Apex.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Tune in to Disney+ to see a Cary-native baker have some fun with food to create an edible masterpiece on the new original series, Foodtastic.
Forget what your mama said growing up. In Disney+’s new original series, Foodtastic, contestants are encouraged to play with their food—and local Insta baker extraordinaire Annie Cooper (aka @oakcitysourdough) is up for the challenge.
Middle: Annie Cooper | Photo courtesy of Disney+
The food competition series—hosted by Emmy Award-winning actress Keke Palmer and judged by Flour Shop founder Amirah Kassem and NYC’s City Cakes founder/chef Benny Rivera—challenges highly skilled bakers and artists to put their talents to the test to create extravagant scene work and larger-than-life food sculptures made from everything from fruit and vegetables to butter and cheese. And, for that Disney abra-cadabra touch, contestants must create edible creations inspired by each episode’s theme: think Disney classic tales like The Lion King or Toy Story.
In one Star Wars-focused episode, Cooper—along with talented bakers Jenna Smith and Melanie Baker—was tasked with helping a Rebel mechanic defeat the Galactic Empire (easier said than done). According to Cooper, the biggest challenge of the competition was “the size of [the] build. The sheer size and weight of the ship were extremely daunting.” But as an avid Star Wars fan, Cooper’s knowledge of the “galaxy far, far away” came in handy.
“The entire experience was a roller coaster—I’ve never felt so exhausted and energized at the same time!” says Cooper. “[And] I was so grateful to have such incredibly talented teammates to go through this adventure with.” So was the force ultimately with them? Tune in on Disney+ on Wednesday, Dec. 15, to see if Cooper and her team were able to impress the judges and win the challenge! disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/foodtastic
WEB EXCLUSIVE Transfer Co. Food Hall and CLTure are hosting their first annual Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Shopping, music, food and art—oh, my! Whether you’re looking to get a head start on your holiday gift list or just treat yo’self to some local offerings, you’re gonna wanna head to Transfer Co Food Hall for the first annual CLTure + Transfer Co. Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 20.
More than 20 local businesses will be in attendance, including Oak City Hot Sauce, Elevated Chocolates, The Pour House Record Shop and Quail Ridge Books, to name a few (seriously, you’ll be able to check off everyone on your list). And while you’re shopping around you can enjoy all your fave food and beverage offerings from the food hall—plus live music from Sonny Miles, Libby Rodenbough, Greg Cox and others out on the patio.
“Transfer Co. Food Hall was built with the intent to be a hub for our community, and we’re very proud to be hosting such a great selection of local vendors and musicians during the holiday season to stimulate the local economy,” says Mark J. Garmise, general manager of Transfer Co. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with CLTure to help promote music, arts and small businesses in the region.” Tickets $5, bit.ly/3nXxhNt
