Jan Norris: Food and Florida

Jaye Norris, Greg Stanley, Cheri Sarner of Cake Kingdom

Cake Kingdom, a bakery staffed by a fun group, opened last week in Tequesta. They were in Stuart, but one of the principals, Jaye Norris (no relation), lives in Tequesta a few blocks away.  “It was for convenience,” said Jaye Norris, one of the founders.

Norris and partners Greg Stanley and Cheri Sarner were on hand to greet customers who had been waiting  for this bakery’s opening for some time.

“We can’t  put up a sign by the road because of the town rules,” Norris said. “But we’ve been at a lot of events handing out muffins and cupcakes to get the word out that we’re finally open.” A few balloons helped guide customers to the small space near the fountain on Main Street.

Full line of fun cakes, muffins, breads

Norris handed out samples of some of the goods on hand opening day — right before Halloween. Lemon-blueberry muffins, pumpkin-cranberry muffins, mini-cakes layered with silky mousse and buttery creams, cupcakes – chocolate and vanilla – filled with mousse and Key lime pie tarts filled the refrigerator case. Two-fist sized cut-out cookies for Halloween parties — bats, black cats, pumpkins and sparkly purple spiders – hung from the ceiling.

Custom birthday cakes sculpted

Castle cake

Fanciful cakes, such as the castle cake and carousel cake – both made for 4-year-olds – are fun for Norris, who works into the night (“it’s quieter then”) with Sarner to create them. Delicate details make these labor-intensive. “I learn from every cake I make,” she said.

 ”They took about three days each to make,” she said. Advance notice and plenty of time to plan and engineer the cakes are needed for elaborate designs, but simple birthday cakes that are already prepared and can be customized with piping or decorations will be available for purchase at the bakery in the near future.

Key lime pie in two sizes

I liked the Key lime pie “tartlets” – -reasonably priced at 2 for $5.  They’re rich enough to serve two each, though that likely won’t happen. The muffins also were tender and flavor-filled (and lasted two days in the fridge). Again, they’re enough for two if you halve them.

Prices all around are palatable: muffins, $1; “muffin loaves” (or quick breads – 1.25 pounds), $6; carrot cake loaf, $8; mini-cakes (feed at least 2, more likely 3 or 4), $6; cupcakes, $3 (minis are $1.50); Key lime pie, $11.

Custom decorated cookies start at $3 each, and cakes, $5 a person ($7 p.p. for fondant icing).

Nothing fake here

Cookies are all natural with real butter and sugar — no trans-fats, and no high-fructose corn syrup – and like all other foods, they’re made from scratch – not a pre-made dough. Flavors include: Sundried cranberry, Cinnamon oatmeal butterscotch, Triple chip, Grandma’s oatmeal raisin, Chocolate truffle, Gold rush (toffee, milk chocolate and pecans in a caramel cookie) and White chocolate macadamia nut – as well as good old Classic chocolate chip.

Quick breads and muffin flavors include: Lemon blueberry crumb; Cranberry pumpkin; Zucchini with cherries, raisins and walnuts; Brown sugar banana; and Caribbean coconut with pineapple, banana, coconut and pecans.

There will be special flavors on occasion.

Already gearing up for holidays

Thanksgiving breads, pies and desserts are on November’s agenda – a number of pies will be available. (Put in your order now - bakeries all around the area are crazy-busy for this holiday.) Drop by and you may get a free sample of pie.

Cake Kingdom

• Address: 1 Main St., Suite 100 (in Urgent Care plaza), Tequesta, FL 33469
• Phone: 561-222-CAKE (2253); web site coming by mid-month
•  Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Closed Mondays.
• Catering and delivery: Call for quotes

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