Chinatown Cake Club

Down an unremarkable street in Chinatown and through a dodgy looking metal gate lies a confection-filled paradise known as the Chinatown Cake Club. This demure and intimate sweets speakeasy opens for just one day (six hours) every month. Once you are granted permission to enter from Joel (cake club bouncer as pictured above), which you can request online at a specified time, you're welcome to sample all of the homemade cakes, cookies, crumbles, and icecreams that pastry chef Victoria Howe has created for $20.

The theme of the month was "Americana," which gave nods to American baked goods— both classic tributes (Strawberry Shortcake, Carrot Cake) and creative reinterpretations (Texas Sheet Cake, Elvis Cake, Budweiser Icecream). There were 15 different items to try; I made it up to nine. Of the ones that I tried, I enjoyed the Elvis Cake and Budweiser icecream the most. The Elvis Cake was a moist banana cake, layered with whipped peanut butter frosting and decorated with candied bacon bits. Basically, a hunka-hunka-burnin' love incarnated. :P

If you want to check it out for yourself, here are some tips:

1. Sign up for the earliest time slot. You'll have the first bites of everything (which is always the best), you'll get to see all of the cakes in their entirety, you won't be overcrowded, and you'll be able to fall asleep a bit easier at night (in theory).
2. Bring very little with you; the space is small.
3. Grab a seat at the kitchen bar. Don't let the comfy couch with the moose pillow tempt you. If you're going for the food, make sure and get the best seat in the house— which is right in front of the action. That means less shuffling to get out of people's way and more time to enjoy eating (and looking).
4. Be prepared to climb some stairs... you've been warned.
5. Bring your own large water bottle. While tea, coffee and water are available, the cups are small. To make the most efficient use of your time, I would suggest carrying your large supply of water. Trust me, you'll need it as a palette cleanser. 
6. Unless if you're a rampant social butterfly, I would highly recommend bringing a friend. I met up with M, but also bumped into Amy and her bf J. While it's a great way to meet new people and it's intimate enough so that you won't be left in the corner (unless if you want to be). But you could take turns with your buddy to get food to reduce the traffic.

Menu and more pix can be found here.