^ French patisseries often have almond flour and sometimes pistachios. East Asian patisseries usually don't work with nuts in their cakes, with exceptions.

I encourage you to try Tout de Sweet's cakes. Unfortunately you have to order in advance, but they are worth it!

The professional patissier is French, and his hand is truly light and delicate, but with much more flavor than the equally light and delicate Korean/Japanese cakes that mimic the French tradition.

I'm French and live in Bethesda, and have been buying his cakes for many years. If you prefer the East Asian cakes (a little too soft without contrasting texture and flavor, for me), you can try Paris Baguette in various locations, they're a South Korean bakery chain.

Both culinary traditions eschew the use of buttercream. I agree, buttercream is awful. And the weird fondant to decorate cakes is horrific and truly inedible. Whipped cream all the way.

They honey cake at Sharbat in Adams Morgan is really good. It's not too sweet. Here's an older article I found that has a pic: https://gwhatchet.com/2020/10/29/dish-of-the-week-sharbats-honey-cake/

I love the Boston Cream Cake from Wegmans

Anonymous wrote:Double torta caprese filled with amaretti.
Moisten with Ameretto Disaronno.

I’ve been making the torta caprese with almond flour and less sugar for my birthdays. It’s one of the easiest and most delicious.

OP, you can make it yourself and feel proud about your creation. Plus, you can be in charge of the flavors and decorations.

Anonymous wrote:Stella’s in Rockville has a good almond cake that I think has either cream or marzipan instead of buttercream.

Tout Sweet in Bethesda has a bunch of amazing cakes that would probably fit your preferences, including ones with almond or pistachio bases. That bakery over in cabin John shopping center also has cakes like that. Basically you want a French bakery.

Stella’s is so overrated. I’ve probably tried this place 3 or 4 times since everyone raves about it and everything has been dry, tasteless and stale.

What about a birthday pie?

Op Here.

Have had the berry chantilly cake from whole foods many many times. I used to really love it but as another poster mentioned, the last couple times we had it for events it wasn’t as good-still good but not something I want for my birthday.

Love carrot cake so that’s definitely a good option!

Les Delicies is another one we used to love as a family but the last couple of times it just wasn’t as good. And we have had stuff from there a lot so really want to try something different anyway.

Love some of these suggestions and will be looking into them! Thank you!!!

Double torta caprese filled with amaretti.
Moisten with Ameretto Disaronno.

Anonymous wrote:Any of the cakes from Les Delices on Gude Drive in Rockville. Will not disappoint

💯

To be honest, Whole Foods berry chantilly cake has become very disappointing, barely any berries and lots less of the flavor it used to have.

You do seem to have a more of a preference for Italian style or Latin American flavors. I did love the flavors of tres leches cakes in Puerto Rico with pistachio.

Any of the cakes from Les Delices on Gude Drive in Rockville. Will not disappoint

There are no decent bakeries in the DMV. Order something special from your favourite region of the country on Goldbelly.

Have real cannoli from Brooklyn sent to you via Goldbelly.

Stella’s in Rockville has a good almond cake that I think has either cream or marzipan instead of buttercream.

Tout Sweet in Bethesda has a bunch of amazing cakes that would probably fit your preferences, including ones with almond or pistachio bases. That bakery over in cabin John shopping center also has cakes like that. Basically you want a French bakery.