The promise of Alfajores is kind of an irresistible lure. They’re a treat that’s awfully difficult to find in Columbus, but once you’ve had one –it’s hard to forget it. It’s a cookie sandwich with a center made from dulce de leche.
They sell Alfajores at Cakes and More, it’s part of the “more” at this fun (self-described) Latino-Italian bakery.
Located right where Morse Road dead-ends at High Street, there’s actually lots to explore in the “More” department of Cakes and More. There’s Quiche ($3), for example. They’re tidy, hand-sized pies, filled with a nice eggy mixture. The vegetable one is good, but the ham and cheese version is even better- as savory ham is generally a winning element. There’s some onion in the mix too -detectable, but not overbearing and it works with the ham.
The bakery’s big rolls are also a good value. For $2.25 each, guests can score a Roll (about the size of small loaf of bread) filled with Pepperoni and Cheese or Ham and Cheese.
The bakery cases are filled with lots of sweets. None have been a dud. The decorated cookies feel a little on the pricey side ($1.75) –but sometimes having a smiley face cookie is important. The Chocolate Chip Cookie ($.90) seems like a better deal, as the chips are large, real and quite abundant.
Brownies ($2.50) aren’t just frosted: they are encased in a chocolate shell. Even the bottom of the brownie is chocolate. It keeps every inch of the cake inside moist and rich.
The Cinnamon Rolls ($2) aren’t particularly pretty, but they deliver where it counts. The tall and deep rolls have soft dough, abundant cinnamon and a sweet icing that drips down inside for extra bursts of sweetness.
And then there is the cake, after all, the place is called Cakes and More. There are plenty of slices for sale in that counter too. One offering called the Brazilian Whisper ($4.75) fairly jumps out of the case. You can see the slice has three layers of cake and two different colorful fillings. It’s got strawberry stuff, and coconut stuff, and nuts, and a little chocolate glaze right on top.
Here is the magical thing about it. You know how the very last slurps of a sundae or banana split are the best part? That divine syrupy soup that swirls with cream and flavor is sublime. This Brazilian Whisper cake tastes exactly like those last loaded bites. It’s a whole prolonged experience of the best thing on the planet.
In all the sugary splendor, the Alfajores were all-but-forgotten. As promised, the bakery sells the cookie sandwich. For whatever reason, it was better in imagination than it was in reality (then again, everything since the Brazilian Whisper has been vaguely disappointing). The bakery sells both the conventional version ($1.50), and a special version of Alfajores ($2.25). The upgrade is still centered with dulce de leche, but the cookie part is more like a holiday spice cookie –with a meringue shield making icing. It was better.
But that Whisper thing: that was haunting. You can score your own slice (and maybe a savory snack for lunch) at 4969 N. High Street.
More information can be found online at www.cakesandmore.us.
Photos by Mollie Lyman of www.fornixphotography.com.
