Eat Like a King

The royal treatment: Where to buy king cake in Dallas-Fort Worth

The season is short for king cake, the sweet, round treat decorated with purple, green and yellow icing or sugars. In Louisiana, they celebrate the time between Epiphany (January 6) and Mardi Gras with king cake, and whoever gets the slice with the plastic baby hidden inside is said to have good luck for the day.

So, as the countdown to Mardi Gras (February 12) continues, we are savoring every last bite. These Dallas-Fort Worth sweet spots are baking king cakes in all different flavors, shapes and sizes. Just remember it is wise to call ahead to confirm availability.

Blue Bonnet Bakery
At this Fort Worth bakery, the king cake comes in four different sizes: 8- or 10-inch rounds and 12-by-16 or 24-by-16 rectangles. Every cake has a little plastic baby in the middle; icing on top; and purple, yellow and green sugar crystals. Fillings options include cream cheese or cinnamon-apple-raisin. Prices range from $10.99 to $49.99.

Casa Linda Bakery
If you like the coffee cake at this East Dallas bakery, then you'll love the king cake. It's made with almost all of the same ingredients, but it comes in either cinnamon or cream cheese. The round cake is covered in icing and sprinkled with green, yellow and purple sugar crystals. The decorations, including a baby figurine, come in a little bag for you to decorate the cake yourself. It costs $14 and feeds about 15 people.

Central Market
The traditional king cake at Central Market is a cinnamon-filled sweet bread with Mardi Gras-colored sugar on top. The 10-inch round cake sells for $9.99 at the Lovers Lane location. The Preston Royal store has cinnamon, strawberry-cream cheese, cream cheese, almond and raspberry flavors for $10.99. The baby figurine is half in and half out of the cake.

Copeland's of New Orleans
Copeland's in Southlake Town Square does a king cake for $59, with 16 slices of white cake and a New York cheesecake filling. A baby figurine comes on top. We were told the cakes might sell out by the weekend, so act fast.

Rush Patisserie
Rush Patisserie in Oak Cliff makes the Louisiana-style king cake in two sizes: a small (individual size) for $5 and a 10-inch round for $22. The cakes come in classic cinnamon or praline, and they are decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors. Because the cakes are baked fresh, you need to call 214-749-4040 to place an order.

Society Bakery
By special order only, Society Bakery on Greenville Avenue makes nontraditional king cakes with cinnamon rolls. They are baked together; topped with icing; and covered in green, yellow and purple sugar. The "cake" is priced per cinnamon roll ($2.95 each), plus an additional $15, and comes sans baby. To place your order, call 214-827-1411 one to two weeks in advance.

Stein's Bakery
North Dallas favorite Stein's is baking cinnamon and cream cheese king cakes decorated with Mardi Gras colors — and the standard baby figurine. Each cake sells for $15 and serves between 12 and 18 people.

Tart Bakery
Tart Bakery on Lovers Lane makes 10-inch king cakes for $18, without the baby figurine. The traditional sweet-bread cake is decorated with Mardi Gras colors and serves 15 to 20 people. Tart requires a 48-hour notice for all king cake orders.

Village Baking Co.
Village Baking Co. on University Boulevard makes the French-style king cake (galette de rois) from flaky puff pastry filled with buttery almond cream. Each cake has a tiny figurine hidden inside — a mini king, baby Jesus, sheep, cow and more —and comes with a crown, for whomever gets the slice with a charm. The cakes are available during the whole month of January.

Whole Foods
The oval-shaped king cake at all Whole Foods stores come in four flavors — chocolate, cream cheese, cinnamon and Chantilly — with a baby figurine. The cake serves about 15 people and costs $12.99. Ordering in advance is encouraged.

Central Market makes traditional king cakes in a variety of flavors.

Photo courtesy of Central Market

Central Market makes traditional king cakes in a variety of flavors.

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Doughnut News

Downtown Dallas restaurant debuts special Japanese-inspired doughnuts

Sandoitchi

A stack of Sandoitchi doughnuts

Downtown Dallas restaurant Sandoitchi is debuting an exciting new addition to the menu: doughnuts.

Sandoitchi is the Japanese-inspired concept at the Joule Dallas Hotel that's famous for championing the Japanese sando, that foodie delicacy featuring sandwiches on white milk bread, very neatly presented in a pleasing package.

Now it has expanded with an all-new pastry program led by chef Audrey Scheib, who previously served as director of pastry innovation R&D at The Salty (previously known as The Salty Donut).

Doughnut news of any kind is inherently exciting, but the doughnuts they're serving at Sandoitchi are unique: Japanese Sweet Potato doughnuts, highlighting Japanese flavors with a modern twist — from matcha-glazed to ube drizzled to yuzu curd-filled confections.

"We’ve always been inspired by the balance of tradition and innovation in Japanese cuisine,” says Sandoitchi co-founder Stevie Nguyen in a statement. “Chef Audrey brings the creativity and pastry expertise to extend that philosophy into our new pastry program, starting with a lineup that feels familiar but distinctly Sandoitchi.”

The pastry program marks another step in Sandoitchi’s expansion from its signature sando menu into a wider range of Japanese-inspired offerings, with an emphasis on premium ingredients and thoughtful presentation.

Scheib is a major catch with a background in fine dining that includes having graduated from The Culinary Institute of America specializing in pastry, and becoming a pastry chef at just 24 years old. Prior to The Salty, she worked at a few different places including a high production bakery in Napa and a Japanese-inspired restaurant on the pastry line. She joined The Salty team prior to opening their first Texas shop. She also worked in a front of the house capacity for Written By the Seasons at The Quad.

"I've known Stevie since we were kids working for Uchi in Houston years ago," Scheib says. "We always lightly talked about him wanting some pastry help over the past few years, so, the minute I was free I reached out and we got started! It’s been so great to be back in the pastry game and we’ve been having a lot of fun collaborating."

According to Sandoitchi co-founder Keith Tran, the doughnuts are $6, and are available in limited quantities.

"We have been rotating the flavors every few days," Tran says. "They are available every day that we are open (Wednesday-Sunday). They’ve been selling out by about 1 pm everyday. We plan to add more flavors and up the rotation and quantities as time goes on."

Sandoitchi doughnuts Sandoitchi

Offerings include:

Japanese Sweet Potato Donuts
Matcha Glazed
Hojicha Glazed
Japanese Sugar
Yuzu Glazed Japanese

Sweet Potato Filled Donuts:

Kinako Crumble with Salted Sweet Cream
Ube Glaze with Mango Curd
Citrus Sugar with Yuzu Curd

Seasonal Bakes:

Black Sesame Banana Bread
Kabocha Pumpkin Bread

Sandoitchi had already expanded its menu beyond sandwiches and they're also expanding their footprint, with openings penciled in for Costa Mesa and Houston.

doughnuts desserts openings