Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen

So I’ve been seeing red velvet cakes everywhere recently, but resisted picking one up because, oh, I’m told I need to resist anything I might possibly enjoy.

But after reading the recent New York Times story on it, I knew I had to try some, especially when I’m living near one of America’s top red velvet confectioners - Cake Man Raven on Fulton Street in Brooklyn.

However, the last time I tried getting a slice, they were completely sold out, at 3 in the afternoon on a weekday!

Well, this past Saturday, I happened to walk past the bakery when I noticed it was shuttered, and a sign posted on the door said it was closed temporarily for renovations.

However, they were continuing to sell their cakes from a U-Haul van parked right outside the store.

“You here for our red velvet cake?” a young man hollered from the van, addressing me and another couple who were staring at the renovation notice. “We got only three slices left.”

The couple looked at me, and I looked at them, and we all knew it was destiny. “One slice each,” we sputtered, almost in unison.

“Well, shoot, today’s your lucky day!” chuckled another woman from inside the van, who promptly handed each of us a bag before yelling to no one in particular, “An’ thass’it! We’s done here!”

So here’s another pic of our Slice of Destiny, embellished with strawberries. (Wouldn’t it make a great National Day cake with its red and white theme?)

How did it taste? Well, it was very moist, with a great blend of vanilla and cocoa, though I found it a wee bit too sweet, as I generally tend to find most American confections.

I was also somewhat disturbed to note that the recipes suggest an extraordinary amount of artificial red colouring! The New York Times recipe has 6 tablespoons, and Cake Man Raven’s has 1 whole ounce.

But I guess in these times, not having at least some chemicals in it would be most un-American. Whatever the case, trying a slice is a must if you’re visiting the US.

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