Park Avenue Gooey Butter Cake

Want to impress out of town guests with St. Louis' most famous original dessert?  Treat them to a gooey butter cake made by Park Avenue Coffee in Lafayette Square.  Not only did they win Food Network's "Food Feuds" for best gooey butter cake, but they have over 76 different flavors to choose from!

You truly aren't a St. Louisan until you've tried Gooey Butter Cake, which for all of you out of towners, is a dense yellow cake-like base (the crust) filled with a mixture of powered sugar, butter and cream cheese.  There is nothing like it.

If you haven't tried it before, I'd recommend getting the original, otherwise I would choose a medley of 3 or 4 to try because choosing just one flavor is impossible!!!  For a recent dinner party I got their chocolate chip cookie dough flavor (I just couldn't pass it up!).  It was amazing!!!  And for Jessie's wedding she and Joe gave out different flavors as wedding favors: Pumpkin, Original, and Triple Chocolate.  People were stealing them off the table!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Gooey Butter Cake

Here is a list of the top 10 flavors at Park Avenue:

#1 Mom's Traditional
#2 Triple Chocolate
#3 Turtle
#4 Red Velvet
#5 Pumpkin
#6 White Chocolate Raspberry
#7 White Chocolate Blueberry
#8 Caramel Apple
#9 Keylime
#10 Lemon

Click Here for a slideshow of all 76 flavors.

Coffee Secret

One lazy Saturday morning I paid a visit to my absolute favorite coffee spot in the city, Park Avenue Coffee in Lafayette Square. I went up to order my Skinny Vanilla Latte and kindly asked the drink maker if he could please drop a few ice cubes into my drink. He responded that he could simply make my drink at 140 degrees. I go "What the heck does that mean? That sounds hot too!" Luckily he explained to me that 140 degrees is the perfect temperature to consume coffee at but it is usually always served hotter so that it will stay warmer longer. I was still skeptical because here I am thinking water boils at 212 degrees so 140 degrees still sounds very hot. Luckily, I was proven wrong, and was immediately able to take a quick sip of my coffee, something I have NEVER been able to do. (FLASHBACK: One time I sat in a Dunkin Donuts with my Dad for over 45 minutes waiting to consume my tiny cup of hot chocolate. I think he was ready to kill me, but I just can't drink things that are that hot!)

In summary, if you are like me, and want to enjoy your coffee right away without scalding yourself, try ordering your coffee at 140 degrees. Now, I know you think you'll sound stupid doing this, but do NOT feel like that. I say it all the time ordering my coffee and no one blinks an eye! It is like a secret coffee language I swear! (Almost like that secret menu at In N Out Burger....)

ps: A full write-up on Park Avenue Coffee in the future!

I just like this picture, ha!