Blackout cake was always my birthday choice, too. I’ve tried the Gale Gand and the Karen Barker versions and was dissatisfied with both. I wonder if no real cake can match my memories.

of tried and true gingerbread (I posted a paraphrase of the recipe, from the excellent Sweet Stuff by Karen Barker, on this board last year)since I had some fresh ginger from the farmers' market. I’ve made this many times,...

Next week I will be trying a new version of coconut cake. I am having a great time with my new “Sweet Stuff” cookbook, by Karen Barker. Within this book, the author says that the world’s best coconut cake is in...

's breakfast but the depth of flavor is far beyond that in any other gingerbread I’ve made (and I love to make gingerbread). It is based on one in Sweet Stuff, by Karen Barker of The Magnolia Grill in Durham NC. The book is...

in Carrboro but I guess it didn’t pan out. Too bad because this fellow knew what he was doing. For dessert, Karen Barker once again showed why she is the queen of sweets in these parts.

Not dessert but baked or shirred eggs—so delicious. Buttermilk pannacotta (Karen Barker has a great recipe for this). Second the recommendation for Nigella’s Gooey Chocolate Puddings—they are incredible and very...

, the desserts reminded me very much of Karen Barker's, only with fewer components. Another great plus was the final tab. The apps run between $4 - $6 and the mains run about $7 - $10, mostly $8. My special was $9. Desserts are...

My suggestion is to walk a few hundreds yards down Ninth St. and see if you can grab a small table near the bar at Magnolia Grill. MG’s own coffee (which you can buy at Whole Foods) and Karen Barker's desserts are always a...

The chef at Sonoma, Groody, used to work for Ben & Karen Barker at Magnolia Grill. He’s a CIA grad.

By far the best known and most celebrated restaurant in the area is Magnolia Grill in Durham. Ben Barker has been nominated by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chef in the Southeast for the last two years, and his wife Karen,...

Aberdeen on Barker Ave. in White Plains is right off I-287 and is well worth the trip for dim sum, imo. Although I was there with an Asian gentleman from Queens and he said all the dim sum was too salty.

to a movie and then on the way home I got the sudden idea to pop into Magnolia Grill to see what Karen Barker had concocted. My choice was a brownie with chocolate ice cream, sliced bananas, and caramel sauce. It was okay but...

but if the rumors are true then I will rush there for Dim Sum. Has anyone been there recently? Karen

pricey — I would say about $60-$75 per person, sans wine. You’ll notice from the thread just below that Magnolia’s Karen Barker recently won the James Beard Award as best pastry chef (though, as I comment,...

program (http://www.seedsnc.org). Magnolia Grill – Ben Barker - 919-286-3609, Ben and his wife Karen do amazing, award winning food some of which is sourced from the local farmers markets. Nana’s and Pop’s –...