It’s Thursday (for real, this time) and Daniele has another tasty entry from the vegetarian perspective.  If you weren’t hungry before, her pictures will change all that. (Pssst! I think I smell a NOLA Eats brunch event!) -Leslie

I’ve been a fan and frequent customer of the New Orleans Cake Café since it opened in 2007, so it’s no surprise that I found myself there for brunch again this weekend. As it turns out, they were celebrating their second anniversary by offering free pieces of cake to each customer. Um, hell yeah I want a free piece of cake!

I got the red velvet because I am trendy like that. (Is red velvet cake still trendy?) Trendy or no, the cake was perfectly delightful. Not just because it was free and unexpected but also because it was moist and delicious. What a great way to start brunch. Yeah that’s right – I said start brunch. I tried to save a little bit of the cake to have after my meal, but my will is weak.

I was really happy when the Cake Café opened on the corner of Chartres and Spain in the spot previously occupied by La Spiga. I am a great lover of breakfast-y and brunch-y foods. I am an even greater lover of establishments who offer such foods close to my home. As a vegetarian, I think I gravitate toward breakfast foods because I know that I’ll have options no matter how meat-centric the restaurant is.

Of course, Cake Café is more than a neighborhood place I settle on because it is close and I can eat there. It is freaking tasty as all get-out! There are lots of choices for vegetarians and their carnivorous friends alike – omelets, sandwiches, salads, soups, and of course baked goods. I highly recommend keeping an eye on the specials board. The dishes found on there make creative use of seasonal ingredients and there are some hidden treasures on there. My boyfriend has also gotten into the habit of buying a loaf of their ciabatta to take home when he visits.

On my last visit, I went with an ol’ stand by: a roasted vegetable sandwich with goat cheese. Sometimes I get sick of the roasted vegetable sandwich as it seems to have become the token vegetarian offering in many restaurants. But Cake Café’s addition of goat cheese and use of fresh bread baked in-house give new life to a dish that can teeter on the edge of dull. The tanginess of the goat cheese plays well against the sweetness of the roasted tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and peppers. A handful of fresh spinach adds another layer of texture. All sandwiches come with on your choice of bread. I chose challah, which I think worked well with the sweet and savory mix that was happening with the other ingredients.

If you happen to find yourself hungry for breakfast or lunch in the Marigny, I highly recommend stopping into the Cake Café for a bite. Just be sure to save me a table!