I'm a dessert fiend. I'm hoping you all will share the name &
address (at least the city) of your favorite bakeries and what you
highly recommended from there. Just so i'm clear...I'm looking for
bakeries that use top-notch ingredients and not the run-of-the-mill
stuff you'll find in most grocery stores.

Here are my to-die-for, if you just gotta-have-sugar recommendations
:
* Francesca's in Durham, NC - pretty much EVERYTHING behind the
display case, but definitely the Chocolate Rasperry Decadence!!!

* Simply Desserts in Seattle, WA - I've tried most of the chocolate
cakes there (sorry, but i can't recall their names but the words
"truffle", "milk chocolate" come to mind), and
you will not be disappointed!!!

* European Cake Gallery in Point Loma/San Diego, CA - it has been
years since I've stepped foot inside this bakery, but if my
recollection serves me correctly, their Swiss Black Forest &
White Bavarian are yummy (the chocolate shavings are also unlike any
other cakes).

* Whole Foods (in most large cities) - I think it's called Chocolate
Torte (it's flourless).

I'm truly bummed that TGI Friday's restaurant no longer has their
Chocolate Caramel Crunch Cake...and Claim Jumper's 6-layer Chocolate
Motherlode Cake doesn't even come close to what I would consider
gooooooood.