Nestled in a colorful section of West Philadelphia lies the Carrot Cake Company. Assisted by her brothers and oldest son, Valerie A. Collier runs this small family business. Reminiscent of a Recess get-rich-quick scheme run by T.J. and the gang in the long, hazy days of the summer, this family sells loaves of carrot cake ($7) instead of lemonade for a quarter. The Carrot Cake Company doesn't beat around the patch, baking nothing but its namesake. As the years have passed, they have added endless varieties to their repertoire. Popular customer requests include pineapple-blueberry, chocolate-chip and their most popular flavor, pineapple-walnut-raisin carrot cake. Who would've thought pineapples and carrots could go together so well?
When asked what has been attracting customers for the past twenty-two years, Valerie claims that it's "divine intervention." However, I suspect it's the four sticks of butter and five cups of confectioners sugar that go into every square inch of icing. This gem has attracted quite a following, drawing in everyone from Philadelphia locals to students at University of the Sciences to customers from as far away as New Jersey and Delaware. In 1993, this proud female entrepreneur took over the business from her brother -- known as the Carrot Cake Man -- after he won "Best of Philly" and decided to go out on a high note. She has since modified the cake recipe to prevent indigestion caused by undercooked carrots. This lovely store is easy to miss, as it is about the same size as a small motor home. Look for the themed orange and green molding and stuffed bunnies, older than the Carrot Cake Lady herself, in the window. After sampling some of the Pineapple-Walnut Carrot Cake, we understood their threatening motto, "One bite and we gotcha!" Those that work in the shop are eager to please, happily accepting orders for any combination of fruits. While you're there, you can even ask David, Valerie's youngest brother, a self-proclaimed "Keyboard Specialist," to perform at your next wedding or bar mitzvah. Valerie knows the importance of sticking to what she's good at and does not intend to expand her business into any other foods -- so if you're a carrot-cake lover, the Carrot Cake Company is the sweetest way to fulfill your daily requirement of vegetables.
