How high school cross country fueled my carrot cake obsession

One of my fondest moments in high school was when I tried Lloyd's Carrot Cake's. Especially at location across the street from Van Cortlandt Park (this is where I ran some of my most memorable cross country races). The first carrot cake I tried was from Lloyd's, and they easily set the standards really high.

After my team finished our 5k races, we'd cool down and quickly walk-run to the carrot cake shop. Mid-October and November always embodied a beautiful fall scene: the rural backdrop of Van Cortlandt Park with its rolling red, green, and yellow hills, pedestrians donning sweater vests and cable knits, and people in all sorts of activities from ultimate frisbee to hiking. We'd quickly walk to the shop, and I still remember the rustling sounds our sneakers made against the leaves on the crosswalk.

From @Lloyd'sCarrotCake Instagram page

Warning: there's always a line of food fanatics, athletes, students, and coaches waiting for Lloyd's delicious treats (based on my trips). But fear not! Their service is excellent- the line moves along quickly as customers leave happily with their orders. In addition to cakes, their menu has muffins and cupcakes with different flavors including chocolate, red velvet, and pineapple, strawberry, And, most importantly, the cake is worth every ounce of your time on the line (and money).

The carrot cake slice. Moist. Generous. Rich. Warm.

Cross country season was always my favorite time of the school year. Whether or not my race went well, I always looked forward to picking up a slice of carrot cake from Lloyd's. Because I had to be at Van Cortlandt Park for my races, it was a win-win situation. I'd run my 5k race and enjoy my well-deserved carrot cake slice with my teammates.

Cross country (2019) with my teammates at van Cortlandt Park

A 2-hour train ride away from where I live, Lloyd's is not a convenient option (unfortunately). I've been casually searching for the best carrot cake that can live up to the bars set by Lloyd's. From baking my the carrot cake from scratch to visiting a handful of cafes and bakeries that sell carrot cakes, the search has been ongoing living in the back of my mind that I want to document and reflect on through my blog.