Feb 08: This past Tuesday I had a friend over for dinner. I lived in NJ all my life and grew up in an Italian family. For my friend I cooked a very Italian dinner with sauce from fresh tomatos, braciole, meatballs and pork bones - all in the "gravy". I wanted the perfect desert and having just learned of MH and loving the Lemon Bars and macaroons - I saw the Italian Rum Cake in your brochure. The description sounded great - I haven't had a rum cake - a good one - since I was a child in the 50's at an Italian wedding reception. I hoped to match that memory of Italian Rum Cake but I knew that was a long shot. I ordered the cake Sunday - Isaac took my order - my wife picked it up Tuesday - my friend was due for dinner that night. The dinner was great, the espresso coffee was ready and the cake was out of the fridge to breathe for thirty minutes. Somehow I just knew this was going to be the best. As I gently sliced the knife through the cake for the first piece my confidence rose even more because I could feel the cake yeilding to the gentle push of the knife - a sure sign of light, fresh, fluffy and probably moist. I removed the first piece and served to my guest. I cut pieces for me and my wife. How else can I say - except to say I went to cake heaven. Within one second - the first bite - I knew my hope was surpassed. I was back in NJ - 12 years old - at an Italian wedding. The texture, taste, fragrance, crunchy almonds, flavor, esence.....Out of this world. How do you do it!!??? A work of art - you guys are masters. My only problem now is to try to stay away a while so I don't burn it out. So I may try a Lemon Lattice in the meantime or maybe a coconut - But my heart is bonded to the Italian Rum. Thank you! Mario from Hillsborough