Tomorrow night, we enter King Cake season. More importantly, we remember the Epiphany, the night God revealed God's self to the Gentiles, the magi. We recall, as Timothy wrote, that "it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

To celebrate Epiphany or to eat king cakes outside of King Cake season is an embarrassing and humiliating faux pas of the highest magnitude. Wearing a tuxedo t-shirt to a black tie affair pales in comparison. It has recently, due to the greed of bakers, become popular to sell king cakes outside of the season. These poachers on our tradition deserve the highest ridicule and scorn. If I could issue king cake citations, I would. Speaking of which, I am now considering going to the City Council and the J.P. Council with a proposal to ban the sale of king cakes or anything purporting to be the king cake's cousin outside the time between sunset on January 5 and 11:59:59 PM on Mardi Gras. Having said that, we can now look forward with eager hope to tomorrow night. We should, and we should also consider and share with others our favorite king cakes. As is the custom here, your comments and personal insults directed at me and my character are always welcome.

The top ten king cakes:

10) McKenzie's - Sold at Tastee's (throughout the year, sadly) these dry coffee-like cakes don't hold sugar well, but the taste is unmistakeably awesome.

9) Dorignac's - This spot was previously held by a cinnamon king cake, Rouses, which I have since sworn off forever. In its place is a delightful, inoffensive bready cake that reminds me somewhat of the McKenzie's of old, but much fresher and fluffier. The sugar is good, not overdone, and the icing sparse. This is a fine king cake.

8) La Louisiane - I had never tried it until three years ago when someone on TD recommended it. Very delightful. I believe Sam's sells them for around $12.

7) Swiss Confectionary - Another TD recommendation that paid off. I respect that, even though they could make a killing off te tourist king cake trade, they only sell during the season.

6) Haydel's - A local favorite that I find good, but not worth the wait in line some people believe it's worth.

5) Hi Do - Reminds me of the original McKenzie's, but with greater taste. Superior ingredients and workers who take pride in their work make this one of the best.

4) Antoine's - Like Hi Do, I find it almost worth it to have the king cake shipped to me, so great is my fear of crossing the CCC or Huey P, but the increased stress is worth it for this, one of the truly best and most consistently awesome king cake.

3) Tastee's - Wait, didn't you already list this? No. I listed the old McKenzie's. This is for Tastee's donut king cake, which, IMO, has the best taste of any king cake, but since it is not traditional, I have a hard time putting it at #1.

2) Manny Randazzo's - I only put this here because if I didn't people would accuse me of trolling. IMO, it's only slightly better than Rouses, but costs twice as much and often is sold out. It's little more than a cinnamon bun with sprinkles on top. I'll eat the random slice at a Mardi Gras party, but I don't get excited over one. Not in the least. In reality, NOLA Cake Cafe and Bakery should be here, but unless you read this, you'll assume I really think M Randazzo's is #2. It isn't.

1) La Boulangerie - Those on the board familiar with my work know that I'm skeptical of the raves many Uptown establishments receive. I am not afraid to knock down an Uptown favorite like Casamento's as overpriced and overrated. But La Boulangerie has a traditional French king cake that is as real as it gets. It may not be #1 everyday, but today, it is.

Overrated king cakes.

I feel it necessary to list a few king cakes that get a lot of undeserved love, because, well, I care about you peeps. I don't want you persuaded by the masses to try something that isn't very good.

Sucre - by far the most overrated and worst king cake I've ever had.

Gambino's - like the Randazzo king cakes, they are okay, but not much better than Rouses. And they cost through the nose compared to Rouses.

Dianne's - second in low quality only to Sucre.

This post was edited on 2/2/12 at 9:19 am