Steer wrestling, a practice credited to legendary cowboy and rodeo star Bill Pickett, usually involves leaping onto a steer from the back of a specially trained horse. At the Madison

Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to

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Two schoolboys duck in out of the rain and can’t believe their luck. It’s the Five Points neighborhood in Raleigh — home to boutiques, antiques stores and a pharmacy open

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Madison County Championship Rodeo

Two schoolboys duck in out of the rain and can’t believe their luck. It’s the Five Points neighborhood in Raleigh — home to boutiques, antiques stores and a pharmacy open

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Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

Two schoolboys duck in out of the rain and can’t believe their luck. It’s the Five Points neighborhood in Raleigh — home to boutiques, antiques stores and a pharmacy open

Central

Hayes Barton Café & Dessertery

Since 1998, Frank and Margaret Ballard have been dishing out huge slices of cake at the Hayes Barton Café & Dessertery in Raleigh.

by Our State Staff

Two schoolboys duck in out of the rain and can’t believe their luck. It’s the Five Points neighborhood in Raleigh — home to boutiques, antiques stores and a pharmacy open since the 1930s. The kids didn’t expect to see such huge slices of cake — coconut, Boston cream, a “patty cake” of white chocolate cake layers and chocolate mousse icing. (The boys end up sharing a slice.) Cakes are just part of the 1940s-immersed scenery in the Hayes Barton Café decked out in chrome, checkerboard tile, and memorabilia from film, music, and World War II. Frank and Marget Ballard created the lunch, dinner, and dessert cafe 14 years ago in the former “greasy spoon” diner space that shares a doorway with the old Hayes-Barton Pharmacy. Ever since, customers have brought in war-veteran photographs to add to the decor, which includes a 1940s photo of Frank’s parents, Bill and Eula May Ballard, as sweethearts, as well as images drawn by Bill when he was a cartoonist for The News & Observer from 1951 to 1964.

Hayes Barton Café & Dessertery
2000 Fairview Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27608
(919) 856-8551
hayesbartoncafe.com

Visit the rest of the delectable independent, local bakeries in Our State‘s North Carolina dessert tour:
The Sisters McMullen
Mountain Pie Company
Jimmie’s Sweets
Rosebriar
Bread of Heaven Bakery
Cheesecakes by Alex
Paul’s Pastry Shop
Seaside Cheesecake Dessert Shoppe
Savannah Red
Bailey Café
The Bakehouse
Sugar on Front Street

This story was published on Jan 27, 2012

Our State Staff

Our State Staff

Since 1933, Our State has shared stories about North Carolina with readers both in state and around the world. We celebrate the people and places that make this state great. From the mountains to the coast, we feature North Carolina travel, history, food, and beautiful scenic photography.