I have eaten a lot of birthday cake in my years, but every now and then I sample one so good that there’s no choice but to throw polite airs (and any standing resolutions) to the wind and go back for seconds. Such was the case yesterday at the one year birthday party for Laurel’s pal Sebastian.

Sebastian’s cake – Fresh Strawberries & Cream with Chocolate Meringue Buttercream frosting – came from Dessert Works in Norwood. The vanilla chiffon cake layers were moist yet airy, and the delicate sweetness of the whipped vanilla pastry cream & fresh strawberry layers perfectly contrasted the deadly chocolate frosting.

Dessert Works offers cakes, pastry, and seasonal confections fashioned in simple to complex designs (the wedding cake gallery is breathtaking to browse); Laurel went nuts over Sebastian’s cake, but I suspect the Jungle Animal cupcakes (shown) also would be a huge hit.

Dessert Works, 38 Vanderbilt Avenue, Norwood; Tel: 781-769-1133