Pastry Cart
Jan 2, 2015 18:28:41 GMT -5
Post by Aaryana on Jan 2, 2015 18:28:41 GMT -5
The Columbus store was very crowded on January 1st, and I did not get a good look at this set in store. I decided to go ahead and buy it even though I wasn't sure because tax on it is less than AG's shipping if I changed my mind later. I kind of wish I'd gotten a better look...
Grace's Pastry Cart
Item# CGD25
Grace’s family made this pastry cart especially for her. It has faux-marble counters, a clear pastry shelf, a covered case that opens, a push handle, and wheels that really roll. It comes with pretend treats and everything she needs for her baking business:
A raspberry tart and chocolate tart, plus two tart boxes
Two cupcakes and a cupcake box
Two stacks of French macarons with a printed box
A white cake with a cake box
A berry pastry and chocolate pastry
Two baguettes in a paper-sleeve wrapper
A two-sided menu that hangs from the top bar of the cart, with stickers for customizing
A tiered stand, a silvery paper cake plate, and two scalloped doilies
Two shopping bags for Grace’s customers, with handles that dolls can really hold
A sales pouch that holds faux money, her business cards, and a booklet to track her sales
A little metal bell, plus stickers for the pastry boxes
The cart is in the brown shipping box. It is the only item I bought that did not come in an AG box. The box is not heavy and should be easy enough to travel with. 2 doll boxes would fit inside, to give an idea of dimensions.
First look into the box. The cart is smaller/more fragile than I expected just based on my first look. More about that later.
All the accessories are tossed haphazardly into a cardboard box. They are individually wrapped in plastic and tissue paper to prevent scratches, but there's nothing to prevent the paper products from being bent. Mine, luckily, were all in perfect condition.
All the accessories laid out. I was surprised how little food there seems to be for $150. Only one of each item. I feel like if one had the bakery as well, you could supplement these into it or vice versa. I assume that's what it's meant to be, a sampling of the offerings of the bakery. I feel a bit cheated. There should've been another couple of pies and cake slices.
I have mixed feelings about the cart. It is cute and definitely not tacky, which I was afraid it might be. However, it's also quite delicate. It is very lightweight, thus does not have much heft to protect it from enthusiastic play. I would guess it weighs less than 2 lbs with no packaging and no accessories. When you look at the cart and see "metal", for the most part it is real metal. The wheels, however, are not. They are plastic. Very disappointing. The "marble" look counters are plastic but seem fairly substantial. The small shelf with black metal tubing to the right of the image will be easily broken. Mine was slightly bent already. When I tried to fix it, I could hear it cracking, so I stopped trying. The wheels work smoothly, and the cart seems to stand well on its own, but I see it being easily knocked over. My small Yorkie puppy already knocked it over just sniffing around it. I am not sure it will hold up well to rambunctious play, but I do think it will be just fine in my collection, as long as it's put up from the pup! The bell is metal and works, but hangs by a plastic hook. Except for the plastic issues as mentioned, I do like the cart. It is very delicate and fancy, which is more to my taste than the plastic-y, though probably much more durable, Campus Snack Cart.
Pastry Cart: Grade C+
Bell: Grade B+
Menu: Grade B+
Love the loaves of bread! The bottoms look very fake and plastic, but I don't look at the bottom or pose it up in pics. The color and texture of the bread is very good. These are super cute. I forgot to take a separate pic, but they do not fit very well in the paper bread bags included. The bags will rip and crumble very easily. I don't know that I will use them again if I ever take my bread out of them.
Bread: Grade A-
Sleeves: Grade C+
This pic turned out kind of blurry. The cupcakes have very little texture to them though. They are cute but look like regular AG food. At least they aren't crazy enormous.
Cupcakes: Grade B+
The tarts are somewhere between the cupcakes and the bread in quality. This picture is a very poor example of the color. The chocolate is not green, I swear! I think the tart toppings are fine but the tart crusts look very fake and plastic.
Tarts: Grade B+
This one looks more realistic, in my opinion. It has more texture and the coloring is better.
Chocolate Pastry: Grade A
Very stuck together. Very plastic-y. Cute when in the pastry box, but I seriously wish they were separate.
Macarons: Grade B-
As with the tarts, the color of the cake is just off. It's too bright yellow to look like a real slice of cake.
Strawberry Pastry: Grade B
Grace decided to make a wedding cake, apparently. This one is cute and actually pretty well done. It reminds me of the fondant cakes I see on pinterest, etc. I just wish it had pieces to serve the cake!
Cake: Grade A-
Grace with her cart. It is sized well for the doll, I think. Should it be bigger if it was to scale? Yes. Should it also have a bit more heft? Yes. I have an "if only" feeling about the set. "If only" it had more food items, or "if only" it was all metal, or "if only" it cost $50 less. I do think it has lots of play value based on the ability to package up the pastries and send them home with Grace's friends. All the other packaging is very nice, aside from the bread bags. The boxes are thick cardboard that's glossed, just like a real cake box from a real bakery. They even have the cute little plastic windows. I'll try to get a pic of the packaging without the pastries. It's probably my favorite part of the set. The wee boxes and bags are just so adorable. The cake stand holds pieces on top well, but the bottom has less room in height. The cupcakes won't fit in the bottom.
Cake stand: Grade B
Boxes/packages: Grade A
Apron: Grade A
Overall: Grade B at the current price point. If this set were $50 less, I'd grade it an B+. If it had more food pieces but still at the current price point, I'd grade it an A-. If the cart were sturdier with no more extras, I'd give it an A at this price point. The wheels really should be metal. That would've improved my opinion of this set a lot. As is, I may return and wait for a sale.
Grace's Pastry Cart
Item# CGD25
Grace’s family made this pastry cart especially for her. It has faux-marble counters, a clear pastry shelf, a covered case that opens, a push handle, and wheels that really roll. It comes with pretend treats and everything she needs for her baking business:
A raspberry tart and chocolate tart, plus two tart boxes
Two cupcakes and a cupcake box
Two stacks of French macarons with a printed box
A white cake with a cake box
A berry pastry and chocolate pastry
Two baguettes in a paper-sleeve wrapper
A two-sided menu that hangs from the top bar of the cart, with stickers for customizing
A tiered stand, a silvery paper cake plate, and two scalloped doilies
Two shopping bags for Grace’s customers, with handles that dolls can really hold
A sales pouch that holds faux money, her business cards, and a booklet to track her sales
A little metal bell, plus stickers for the pastry boxes
The cart is in the brown shipping box. It is the only item I bought that did not come in an AG box. The box is not heavy and should be easy enough to travel with. 2 doll boxes would fit inside, to give an idea of dimensions.
First look into the box. The cart is smaller/more fragile than I expected just based on my first look. More about that later.
All the accessories are tossed haphazardly into a cardboard box. They are individually wrapped in plastic and tissue paper to prevent scratches, but there's nothing to prevent the paper products from being bent. Mine, luckily, were all in perfect condition.
All the accessories laid out. I was surprised how little food there seems to be for $150. Only one of each item. I feel like if one had the bakery as well, you could supplement these into it or vice versa. I assume that's what it's meant to be, a sampling of the offerings of the bakery. I feel a bit cheated. There should've been another couple of pies and cake slices.
I have mixed feelings about the cart. It is cute and definitely not tacky, which I was afraid it might be. However, it's also quite delicate. It is very lightweight, thus does not have much heft to protect it from enthusiastic play. I would guess it weighs less than 2 lbs with no packaging and no accessories. When you look at the cart and see "metal", for the most part it is real metal. The wheels, however, are not. They are plastic. Very disappointing. The "marble" look counters are plastic but seem fairly substantial. The small shelf with black metal tubing to the right of the image will be easily broken. Mine was slightly bent already. When I tried to fix it, I could hear it cracking, so I stopped trying. The wheels work smoothly, and the cart seems to stand well on its own, but I see it being easily knocked over. My small Yorkie puppy already knocked it over just sniffing around it. I am not sure it will hold up well to rambunctious play, but I do think it will be just fine in my collection, as long as it's put up from the pup! The bell is metal and works, but hangs by a plastic hook. Except for the plastic issues as mentioned, I do like the cart. It is very delicate and fancy, which is more to my taste than the plastic-y, though probably much more durable, Campus Snack Cart.
Pastry Cart: Grade C+
Bell: Grade B+
Menu: Grade B+
Love the loaves of bread! The bottoms look very fake and plastic, but I don't look at the bottom or pose it up in pics. The color and texture of the bread is very good. These are super cute. I forgot to take a separate pic, but they do not fit very well in the paper bread bags included. The bags will rip and crumble very easily. I don't know that I will use them again if I ever take my bread out of them.
Bread: Grade A-
Sleeves: Grade C+
This pic turned out kind of blurry. The cupcakes have very little texture to them though. They are cute but look like regular AG food. At least they aren't crazy enormous.
Cupcakes: Grade B+
The tarts are somewhere between the cupcakes and the bread in quality. This picture is a very poor example of the color. The chocolate is not green, I swear! I think the tart toppings are fine but the tart crusts look very fake and plastic.
Tarts: Grade B+
This one looks more realistic, in my opinion. It has more texture and the coloring is better.
Chocolate Pastry: Grade A
Very stuck together. Very plastic-y. Cute when in the pastry box, but I seriously wish they were separate.
Macarons: Grade B-
As with the tarts, the color of the cake is just off. It's too bright yellow to look like a real slice of cake.
Strawberry Pastry: Grade B
Grace decided to make a wedding cake, apparently. This one is cute and actually pretty well done. It reminds me of the fondant cakes I see on pinterest, etc. I just wish it had pieces to serve the cake!
Cake: Grade A-
Grace with her cart. It is sized well for the doll, I think. Should it be bigger if it was to scale? Yes. Should it also have a bit more heft? Yes. I have an "if only" feeling about the set. "If only" it had more food items, or "if only" it was all metal, or "if only" it cost $50 less. I do think it has lots of play value based on the ability to package up the pastries and send them home with Grace's friends. All the other packaging is very nice, aside from the bread bags. The boxes are thick cardboard that's glossed, just like a real cake box from a real bakery. They even have the cute little plastic windows. I'll try to get a pic of the packaging without the pastries. It's probably my favorite part of the set. The wee boxes and bags are just so adorable. The cake stand holds pieces on top well, but the bottom has less room in height. The cupcakes won't fit in the bottom.
Cake stand: Grade B
Boxes/packages: Grade A
Apron: Grade A
Overall: Grade B at the current price point. If this set were $50 less, I'd grade it an B+. If it had more food pieces but still at the current price point, I'd grade it an A-. If the cart were sturdier with no more extras, I'd give it an A at this price point. The wheels really should be metal. That would've improved my opinion of this set a lot. As is, I may return and wait for a sale.
