Oprah's OK is key to cake's success

America is bananas for our Key limes.

Specifically, the Florida Key Lime Bundt Cake from Fort Lauderdale's We Take the Cake. And it's Oprah Winfrey's fault.

The talk-show queen gave the cake her priceless seal of approval on her Nov. 22 show during an annual holiday segment dubbed ``Oprah's Favorite Things.''

She gushed over the ''divine'' cake and belted out the magic words that sent phone, e-mail and Internet orders at We Take the Cake skyrocketing:

``Oh yum.''

Now Lori Karmel, owner of the storefront bakery, can't guarantee nationwide holiday orders for the Key lime cake or any of their four bundt cakes. We local folks can still pick up one of the $26 cakes by stopping by the store.

Karmel stopped Internet orders at 800, has 500 orders to go from the store's answering service, and, and...

She's since lost count.

''It's been a great madness,'' Karmel said.

According to Karmel, a customer shipped a Key lime cake to a friend who works for Winfrey. A piece soon made its way into Oprah's mouth and the cake became one of 21 featured items last week, along with electronic gadgets, spa visits and other accessories.

No surprise, the Florida Key Lime Bundt Cake is We Take the Cake's most popular item. Joy Wallace, who owns a South Miami-Dade catering company, vouched for the sweet, which her company regularly offers at parties.

''It's so delicious. Oh, it's so good,'' Wallace said. ``Of all cakes, that is the cake.''