The Co-Operative carrot cake: 3

Way too spongy, lacking substance (only 17% carrot ...) and a bit too gingery for my taste. Icing ok, but on the whole would not buy again.

Marks & Spencer, Brussels: 6

Difficult to find a proper carrot-cake outside of what we continentals call the anglo-sphere (or anglo-saxon world). Marks and Spencer is almost diplomatic territory, a small bit of the UK in foreign land. The Brussels store was long-awaited and desired. It is bright and modern, with a cafeteria on the first floor, which should be avoided on week-ends, as it is crowded. On week-days, however, it is a lovely bright space boasting a sumptuous table covered in cakes of every kind, the types you would only find in the UK, from Victoria Sponge to lemon curd and, of course, carrot cake.

It is a slightly oily affair, which probably makes the dough stick together instead of crumbling, and the icing is rather pasty. Not unpleasant, and the abundant walnut covering on the outer part is attractive. But not top-ten material.

Le Perroquet, Brussels: 2

Le Perroquet is one of my favourite restaurants in Brussels, with charming Art Déco interiors and the most delicious pittas (croc tomate being my favourite), salads and coffees.

Their carrot cake, however, is extremely disappointing. The icing is not worthy of that name and the cake is crumbly and tasteless. Definitely not in the top 10 (or 50, for that matter)