Peninsula Grill, Charleston, SC

This is one of the South's grand desserts. A number of restaurants have it on the menu, but none compare to the six-layer coconut cake at the Peninsula Grill, located inside the Planters Inn on North Market Street.

A creamy coconut filling cushions the layers, while cream cheese frosting covers the outside. Freshly grated coconut--some toasted golden brown, some raw and translucent--ties it all together, like a bow on a very special package.

photo: At Charleston's Peninsula Grill, each piece of coconut cake weighs nearly a pound.