Caramel Slice – Choco-Lori, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria – 6 July 2012

Sorry, no pic for this one as I didn’t have a camera handy, but if you really want a helping hand imagining the delights of this cake take a look at the company’s website and all the lovely chocolate treats they have on there – all available to mail order J 

Choco-Lori is a tiny little chocolate shop on the main road through Grange.  It is packed full of all sorts of chocolate creations that have your mouth watering the instant you walk through the door.  We had actually gone in to buy some chocolate to take home, but couldn’t resist the cakes too!

So here’s the review for my selection: the caramel slice.

Presentation – Score: 7/10

Being displayed in a counter in a tiny shop, this was never going to be a blockbuster for presentation, but what it could offer it did very well.  The shortbread biscuit base was dark and rough around the edges, the chocolate on top was a swirling mix of white and milk chocolate, and sandwiched between was a very generous layer of caramel which was slightly oozing out of the sides.  To be honest, my mouth is watering again just describing it!  Therefore the Choco-Lori caramel slice scores an admirable 7 out of 10 for presentation.

Taste – Score: 9/10

Well, the shortbread base was amazing – just crumbly enough and melted in the mouth – the caramel was lovely and velvety and not too sickly sweet, and the chocolate was thin and crispy.  The combination was almost divine and I wanted to savour every mouthful!  

Nothing much more to say really, other than well deserving of the highest taste score so far at 9 out of 10.

Overall – Score: 8/10

The Choco-Lori caramel slice soars into the lead so far with a very good 8 out of 10 overall – it’s a shame the shop is so far away!!

Carrot Cake – Oscar’s Restaurant, Lakeside, Cumbria – 3 July 2012

Oscar's Carrot Cake

Now, I’m a sucker for a piece of carrot cake, so different ones are likely to feature from time-to-time.  This one was purchased in Oscar’s Restaurant at the marina/station in Lakeside on Lake Windermere.  Oscar’s offers beautiful views of the lake, and although it was difficult getting the buggy up the stairs to the first floor, where the restaurant is situated, it was worth it for the view.  The restaurant had a number of homemade cakes available, but it had to be the carrot cake for me!

Presentation – Score: 4/10

Nothing special here – I selected the piece I wanted from a plate (naturally the biggest piece!) – they were all square with plenty of nuts sprinkled on top, but I was strangely drawn to the simplicity in a ‘the care’s gone into the baking’ kind of way.  To be honest, if it was anything but carrot cake I probably would’ve just passed it by and headed for the chocolate stuff in the next counter!  This all leads to a pretty average 4 out of 10 for presentation.

Taste – Score: 4/10

Unfortunately my ‘the care’s gone into the baking’ theory didn’t really come to fruition.  The cake was too light and dry for me – not the usual density I would have expected – and, while the general flavours were pretty good, I soon realised what I thought was missing.  I like carrot cake to have raisins/sultanas in, which adds moisture and also I find the better ones have an additional layer(s) of the cream cheese topping in the cake.  This one had neither, hence my disappointment and the below average score of 4 out of 10.

Overall – Score: 4/10

As I said at the beginning, I’m a sucker for carrot cake, and I’ve eaten far better before, so this one gets a disappointing 4 out of 10 overall.

Cream Tea - Butterfinger's Coffee Shop and Restaurant, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria – 2 July 2012

Butterfinger's Cream Tea

So, first one up for review comes from my holiday to the Lake District and a very wet afternoon which cried out for a cake and a nice hot cuppa.  Butterfingers Tea Room, next to the Tourist Information centre on the main road through Grange-over-Sands, was very well presented, with friendly staff and a good selection on offer.  Before going in I already had a cream tea in mind and on first sight I was already impressed, so let’s see how it scored?

Presentation – Score: 8/10

As the plate was gracefully carried across the room my eyes bulged – as did those of my one-year-old daughter!!  The four halves were wonderfully presented on a cake stand with a nice thick layer of jam and a beautifully shaped dollop of cream on top.  While I’m more one to dollop it on until it starts dripping off the sides, I’d be lying if I said my mouth wasn’t watering.  Therefore, I have given the Butterfinger’s cream tea a very good 8 out of 10 for presentation.

Taste – Score: 6/10

Starting with the good, the scones themselves were fabulous, with a superb texture that was just crumbly enough without being too dry.  There was also just the right amount of jam spread on top.  Unfortunately that brings us to the cream which, for all its good looks, was rather disappointing.  It was rather light and airy and took away from the other flavours somewhat.  Had it been clotted cream we could have been opening with a really high score, however I have to mark this one down as a good 6 out of 10.

Overall – Score: 7/10

The Butterfinger's cream tea starts us off with a solid score, if only they’d used different cream!!

Welcome to my cake blog!

Anyone who knows me will know that I’m partial to a cake… or three!  As a cake lover, I wanted to share my experiences with others, including where I have found great cakes so they too can share the delights.  I’ll be referencing where and when I’ve bought them or, if possible, where to find the recipes for any homemade cakes I blog about.

In order to do this, I’m going to use a two-part scoring system reflecting what are, in my humble opinion, the two most important cake attributes: presentation and taste (not necessarily in that order, but that is the order that the cake presents itself to us).  Both scores will be out of 10.  I will also give an overall score, also out of 10.

I’ll welcome suggestions from readers as to places/recipes to try out or the views of others on any of the delights I have reviewed.

Happy eating J