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Manderville’s

Location                                 Holmes Chapel

Largest Dimension             120mm !!

Thickness                              24m

Weight of cake                     120gm

Colour of upper crust       Mid brown with tiny white sugar crystals

Interest in crust                  Multiple pierced holes plugged with sugar

Texture of crust                   Nice and crumbly

Colour of base                     Pale brown.

Thickness of base              8mm.

Texture of base                   Short crust

Weight of fruit                     42gm.

Texture of filling                 Tightly bound at all.

Base caramelisation        None.

Overview

A traditional bakery with stylish and attentive service plus other delicious offerings. Not far from J18 M6 and well worth a diversion.

Pound Bakery – pack of 2

This thrusting off shoot from Sayers is popular for its value for money. The potential for overeating when everything comes in 2s for the price of one is a challenge each time your Taster walks past their store.

Location                                 Eccles

Largest Dimension             90mm

Thickness                              30mm

Weight of cake                     100gm

Colour of upper crust       Half pale brown and half covered in white sugar crystals

Interest in crust                  Some holes in crust giving peeps at the filling

Texture of crust                   Plane with dimples

Colour of base                     Pale brown.

Thickness of base              10mm. Stodgey

Texture of base                   Thick not completely baked

Weight of fruit                     22gm.

Texture of filling                Single rather dry currants. Not bound at all

Base caramelisation        None.

Overview

As one of the last Eccles Cake Bakers in Eccles they need to be encouraged.

 

Rhen Fecws

 

Location                                 Moelfre, Anglesey

Largest Dimension             95mm

Thickness                              20mm

Weight of cake                     90gm

Colour of upper crust       Light gold

Interest in crust                  Holes, capped in sugar with evidence of fruit escape

Texture of crust                   Close to short crust. Deliberate.

Colour of base                     Mid brown.

Thickness of base              2 to11mm.

Texture of base                   Short crust?

Weight of fruit                     40gm.

Texture of filling                 Tightly bound at all.

Base caramelisation        None.

Overview

A charming bakery serving its loyal local community with filling products.

 

Selfridges

Slowly the pursuit of profit is eating away at this excellent stores fresh offer.

There is a place for sushi – in a cat food factory!

The adoption of a Patisserie Valerie franchise in its Trafford Centre store is deplorable.

One hopes the superb pie and pastry section does not become a Greggs in the near future.

Bakestone – pack of 4

Glory be! Another Eccles cake baker in Eccles.

This commercial baker has begun to retail through some local shops.

The product looks indistinguishable from Aldi’s.

It would be good to have a national chain sourcing its products for their place of origin. A very logical Germanic thought process!

Booths – chain

It beggars belief that a store allegedly offering premier, fresh products does not offer an excellent Eccles Cake when they have the facilities to present and sell them.

The ubiquitous Real Lancashire Eccles Cake is available but this package is no substitute for a freshly baked cake to tempt their discriminating clientele .

Aldi -pack of 4

Aldi’s offering is the only serious threat to the dominant position of Real Lancashire  Eccles Cakes.

Location                                 Pendleton

Largest Dimension             65mm

Thickness                              30mm

Weight of cake                     70gm

Colour of upper crust       Plane mid brown

Interest in crust                  Some small vent holes

Texture of crust                   Thin and laminated

Colour of base                     Mid brown.

Thickness of base              5mm.

Texture of base                   Biscuity

Weight of fruit                     25gm.

Texture of filling                 Minced fruit a bit glutinous

Base caramelisation        None.

Overview

Working to a price point for a volume product the overall quality is acceptable.

 

Greenhalghs

A throbbing shop at lunchtime in Bolton clearly successful.

Location                                 Bolton

Largest Dimension             98mm

Thickness                              25mm

Weight of cake                     100gm

Colour of upper crust       Thick sweet and chewy but not unpleasant

 

Interest in crust                  Holes with evidence of fruit escape.

Flecks of baked on syrup added to the interest.

Texture of crust                   Close to short crust. May be intentional.

The good folk of Bolton have many idiosyncrasies.

Colour of base                     Mid brown.

Thickness of base              11mm.

Texture of base                   Short crust?

Weight of fruit                     51gm.

Texture of filling                 Loose currants and raisins. Not bound at all.

Base caramelisation        None.

Overview

Part of a chain but very local in its feel.

One of many Bakers shops which can only thrive by becoming lunch providers

Nuttalls

This traditional baker offers us Flat Cakes. No attempt to call them Eccles Cakes.

They are good to look at – lovely glaze (top and bottom)

Location                                 Farnworth

Largest Dimension             120mm

Thickness                              17mm

Weight of cake                     100gm

Colour of upper crust       Golden Glazed

Interest in crust                  Many small holes;  glorious glaze

Thickness of base               Uniform 6mm Flexible but containing

Weight of fruit                     15gm more then the photo implies

Texture of filling                 Lovely large sultanas. Not bound.

Thinly spread

Base caramelisation        Totally glazed above and below

Overview

Correctly called a Flat Cake but something to sample.

Cracking little shop with other belting treats. Worth a visit.

 

 

ASDA

This is certainly the least appealing Eccles Cake experienced to date – equalled only by the other offering in the 2 pack.

Location                                 Trafford Park

Largest Dimension             103mm

Thickness                              15 to 30mm

Weight of cake                     98gm

Colour of upper crust       Pale flaccid and unappealing.

Over proved.

Under baked

Interest in crust                  None. It actually repels

Thickness of base               Uniform 2 to 3mm Flexible but containing

Weight of fruit                     25gm  measily

Texture of filling                 Lovely large currants. Bound

Base caramelisation        About 30% covered. Yum.

Overview

Trying to hit a Price Point is no excuse for this disgusting product. Other large stores are doing much better with similar technology and comparable costs.

Asda Price !(pats bottom)