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Martins

At the end of a long shift on a busy Saturday the Assistant was cheerful and helpful, even apologising for the base of the cake being glazed!

Location                                 Hope

Largest Dimension             92mm

Thickness                              16mm

Weight of cake                     100gm

Colour of upper crust       Perfect.

Interest in crust                  Openings and an attempted “fruit escape”

Texture of crust                   Thicker than the base. Laminated

Colour of base                     A thing of beauty opening caused by sticking to the

baking tray. Whoopie!

Thickness of base              2 to 3mm

Texture of base                    Hard and crisp

Weight of fruit                     20gm  Not a lot but it filled the small cake completely

Texture of filling                 Delicious. Plump fruit (only currants) swelled and bound                                                   together lightly

Base caramelisation        About 40% covered. There may have been even more.

Overview

A moral lifting visit. The shop faces a Greggs and is successfully competing with it.

Tan Lan – Conwy

Crouched, alluringly,  within the walls of the ancient town of Conwy lies a delightful cake shop………

Location                                 Conwy

Largest Dimension             90mm

Thickness                              40mm

Weight of cake                     115gm

Colour of upper crust       Unusual soft, matt, mid brown upper surface.

Interest in crust                  Intriguingly different top.

Thickness of base               5mm – not completely baked

Weight of fruit                     54gm  almost over generous.

Texture of filling                 Gloriously bound stuffed with succulent fruit.

Base caramelisation        About 30% covered. Yum.

Overview

This shop is not one to miss. Great location. Attractive sale space. Pleasant friendly service.

Henllan – package of 2

Location                                 Denbigh

Largest Dimension             98mm

Thickness                              20mm

Weight of cake                     78gm

Colour of upper crust       Golden heavy with white sugar crystals

Interest in crust                  Various small holes partially blocked with sugar crystals

Thickness of base               1 to 8mm – laminated. Central plug also laminated.

Weight of fruit                     34gm

Texture of filling                 Not bound

Base caramelisation        None

Overview

In the past Eccles Cakes were a solid snack with satisfying hunger a priority. This offering closely resembled the old style. The cakes are popular locally – why change?

Sainsbury

Location                                 Salford, Regent Road

Largest Dimension             81mm

Thickness                              35mm

Weight of cake                     60gm

Colour of upper crust       Pleasant Golden

Interest in crust                  Varied Dual venting with lightly baked                                                                                          on sugar

Thickness of base               6mm – laminated, thin and crisp. Excellent

Weight of fruit                     25gm

Texture of filling                 Ideally bound

Base caramelisation        None

Overview

A sample on a previous visit had the crust explode as it was bitten into. This sample had much to recommend it.

Siwgr a Sbeis – packaged

This firm have one of the most attractive Founding Myths we have encountered. The image of armies of Grans,  feverishly baking their special dishes  is unforgettable

Location                                 Llanrwst

Largest Dimension             100mm

Thickness                              30mm

Weight of cake                     70gm

Colour of upper crust       Mid Gold with leakage

Interest in crust                  Shape and texture

Thickness of base               8mm strong and firm. Small plug,baked

Weight of fruit                     40gm

Texture of filling                 Bound

Base caramelisation      Enough to tempt the palette

Overview

One of the best packaged offerings sampled

 

Evans

Location                                 Newtown, Powys

Largest Dimension             120mm

Thickness                              32mm

Weight of cake                     80gm

Colour of upper crust       Mid Gold with leakage

Interest in crust                  Lots! Holes and slits

Thickness of base               3mm strong and firm

Weight of fruit                     40gm

Texture of filling                 Sumptuously bound

Base caramelisation         Sommmmmmmmmmmmmme. Yes.

Overview

This cafe offers a feast of delights, wonderful drinks and the opportunity to watch a HR Culture a little to the right of Attila the Hun.

Deserves to be better known

Chatwins

Location                                 Stoke on Trent

Largest Dimension             94mm

Thickness                              22mm

Weight of cake                     85gm

Colour of upper crust       Pale Sugar outer crust

Interest in crust                  Unique

Thickness of base               6mm – strong and thick

Weight of fruit                     31gm

Texture of filling                 Beautifully bound with plump currants

Base caramelisation         Slightly glazed

Overview

A darker cake would look better but may challenge local conservatism.

Dorringtons

Location                                 Bishops Stortford

Largest Dimension             111mm

Thickness                              40mm

Weight of cake                     150gm

Colour of upper crust       Uniformly pale

Interest in crust                  Pleasantly laminated

Thickness of base               12mm – laminated

Weight of fruit                     80gm !  Filled with fruit cake mixture and know locally                                                        as a Banbury  Not an Eccles Cake

Texture of filling                 Beautifully bound with large currants

Base caramelisation         Partially glazed

Overview

We are keen to not inhibit innovation. There is a place for alternative fillings but this was a step too far. The Cake looked exactly like an Eccles Cake but the filling made it something else – delicious but correctly not labelled as an Eccles Cake

Thomas

Location                                 Beverley

Largest Dimension             80mm

Thickness                              25mm

Weight of cake                     90gm

Colour of upper crust       Glittering gold

Interest in crust                  2 variable slits

Thickness of base               3mm – best in class so far

Weight of fruit                     35gm

Texture of filling                 Brilliantly bound with large succulant currants

Base caramelisation         None

Overview

Busy efficient shop with wide popular local appeal. Nice Eccles Cake.

The Cottage

Location                                 Ampthill

Largest Dimension             120mm

Thickness                              40mm

Weight of cake                     180gm

Colour of upper crust       Pale Gold. Pastry almost short crust.

Interest in crust                  7 parallel lines – almost a lattice

Thickness of base               10mm – dense but cooked through.

Weight of fruit                     30gm

Texture of filling                 Individual currants and raisins not bound

Base caramelisation         None

Overview

A substantial snack. After eating this cake I felt I would need no further nourishment for some time. Justifiably popular baker.