Gateau Anglais, what would you make?

[Helen]

I've just been asked to bring a gateau anglais to a local event. I've made a lemon drizzle cake for a similar event in the past and that seemed to go down well. What  would you make that  would appeal to French tastes?

[Russethouse]

Bakewell tart?

Shortcake ?

Victoria Sandwich

Cut and Come again cake (rubbed in fruit cake)

[Bastet]

Coffee walnut sponge - especially if using home grown walnuts.

Scones, with cream ( or creme fraiche) & home made jam

A lovely rich sticky gingerbread. (could put walnuts in this too)

Battenburg - but it's a bit fiddly.

 

Our local patchwork club members love all our Brit cakes, especially dundee cake with a good dose of whisky in it. Who says French ladies doen't like alcohol..!

[Toodlepips]

A fruit cake  - not too heavy.

[cooperlola]

Bake a cake?  Me?  Are you kidding?.....[Www]

[Nicos]

chocolate victoria sponge.....[:P]

[Chrissie]

I think they may actually be expecting a fruit cake - there is that ghastly ready-sliced stuff called "Cake Anglais" in the supermarkets.......takes me straight back to the old days on British Rail.

Chrissie (81)

[Helen]

Lots of choice here, still don't know what to do. Its to follow soupe au fromage and manchons de canard  and I expect there will be lots of other cakes. I think a fruit cake would be too heavy.

Actually as cake of any sort has far too many carbohydrates I can't eat any of them .[:(]

[Bastet]

If it's to follow a heavy meal, then a victoria sponge or variation therof, as suggested, or a fatless sponge, such as is used to make a swiss roll?  That should be quite light....

[Nicos]

At this time of year it should be Parkin ( a treacle/ginger oatmeal sponge to all you non Northerners!!!)

[cooperlola]

[quote user="Nicos"]At this time of year it should be Parkin ( a treacle/ginger oatmeal sponge to all you non Northerners!!!)
[/quote]Yum![:P]  I second that.  Parkin on bonfire night... brings back memories, Nicos.

[Boiling a frog]

I once made a carrot cake for a french neighbour"s birthday as his family was away at the time and he announced in the afternoon that he would be round with champagne at 6pm to toast his birthday.. He could not believe it was made with carrots and although he liked it he thought it was totally bizarre that a cake could be made with vegetables and spices.

When the others returned I was asked to make another and they all appeared along with people I did not even know to see and taste the cake. It was a talking point for months and I am still asked to make some for special visitors and family parties.

I use oil instead of butter as it makes the cake more moist, add lots of fruit and chopped nuts, bake in a loaf tin, and top with mascarpone with orange zest and more chopped nuts.

The banana sandwich however, although discussed at great length, was never adopted as it was considered too too bizarre.