"Cake" Cruelty
August 17, 2008 Ladies and gentlemen of the cake community, I come to you today with a matter of grave concern to us all.
Allow me to present exhibit A:
These seemingly innocent "cakes" are instead a threat to all the sugary goodness we hold dear. Observe:
Once sliced, you will note that these "cakes" are not cakes at all. Instead, they are layers of various meat and mayo-based salads, bread, and then - here's the worst part - "iced" with cream cheese. Note how the creators of these twisted impostors then push the deception even further by decorating the "cakes" with little roses, vines, and piped borders.
I ask you, fellow carb-lovers, are we to allow such cake defamation to stand? Will we sit idly by while our children and grandchildren are subjected to cakes that are not cakes? And if so, what next? Liverwurst doughnuts? Tuna-filled eclairs? Meat pies? (Oh, wait...)
Nay, I say, nay! We shall rise up, and as one declare that our butter cream icing must remain unsullied, our baked goods pure in sugar. Join me, and together we can make our world a place of fat, sugar, and dairy-based products for all!
Melissa P., thanks for calling my attention to this adjusted unjust injustice. (Seashell-Selling She, eat your heart out.)
Reader Comments (232)
I don't get why everyone here is saying they're disgusting. Sure some of them are vegetarian so would no doubt dislike anything that had meat in it but a for the rest do they normally throw up when someone offers them meat or egg salad something? It's not like the combination of ingredients is odd, they're all things you regularly find on salad and buffet tables.
Do all your readers live on sugar alone that their reaction is OMG meat and salad stuff, I threw up in my mouth, why would anyone ever eat that?!
These are rarely served *as* actual cakes. The appearance is a trick, sure, but they're rarely intended to be served without telling people what they are.
how is it possible that this thread could win 141 comments without even a single "the cake is a lie" http://www.google.com/search?q=%22the+cake+is+a+lie%22" REL="nofollow">reference?
I had the unfortunate experience of eating one of these at a baby shower -- expecting something sweet. That first piece was torture. After I knew what it was, I actually enjoyed it. There should be a caveat for all consumers.
I had one of these at my surprise baby shower. My husband's coworkers made it (they're from Brazil, and apparently these cakes are tradition in their family).
I love that cake! That is like my favorite kind of cake! I'm gonna' go make one. Right now. I like to do anchovies with curry in the blender and make a nice mush of it for one of the layers. Oh yes, I do.
Just kidding. My gag reflex is officially kicking in.
Oh, I saw a variation of that evil cake made with mashed potatoes for the frosting. I could potentially stomach that. But the fact that it looked like birthday cake was pretty upsetting.
Its not liverwurst, its liverGREAT and yes, sign me up if they make donuts out of it, I'm all over it.
Meeshka
(Siberian Husky and queen of the world)
You know,
Presentation is everything!
Lileks Gallery of Regrettable Foods has instructions on how to make these, complete with illustrations...in this case, the radishes make it. http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/misc/susan3.html
Anne S
Wow! Just discovered your site from White Trash Mom, and too funny! I just finished going through all your archives!
That reminds me of the Meat Trifle that Rachel made on "Friends".
Oh that's just mean! What's the point if it is not real cake?
By the way, I just found your sight and I am addicted. Thanks for the laughs!
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's just gross!
This cake is a lie.
The most disturbing part of these cakes are the real strawberries on top of the far one.
I can kind of understand the meat cake idea, even with the fake frosting, but putting real fruit on them is just wrong.
This is just so wrong on so many levels... er...layers. I'd rather have a "real" cake gone bad that stick my fork into this one. EWWWWWW.
I'm quite surprised now, I must say. I'm a cake lover from Finland, and this post is shocking. Why? 'Cause we have them. Everywhere. In every party, there's usually at least one of those. So, it came as a surprise, that they are not seen in parties there, overseas.
They can be horrible, but usually, those salty cakes are actually quite good. I remember, when I was little and very disappointed, when I realized what it was, but nowadays, I like them. Come on, a little bread, ham, mayonnaise... When you think of it like that, it doesn't sound that awful, does it?
- Merope
Mmm, I love those. On the other hand, I am from Sweden, the home of the smörgåsbord. :)
I think the late George Carlin predicted these (from his "Ice Man" routine): ..."You literally do not know what it is. Could be meat, could be cake. Usually, at a time like that, I'll bluff. "Honey, is this good?" "Well, what is it?" "I don't know. I've never seen anything like it. It looks like...meatcake!"
They have these everywhere around here in Finland. And I hate them. But generally, I don't like any kind of cakes (unless there's chocolate in them).
But I guess someone likes them since they are everywhere around here..
The best cake I ever had was a meatloaf cake with mashed potatoes and ketchup. I didn't even want to share it with my friends, I was so excited by it.
ew. meat based salads. nonononononononono.
But that's just my personal preference. I don't really have a problem with the cakes as long as they are clearly labeled as "MEAT CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!"
It may TASTE ok - but I don't want to be surprised/disappointed to cut into one of these when I want some real cake.
dude. i am horrified for so many reasons. not the least of which being that i am a vegetarian...biting into an unlabeled meatcake would not only be vomit-inducing, it would be truly heinous.
You guys are pretty funny with your disgust. Cakes like this might be an oddity in the US but in other parts of the world, like in Northern Europe, they are very common and a standard at party buffets. I dislike the taste myself, but like Heikki said before, they shouldn't even be seen as cakes but as a big, decorated sandwiches.
I agree that the icing and decoration on these particular "cakes" posted here is VERY misleading, though. Over here the sandwich cakes are decorated with savoury stuff like meat, eggs and fish so you know what you're getting.
Quelle barf.
eww, eww, eeewwwwwwwww…
The people who keep saying they don't understand why the reactions of disgust, it's because they are made to LOOK like cakes, decorated just like a sweet cake. When one expects to bite into a desert and gets mayo/bread/meat-salad instead, it IS disgusting. Yes I like sandwiches, but I'm not biting into a sandwich with the thought that it's a torte!
When and how things are presented can make a big difference. For example, I absolutely love spaghetti and meatballs with zesty sauce and garlicky bread.. but first thing in the morning if someone put that under my nose I'd more than likely feel like hurling. Say you're taking a spoonful of what looks like vanilla pudding and it turns out it's some sour cream cream dish?
The whole point is that these are cake impostors. You look at them and take a bite expecting cake with sugary sweet icing only to get a mouth full of mayo/cream cheese tastes. That is the cause for most of the posts of disgust I'd say.
Frankly, anyone who's dim enough that they manage to get a piece of this from the platter, to their plate, to the fork, and finally to their mouth without realizing what it is and isn't deserves to get a surprise. The world would be a better place if people were more observant.
i just threw up a little bit in my mouth
That's just wrong. Wrong, I say...
This reminds me of a Friends' episode when Rachel tries to cook but, because of a sticky page she didn't notice, she ends up mixing a dessert recipe with a meatcake one. The result is a mix of jello with peas, onions and cream. Accurately Ross says it "tastes like feet".
Er...
In my corner of the world, we have a dish called "sandwich cake", which has bread, cream cheese (different savoury flavors), mayo and vegetables, chopped meat, tuna and whatnot as a filling.
As a matter of fact, I served one this weekend as a lunch item on my birthday party: garlic cream cheese and finely minced smoked deli ham as a filling, moistened with tomato juice and topped with tomato-basil cream cheese and decorated with various goodies.
These cakes are the answer to the ‘steak cake’ posted somewhere else in this blog (yuck). I’d be SO angry to be offered a travesty like this at a party – my first reaction would be to think the host was out to get a laugh at the guests' expense (an even bigger yuck, at least for me). When I want a savory snack, I’ll have an honest one that is not ashamed of being itself, thank you very much. This is not to say I can’t get the idea of sandwich cakes in N. Europe parties, bridge parties from the fifties', etc. – I bet they’re quite a treat *when you know what you will be getting from the start*. It’s all about truth in advertising, people.
all I can say is gross!
I've seen "sushi cakes" on Martha Stewart though, not sure which is worse.
These are actually pretty tasty, but I don't think they should be decorated as cakes. If one must decorate one, one really should pipe "Warning: this is meat" on it.
Rosebuds optional. Now little marzipan chickens and pork chops would be awesome.
While I don't find these appealing by any means, I have been sufficiently desensitized by my husband's weird food mixtures. One of his ideas is to use a Betty Crocker Bake 'n Fill cake pan, using a cake mix for the outer layer and hamburger for the center.
Yes, he is a sick, sick man.
My aunt makes these abominations. She doesn't put rosettes on them, but once frosted with mayo and decorated with olives, they do look like a cake. She makes like 7-8 layers of white bread sliced lengthwise with tuna salad, olive pate, cream cheese with chives, red pepper spread, ham salad, and if you haven't thrown up yet: prune jam. With tuna, folks.
Ya know, my grandfather adored this dish- we had it every year for his birthday (yes, followed by real cake for dessert). We didn't expect that it would be "cake." It's called sandwich loaf. I didn't care for the cream cheese when I was younger, but it grew on me as I got older. Most of the folks commenting here seem as if they would be horrified at the idea of a bagel... "I mean you bite into it, expecting that sugary greasy burst, and what the hey, not only is it just chewy bread, hot and crispy at that, it's not frosting either- it's (gasp) cream cheese. C'mon, open your minds a little, folks.
Here's something even worse!
http://homepage.mac.com/crmichaud/0706wowwedding/sushiweddingcake.html
I don't think money passed hands, so it's not a true cakewreck, but very fitting!
Fascinating.
Where are these, what's their story? Can you post the URL of the site where you found this? Thanks!
hey, what do you have against sandwiches? ;) I never thought that a sandwich cake can be so shocking to somebody. Of course the decoration of this one here is a bit... odd, but when you have a piece, you certainly see what it is.
By the way, it was nice to find out from these comments that besides Estonia where I'm from, these cakes are known from Finland to Brazil and from Sweden to Québec :)
P.S. It's just a GREAT blog!
Dude, I make *awesome* meat pies! http://flickr.com/photos/cinnamonrose/2243658534/in/set-72157603854911229/
I SO need to make this for my carb-junkie friends!!! Of course, first I have to find a substitute for the bread....hummmmmm (Yes, low carbing for the last year has made me skinnier AND eviler! Bwaa haa haa!!!)
Low carb heaven without the insulin spike. Looks like Heaven to me.
I'm not sure about the low carb. They generally have a bunch of bread in them.
My husband's grandmother makes something like this, albeit not as pretty!!! LOL!
Love the blog.
Low carb heaven? Excuse me?? With that much white bread? Hardly!
Please, please, please, another request -- link us to the source! I couldn't find it anywhere via searching.
LOL Too funny. I've made this "sandwich" cake for my sister's bridal shower. It was very tasty and a great conversation piece. Hmmmm Think I might just have to make it again just because.
Wifezilla and other low carbers -
Instead of layers of bread, we can do layers of oopsie rolls!
Yum!