I'm so used to not finding anything gluten-free that's not pre-made in coffee shops that I hardly notice anymore. But when something is gluten-free, safely handled, and NOT pre-made, it makes my day. That happened to me recently, and I had to share it with you.
I was visiting the Ferens Art Gallery in Kingston-Upon-Hull in the UK. Now Hull may not be top of your list of places to visit, but it's worth the trip: Loads of maritime history (it is a very important port and has been for centuries), the location where more than 2 million European immigrants passed through on their way to the US in the 1800s and 1900s, a vibrant local music scene, and the Ferens Art Gallery, which is a little gem...and free!
Best of all, the Ferens Gallery has a great cafe, which serves fresh gluten-free baked goods. The staff are trained on handling to keep them safe for us, too. Of course, we take a risk whenever we eat out, but after talking with the lady behind the counter and watching as she prepared my slice, I felt pretty good. And I didn't get sick afterwards.
And the cake? Oh yum! As you can see, it was a 3-layer yellow cake, with chocolate bits mixed into the layers. The frosting was a vanilla butter-cream, with shaved dark and white chocolate on top, with gluten-free chocolate candied Easter eggs in extra frosting puffs. It looked gorgeous, and definitely lived up to my expectations. The cake was moist and springy, but not too sweet. The frosting was smooth and creamy. And there was enough chocolate to keep me happy.
So....if you're ever in the UK, come to Hull and visit the Ferens Art Gallery. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of cake. Love your gluten-free life!
PS if you like layer cakes, have you tried my gluten-free Chocolate Comfort Cake recipe yet?