Finding Just The Right Anniversary Cake - retail grocery stores

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Dallas, Texas
October 15, 2018 10:27am CST
Assembly Line Cakes come a dime a dozen. Ugly looking cakes with stark colored ornamentation. Not good. Not a good selection at times. I get really frustrated when I am out shopping for a cake for a special occasion. In this case, I was at a Tom Thumb looking at the cakes on display on a Sunday, the day before my wife and mine's 32nd Anniversary. I was only going to stop at the library to pick up a book and two DVD movies. But I noticed the skies were dark and cloudy. And the forecast for Monday as far as the weather is concerned was pretty lousy. Low around 42 degrees at 9 AM and constant rainfall. I drove from the library up the road a few miles to a local Tom Thumb grocery store. The shopping carts were almost gone. The store was packed with shoppers, in a hurry to beat the weather. The public seemed to be on a shopping frenzy of sorts. This is what happens when bad weather is in the forecast. People panic and start loading up on food. It's the natural thing to do in the 21st Century in modern day America, USA. I took my time as I could not walk fast with my cart as people were all over the store going in all directions and all the registers were busy. I only wanted a simple white cake with vanilla butter cream frosting, a half sheet or quarter sheet one layer cake. But it was nearing 6 PM. My watch indicated the correct time, about 5:17 PM. On a Sunday, October 14th, 2018. Tomorrow I knew I could not or rather, would not get out in the weather. I was one of those people out there, on a last minute panic buy frenzy. But I thought it would be a simple matter to find one single white cake with white frosting. But no, nothing is ever that simple. The cake decorators were already clocked out and had gone home. Only a 2 person skeleton crew were working at the bakery, and when I was asked if I needed any help. I said, "I am looking for a cake for my anniversary. I would like a white cake with white vanilla buttercream frosting." - She replied, "You would have to order a cake and pick it up sometime tomorrow. All we have here now are the ones on display." - The lady was thoughtful enough to come out from behind the display counter and walk around the front display case and point out the cakes that were white with vanilla frosting. I thought the half sheets were full sheets, but I am no expert. The cake I wanted was not there. I was picturing in my mind, a beautiful white rectangular shaped cake with borders of white roses on the top and bottom edges. Pastel blue and white roses in one corner of the cake. I have looked at so many beautiful cakes online and was totally turned off by the ugly looking and run of the mill cakes on their display. I miss the days of local bakeries. Oak Cliff needs a bakery that provides top quality choices for baked goods. I can't get that here in Dallas. At least, not here in my immediate area. Tom Thumb caters to the few well to do, aristocrats of Oak Cliff, who are willing to pay more for higher quality foods and services as opposed to the local Kroger, Walmart, Target, Fiestamart and El Rancho stores. Tom Thumb was built on the land of what was once a funeral home. It had once existed across the street next to a Radio Shack and there had been in fact, a separate Tom Thumb Pharmacy. Now Tom Thumb sits right across the street in the same place where a funeral home once stood, right next door to an old burgers and fries place called Country Burger. What a strange juxtaposition of retail! I found one cake that was in a refrigerated area, behind a glass door, that was sold for approx. 18.00 give or take a penny or two. It was a quarter sheet, white cake with white frosting, butter creme. Yea. I finally found one that would have to suffice.
5 people like this
3 responses
@tammys85 (29868)
• Baltimore, Maryland
17 Oct 18
It's not always easy to find a pre-made cake you want, but I'm glad you were able to find something. How was it?
1 person likes this
@tammys85 (29868)
• Baltimore, Maryland
18 Oct 18
@lookatdesktop I'm glad you enjoyed it! And Happy Anniversary!
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
18 Oct 18
@tammys85 , Thank you. We both enjoyed that cake. Actually, there is no more left and we are both wanting to loose a few extra pounds.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
17 Oct 18
It was quite good and highly caloric but, we both enjoyed it a lot. KUDOS to Tom Thumb in Dallas, TX on S. Hampton RD for a great quarter sheet cake for our 32nd Anniversary.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40718)
• Wapello, Iowa
16 Oct 18
I've always wondered why cakes are so expensive...Maybe it's just me but $18 seems like a lot for a small cake. And it's the same everywhere.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
16 Oct 18
The same give or take a few dollars one way or the other. Yep.
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@wolfgirl569 (93556)
• Marion, Ohio
15 Oct 18
It can be hard to find something you like pre made. I always ask if they can add a little decoration to a fairly plain one. Usually they are good at the 2 Walmarts I go to for doing that.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
16 Oct 18
I am glad to hear that. I miss the bakery that used to exist in our local community. Looks like I have to drive way out in another county practically to find one.
1 person likes this