she says she's "allergic" - Page 3

I haven't read all three pages, so forgive me if this has been said before.

Cake mixes have partially hydrogenated shortening in them. You can make a scratch cake without this ingredient. I mention this because there was a thread on here recently where someone discovered that her DD was allergic to this ingredient.

So included with the chemicals added, it could be the fat stuff added to.

Melvira,
You bring up a good point.

There is something in premade stuff. I wish I could remember what it is. I had a freind who had a son who had this problem. The only thing I can remember right now is he couldn't eat the Pillsbury crescent rolls and I remember once she had to check the ingredient list of hotdogs too. Luckily at the time I had just bought some kind of all natural locally made hot dog I had in the freezer. I wish I could remember what it was she was looking for in the ingredient list, but it was so long ago.

I wish I could remember what my cousin was recently diagnosed with. I'm embarrassed that I can't remember, but the point of the story is that she cannot eat out, she cannot eat at someone else's house, she can only eat certain things. And as much as people try to center their celebrations on something other than food these days, there are times that she realizes she's going to have to sit and watch people eat. There are unavoidable situations, you know? I'd say a wedding qualifies. Not that I'm at all insensitive to their needs, but sometimes it's easier to be concerned with the vast majority of the other 200+ guests and let the needs of ONE person be slightly less of a focal point. Perhaps the bride should arrange for MOG to have a special treat made just for her in her honor, and let the rest of the cake be the delicious beautiful creation you already planned.

If this is true I would really get what she is allergic to...I would be freaked out that there is some mystery allergen that could make the MOB swell up possibly in the cake. I would say tell me the specific or I can't make the cake. Harsh, but it is scary dealing with allergies!

Ayanami - gowith your gut; there is no allergy. You know what you do - tell the B2B that you need to know the specific nature of the allergy because box mixes and scratch mixes are basically the same - flour, sugar, etc. and then sees what she says. And then if not, just let her know that you will have to up the price. Let me ask you this, when she booked you, was she aware that you used extended box mix recipies?

Stuff like this just floors me. I recently got a request for a gluten-free cake, which I don't make and have no desire to learn to make. I admit, I know nothing about gluten-free baking, but why would you want to subject your entire wedding to a gluten-free cake? I am sure there are a handful of gluten-free bakers that do an awesome job and their cakes taste great, but I would have to think those are few and far between. My son has a ton of food allergies (dairy, eggs, nuts, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish) and if he still has those when he grows up and gets married, I will insist that he get a "regular" cake on his wedding day. I have tried to make vegan cakes for him and they just don't taste right. Again, it's not because they can't, it's just I don't have the knowledge on how to make a good one and it just seems a lot easier for everyone to just get a "normal" cake, scratch or box.

You know considering that the bride and groom generally only get to eat the one bite they serve to each other at the wedding, and that parents of brides and groom rarely get to taste it all since they're usually working the room, it only makes sense to cater to the masses instead of the one. I was a recent MOB and if I were the one with allergies, I certainly would not be insisting that my daughter's entire cake cater to my needs. Small cakes can be made to address those situations if necessary. I too would be interested in finding out what the exact nature of the allergy is that is relegated only to box cakes.

I see the above two posters' points, however, being gluten intolerant myself (and I LOVE(d) cake ) - if I were having my wedding now (I didn't know I was Gluten Intolerant when I got married), I would certainly want some cake that I could eat too. I'd be pretty disappointed if I couldn't find anyone who could or would accommodate that. I'm not saying that every baker should provide allergen free cakes, but I'd go and find someone who did do that as a specialty. Being allergic to foods puts you in an uncomfortable position in environments where the celebration is centered around food and it's truly a gift when other people consider your needs. Having an food allergy is disappointing and difficult sometimes and it makes it even harder when people think you're being a PITA just for wanting to eat safely.

Not trying to stir the pot here, but just trying to give an understanding from another point of view.

In this instance the person claiming an allergy is only allergic to 'box cake'...and it's not even the bride. No one is saying not to accommodate her...a small cake is a possible option, but in my opinion she could just eat the chocolate scratch cake and not eat the bridal cake. If a bride has chosen a specific cake at her tasting, to later come in and request a different recipe for her entire cake to accommodate ONE person is asking for trouble--and extra expense. We all have issues in life. My daughter has asthma but wouldn't presume to tell someone they couldn't hold an event outdoors to accommodate her. She also is allergic to oranges. Guess what? She doesn't eat oranges...even if that's whats on the plate.
I don't think I'd want to make someone change an entire recipe to something that may or may not taste as good and have everyone eat like me just so I could have a piece of cake. But being aware of a situation and accommodating it without going overboard is possible. The key words here are 'not going overboard'.

{I don't think I'd want to make someone change an entire recipe to something that may or may not taste as good and have everyone eat like me just so I could have a piece of cake. But being aware of a situation and accommodating it without going overboard is possible. The key words here are 'not going overboard'.}

Yes, and I agree. I had posted previously in this thread about asking for the specific allergy (b/c frankly, I'm not sure if there is one). But, my point was just to have a little more compassion for an allergy situation...the posts sounded like they were getting a little harsh regarding being accommodating. I'm not saying they should have a special, allergen-free cake just for the MOB or MOG, I was just suggesting that if the person ordering the cake is asking for a special request (whether we, as the baker can fulfill that request or not) that we remain respectful towards them.

I guess I was just taken aback with the comment that one person was "floored" at the gluten free request. We can either fulfill a request, or not, but if the consumer wants to pay for and serve a gluten free cake, why should we be floored at the request?

(One of the BEST cakes I've ever eaten was a gluten-free, vegan caramelized apple cake from an LA bakery....I still dream about that cake and would be happy to serve it to people who don't have to eat vegan or gluten free....those types of cakes can be done well and sometimes the consumer just doesn't know who to go to to ask for such a thing.)

If someone were to come to me with a request for an allergy free cake, if I couldn't handle that request, I'd ask some questions, find out how many people would be eating it (is it 10 people out of the 100 invited, say, who need the allergy free cake?), then suggest that we do a cake to serve the other 90 with what I do, and send them somewhere who could produce an allergy free cake for the other 10 folks...

I once had a prima donna "friend" who tried to convince me she had no sweat glands. She was just that much of a princess. Sorry, but I would have to put this girl in the same category.

Maybe her face swells up because she eats the WHOLE box mix cake (because the thing is so darn good)
Seriously, I worked in a medical lab for 10 years where we did allergy testing along with a ton of others. If she truely is allergic to something in the box then she should get it checked out. It's really easy to narrow it down. You can even have an allergy to the dyes like "red #5" and so on.
I would suggest that because you don't know the exact ingredient she is allergic to then maybe she should just stick with the chocolate or not have any cake at all. The last thing you want to happen is her to say "I told you so" while having an allergic reaction then everyone will start pointing fingers at you! Or better yet, tell the bride or who ever is in charge of the cake. Don't let this turn into a liability issue.