Being Honest - Page 2

What I don't get is why you are (and everyone else is) so obssessed with what this woman is baking. You said the cupcakes are good. Why make a big deal about if they use a mix or bake from scratch? You got your answer - it's obvious that they use a mix. If you don't want to eat cakes made with a mix the stop shopping there. It's that simple.

I'm a scratch baker.

Hmmm - why would you not ask whilst being in the shop?

Perhaps the lady thought you were another bakery when you called - shrug

I don't see any signal that she was dishonest...  Isn't being dishonest telling an untruth?

She just took the 5th ... as America calls it

If she said yes, i bake from scratch - and she actually used a packet mix - now that would be dishonest...

Maybe you should have been upfront and mentioned why you were asking..... shrug.

Bluehue

But asking if its a mix is different from asking what is in the cake.

If you like her cake, who cares if it's scratch or a mix?  The only important thing is that it's good and you like it. RIGHT??? 

No, I don't really think all that matters is if you like it.  I like, no love, Diet Coke.  Had quite a habit of drinking 3 - 4 per day.  As I became more aware of the harmful chemicals in it, I chose to give it up; haven't had any soda for almost two years.  I'm not totally obsessed with keeping all chemicals out of my food, but I do try to minimize them.  Since I'm no chemist or doctor or whatever and since I don't know how any of the chemicals in box mixes affect my body, I choose not to use them, particularly since there are viable alternatives.  A bakery using a mix would be a deal breaker for me, regardless of how beautiful and tasty they are.

The bakery I worked for used a mix of scratch recipes and those from a doctored mix.  The 'recipe' most requested from us was our doctored mix.  We did not disclose  our recipes nor did we say whether we used a mix or not.   Unfortunately some people have the misguided notion that if they purchase a baked good produced from a mix (doctored or not), that it somehow is worth less.  That's why the baker was hesitant.   Whether true or not, perception rules the market place and I'm sure she was concerned if she divulged her baking methods,  some customers might reconsider using her.   Right or wrong, that's what happens. 

If I were in the same position and asked point blank if I used mixes I too would be hesitant...but I might say that 'some of our recipes use a base mix, while others are made completely from scratch--and it just depends upon which recipe provides the highest quality and superior taste as to which type we use for any given order.'  

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicki3336 

No, I don't really think all that matters is if you like it.  I like, no love, Diet Coke.  Had quite a habit of drinking 3 - 4 per day.  As I became more aware of the harmful chemicals in it, I chose to give it up; haven't had any soda for almost two years.  I'm not totally obsessed with keeping all chemicals out of my food, but I do try to minimize them.  Since I'm no chemist or doctor or whatever and since I don't know how any of the chemicals in box mixes affect my body, I choose not to use them, particularly since there are viable alternatives.  A bakery using a mix would be a deal breaker for me, regardless of how beautiful and tasty they are.

 This is how I feel about it too. I try to limit the amount of chemicals that go into my body and that includes mixes (and other processed food) when I can easily buy (elsewhere) or make something from scratch. It seems that in certain areas, mixes are quite popular and the norm. But for me, it isn't normal or acceptable to buy/eat/etc processed foods- no matter how 'tasty' it may be.

When I read the 'gourmet' flavours page here, I was almost shocked that people would include all these extras- like chemically liquid coffee creamers, etc into their cake mixes (and other things too). So no, I would not want to buy from a bakery that uses a mix and I would like to know if they did because I do care about what goes into my body, it's just not acceptable for me to ingest processed foods with wild abandon- no matter how 'good' it may taste. 

Jason, I tend to disagree.  Though I realize I can only speak for myself, the answer provided by the bakery in question would evoke two possible responses from me.  1) The evasiveness of the response would be perceived as an answer and I would not purchase from the bakery because they use mixes; or 2) If it were two years ago before I decided to minimize chemicals in my diet, I would be annoyed by the evasiveness of the answer on the grounds that I believe a consumer has a right to know what they are purchasing and I would not order anything from the bakery.  I my humble opinion, the question had nothing to do with the process, only the ingredients.  A response similar to the one carmijok offered would have satisfied me and I would happily have placed an order.