After several weeks of boring myself half to death with chicken and veg attempting to eat clean, there was only one thing I wanted for my birthday on Wednesday: CAKE.
That's right, a big, hefty slice of sweetness was heading for my belly and I knew exactly where I would find it. For a while now I have been wanting to go back to Tea on the Green in Westward Ho! - home of the monster hot chocolates (see blog post here). I've heard they did a really good offering of gluten free cakes but it seemed to be shrouded in mystery.
You see, some places openly shout about the fact they are coeliac friendly, but others surprise you when you ask what is gluten free and discover you can eat nearly the whole menu. The latter is the category in which Tea on the Green falls.
This little American-style cafe is one of North Devon's finest - it's always absolutely packed so Steve booked a table for us a week or two before. I know, booking a table for coffee and cake seems absurd, but trust me, unless you are incredibly lucky you will struggle to get in here during peak season without either booking or queuing.
Every week I await with anticipation on Facebook the cafe's 'Weekend Cake Reveal' - with pictures of decadent delights swamping my newsfeed. So when I asked the waiter what was gluten free, staring wistfully at the cake cabinet, I was delighted to find the answer was actually rather a lot.
I had a choice of several cakes. And not just boring chocolate brownies as is usually the case. But Victoria sandwiches, chocolate cakes, chocolate and orange brownies or blueberry and lemon cake. But what to choose!? In the end I opted to go for the classic Victoria sandwich and a latte. A choice I did not regret.
The portion sizes here are epic. I mean, seriously, look at that monster of a slice! The sponge was soft, and it was packed with lashing of fresh cream and sweet strawberries. It was an absolute delight, and I'd like to also take this chance to congratulate Steve on his willpower and not eating any cake whatsoever - I don't know how he did it!
The other thing I loved about this cafe is that it made me feel normal. In stead of serving specifically gluten free cakes, they just seem to make most of the stuff gluten free as standard which makes a nice change.
This whole cafe is amazing - from the vintage china, shabby chic gifts on offer and quirky, American-diner vibe, I just absolutely love it. It's certainly a must-visit for holiday makers and locals, and I know I'll be back there next time it's'treat day'!!
Wow, nice (and big) cake Sarah. You should try one with berries. It's much better.