Dripping cakes still on the menu at one Cheltenham cafe
DRIPPING cakes may not be as popular as they were, but one Cheltenham woman is determined to keep the sweet-tasting tradition alive.
While eclairs and cupcakes may have eclipsed the Gloucestershire delicacy in recent years, Sue Betteridge is still dishing up 'drippers.'
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Heritage: Sue Betteridge, the daughter of famous Cheltenham baker Lyndon 'Crusty' Williams, still makes and sells dripping cakes
And her expertise in the cake, which is made from dripping, flour, brown sugar, spices, currents and raisins, is no accident.
She picked up tips from father Lyndon 'Crusty' Williams, who was known throughout the town for his baking ability.
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Sue, who runs the Royal Well Cafe in Crescent Terrace with her husband Bruce, said dripping cakes used to be available across the town.
She said: "In my dad's time, it wasn't anything special as there were so many bakers around in Cheltenham - Gardener's, Leopold's, Hand's.
"There were lots of little bakers but now there is only us left making them in Cheltenham.
"My father has been gone for 30 years now but we have carried on in his ways. Making a dripping cake comes through time and experience."
"Bruce and I got our first shop in 1969 and my dad had just retired so he came and showed us how to make it then."
Sue admitted that the cakes were more popular with the more mature generation.
She added: "When you imagine dripping, you think of animal fat but nowadays it is vegetable fat being used instead.
"They certainly are not for the health conscious.
"It is mainly the older generation who tend to buy dripping cake; the youngsters go more for the fancy cupcakes.
"But we have stuck to the traditional types of cake."
Sue said many people in the town still remembered her father, who lived in Tivoli.
"He was incredibly well-known around Cheltenham," she said. "We used to deliver door-to-door all around the town.
"He had five vans on the road. I remember times when he would go out with the bread and run out before the end of the run."
Comments
by Ms_Superstar
Friday, October 26 2012, 5:15PM
“Called by there this afternoon and they were shut.”
by FreeRadical1
Friday, October 26 2012, 5:12PM
“Oh god, now I want a dripping cake. Calories...”
by LordGagas
Friday, October 26 2012, 10:55AM
“my hands are up, sorry Steve, i'll keep taking the tablets.... :-)”
by Steve_Thomas
Friday, October 26 2012, 1:01AM
“Hustler 2011 et al, thanks for the support. Yes, I've been able to read perfectly well since i was three years old, though the old eyesight's becoming a limiting factor now. Also achieved a Cattell Part B score of 157, for what that's worth.
Never put anything in your mouth that doesn't occur naturally, I always say. And not everything that does. Is it even possible to buy a locally-baked loaf of bread in Cheltenham? I fear not.”
by Jewbacca
Thursday, October 25 2012, 3:34PM
“That cafe was far better when fat Paul ran it. Is he still around?”
by Hustler2011
Thursday, October 25 2012, 2:53PM
“Lord Gagas: Steve can read. That is why he is says "pity they've gone all vegetarian"!”
by LordGagas
Thursday, October 25 2012, 2:06PM
“its a pity steve cant read very well
She added: "When you imagine dripping, you think of animal fat but nowadays it is vegetable fat being used instead.”
by Steve_Thomas
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:47PM
“Pleased to learn this is still open. I assumed it had closed down or changed hands years ago. I'll make sure I get round there this weekend.
Pity they've gone all vegetarian - there's nothing wrong with animal fat in moderation.”