The New State Cake

The other night at our Parade Party, a friend invited me to go to the Library with her the following day to watch a Smith Island Cake Demonstration. I told her I wasn't sure that I wanted to go. The next morning my daughter reminded me about it and I agreed to go. I called my friend and couldn't get a hold of her, and thought she was probably on her way there.

My daughter and I walked to the Library and were pleasantly surprised at the turnout. Thirty five folks turned out for today's demonstration! Unfortunately, my friend was not there, and boy did she miss out.

Shortly after arriving we were introduced to Dana Evans, owner of Classic Cakes in Salisbury.

Dana began to tell us the history of Smith Island Cakes. She said that no one that she knows is sure of the origin and who actually made the first super thin multi-layered cake. But she does know that she has been making them all of her life, as was her mother, her grandmother, and her great grandmother.

Some poking around on the internet verifies what Dana say's that no one really knows the origin. Some believe that it was brought over by the original settlers from Whales, some say it's just always been here.

Dana believes that the reason that there are so many layers is because life moves slower on the Island, therefore the women had more time to bake more layers.

I like Dana's reason.

Dana allowed us all to ask her questions and she happily answered them as she assembeled one of her popular Banana Walnut Cakes.

Many of the spectators questions were recipe oriented and she good naturedly answered them with guarded precision to not allow any secrets to get out.

Dana with the help of the Heritage Foundation petitioned the Maryland State Legislator last year to make the Smith Island Cake, Marylands State Cake .

She said that she submitted 430 slices of the Traditional Flavor (yellow cake with chocolate fudge icing) to the State House on the day that the bill was submitted for a vote. (If only all bill submissions could be accompanied by a slice of cake)

She told the story of a woman name Frances Kitchen who was a Smith Island resident who people often assume created the cake because she wrote two cook books and include her version of the cake in her second book. But, Dana said that her grandmother was older than Mrs Kitchen and she had always made them. Mrs. Kitchen has long since passed away, so the mystery continues.

Six years ago Dana and her family left the Island to open her business in Salisbury two weeks before Easter. Having no idea how popular the cake was and how many people knew about it, she was overwhelmed with business for the holiday and it has only grown from there. She said that she never imagined that she would have the business that she has today.

Classic Cakes makes cakes for several restaurants in the area including Ocean City. They also provide Brides an unusual alternative to a traditional white wedding cake.

Dana works with daughter and thirteen other employees. She has fined tuned the business to an assembly line style of production and says that they can assemble one of these delicious masterpieces in just three minutes . Watching this demonstration makes this almost hard to believe. While she did work steadily the entire time she was speaking her skilled hands were able to execute the final product of divinty with perfection.

Classic Cakes is located at 1305 S. Division Street in Salisbury or you can call them at 410-860-5300.

They have a great web site where you too can watch a demonstration of how they make these wonderful cakes at www.classicsmithislandcakes.com

According to Dana, the bakery stays swamped with orders but are usually able to fill the orders very quickly. If you are interested in having one of her creations for the holidays she recommends placing your order by December 23, as she will be closing on the 24th at noon.

This is a great story of woman who took her homespun skills and changed the world around her for the better, and in the process brought recognition to a beautiful tradition from a traditional community that could have easily been lost in our 'Instant' society.

Congratulations Dana, you are an inspiration!