To expect better standards of the national trust!

[andpeggy29]

Bear with, this is suppose to be light hearted.

Me and dh went to one of our local national trust sites, as we were given couples membership for our wedding anniversary. I bloody love it!

We toured round the house and then headed to the cafe for obligatory cake n tea.
I had delicious pineapple and coconut cake, my dh classic Victoria sponge. When we sat down I pointed out there was no cream/buttercream in the middle. Just jam and sponge. He still enjoyed it, but we were both then joking, out of all places, NT is the place you would expect high standard execution of such a classic, British institution that is Vicky sponge!!!!

Where's the cream at? ,

Mary Berry (the other official oracle on such things) says its optional

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mary_berrys_perfect_34317

Victoria Sandwich (it's not called Victoria Sponge!) should only have jam, preferably seedless raspberry, otherwise it's not a Victoria Sandwich.

If you are going to cite tradition you do need to get it right

I don't think you can freeze cream?

I never put cream in a Victoria sandwich. Which is why mine always sell out last at cake bakes, but I don't care, my VS is delicious and if shallow people are seduced by cheap tricks like cream to disguise an inferior bake then so be it!

Liking the sound of the coconut and pineapple cake though........

Well every days a school day!

Never new this! Thanks for letting me know ladies

Victoria Sandwich was an everyday cake plain sponge and jam no fancy buttercream or cream. A small treat at the end of high tea.

Well, given that one of our nearest nt attractions sells sandwiches made with "buttery spread", even if buttercream was included, it would probably have been made with Marg, anyhow.

I have no idea about cream, but that pineapple and coconut cake sounds just a tad too exotic to be civilised

I'm always disappointed with NT cafes, Felbrigg Hall being the exception.

DH had the worst cream tea ever in a National Trust cafe (Boscastle if you're wondering). The scone was tiny, flat and very dry.

It's become our benchmark for disappointment. 'Well, its bad, but it's not as bad as that crap cream tea in Boscastle.'

Missing point of thread slightly here but I always always find NT catering disappointing. The cakes are always dry. The savoury food is insanely salty. The service is always terrible and and it's all overpriced.

I'd be really disappointed if I got a Victoria sponge/sandwich whatever, and there was no cream or buttercream.

It is true that the Victoria Sandwich in the traditional recipe does not have cream in the filling. But the National Trust Cookbook lists it as optional as does BBC Food when giving Mary Berry's recipe.

If the sandwich is beautifully made the sponge cake should be absolutely delicious with the raspberry jam only. However, if it is just any old sponge you might need cream to make you forget!

Can I mention as a public service that the cafe at Calke Abbey is truly awful, although not as bad as the one at Wray Castle where it’s contracted out and everything is served on paper plates Restaurant at Dunham Massey is lovely however.

I didn’t know that about Victoria Sandwich. I would have been looking for the cream too. My NT favourite - Cheese scone at Corfu Castle.

Corfe not Corfu.

I'm with you OP- would be disappointed not to have both!

I didn't know NT had sites in Corfu.

Not NT but the food at Walmer Castle is lovely. They do a garden salad with fresh pickings from the kitchen salad with your protein of choice. They also do a ploughmans with proper massive homemade pickled onions.

Cross post.
Victoria sandwich - just jam.

IME Cakes seldom live up to my expectations.

Better with buttercream but if it’s a nice sponge then just jam would be ok. The cafe at Dunham Massey (the old one upstairs) is lovely.

I'm pretty sure that it isn't supposed to have cream...

They also price their sandwiches to keep the lower classes out. £4.75 for an egg and cress sandwich? Why don't they just go to Tesco and buy sandwiches, then add a pound on for profit?

Yes, raspberry jam. I have the WI cake judging book!

YABU and not very middle class for calling it a Vicky sponge.