Smith Island Cake counted among 50 fattiest foods
No one ever called Smith Island Cake a health food. But now Health magazine is giving the official state dessert a negative dietary superlative that may be outsized even for this multi-layer chocolate creation.
Health says the cake is Maryland’s contribution to the Nation’s 50 Fattiest Foods.
Its 26 grams of fat make it worse than bacon wrapped meatloaf in Alabama (17 grams of fat) but not as bad as Eskimo Ice Cream made from frozen animal fat in Alaska (91 grams of fat).
The cake is named for the only inhabited island in the Chesapeake Bay and, as the magazine notes, “became so popular the governor signed the cake into law.” That was in 2008.
And indeed it is popular, says Kristen Smith, manager and a baker at Smith Island Baking Co., which in its first year of business shipped 3,000 cakes – to all 50 states.
Smith said she recent got married and served the cake at the wedding to friend and family, and there wasn’t much left over, she said.
“We never said it was a low-fat dessert,” she said. “It’s not only made with a lot love, but a lot of butter.”
Since the baking company’s version is homemade, she couldn’t give an exact calorie or fat count.
Health didn’t say where it got its sample, but the article points out that the cake, made of nine or 10 layers of yellow cake slathered in chocolate icing, has enough fat per serving for an entire day.
But no one said you have to eat cheese or cake every day, not even the governor.
“I suppose one of the perks to being governor is the ability to eat the state food and call it official business,” said Shaun Adamec, a spokesman. “Governor O'Malley does enjoy some occasional Smith Island Cake - everything in moderation."
Compared to these triple threats, the cake doesn’t look so decadent:
+In Tennessee, home to Ruby Tuesday’s, there is the Triple Prime Bacon Cheddar Burger, with 115 grams of fat.
+In Michigan, you can order a BLT with over a pound of bacon at Tony’s 1-75 that will give you 192 grams of fat.
+In New York, there is something called the garbage plate, with involves potatoes, beans, meat and sauce. Its estimated fat content is 203 grams.
+In West Virginia, where 31 percent of the adult population is obese, there is a place called Hillbilly Hotdogs, where you can score a 10-pound burger. It’s the list topper at 800 grams of fat – an entire day’s worth of fat for 22 people, not counting the cheese.
Photo courtesy of Health magazine/Jane Thomas
Comments
I'm sure this is all Ehrlich's fault.
Posted by: The baltimorecolt | June 30, 2010 6:56 AM
ARE WE TO ASSUME THAT FATTY FOODS CALL GREEDY PEOPLE UP TO SAY EAT ME. I DO NOT WANT A DESSERT THAT DOES NOT MAKE ME BREAK THE DIET. PARENTS TO LAZY TO COOK BLAME MC DONALDS FOR THE CHILD'S OBESITY LIKE THEY HAVE A GUN OUTSIDE THE WINDOW MAKING THEM COME IN. THESE PARENTS NOWADAYS ARE LAZY PLAIN AND SIMPLE LOOKING FOR SIMPLICITY AND SOMEONE TO BLAME WHEN IT DOES NOT WORK OUT.. I SAY TO HECK WITH THEM AND THEIR FAT KIDS.
Posted by: deltasweetiepi | June 30, 2010 7:52 AM
This is awesome. I love it.
Posted by: RavenKen | June 30, 2010 8:17 AM
The "cake is named for the only inhabited island in the Chesapeake Bay..." Huh? What about Kent Island, Tangier Island, Gibson Island, Solomons Island, Gwynn Island, and probably many more?
I chose my words poorly. It's the only inhabited island in the state's portion of the bay that is not connected by bridge or causeway to the mainland. So, it's the only inhabited offshore island. -MC
Posted by: Barry | June 30, 2010 9:10 AM
The Smith Island Cake looks delicious. I can't wait to make it! But I plan to share it with lots of people and I hope to have the willpower to just take 1-3 bites! That's all one needs to get a taste.
Posted by: Dee Krasnansky | June 30, 2010 11:16 AM
What about Tangier Island in Va.?
Memo to Food Police: Leave us alone
Posted by: Hieland Foodie | June 30, 2010 11:19 AM
I'm going to order one today.
Posted by: Mary | June 30, 2010 11:28 AM
Actually, by that definition, there is at least one more I know of: Parsons Island (east of Kent Island / west of Wye Island). If Sillery Bay at the mouth of the Magothy River counts as part of the Bay, there are two more: Dobbins and Little Island.
Posted by: Barry | June 30, 2010 11:46 AM
Mmm, garbage plate. I do miss being a drunk college kid and the early morning Tahou's run.
Posted by: jw | June 30, 2010 12:38 PM
And our wonderful fat heads in Annapolis actually wanted to make this the Official State Cake while they totally ignored the impending budget collapse two years age. I'm surprised O'Malley, Mikulski and Cardin didn't call the media for a photo OP. After all being in the top fifty is great.
Posted by: GHCinNottingham | June 30, 2010 1:18 PM
The thing should just be called icing cake, there's barely any cake to speak of and I doubt you can taste the cake. It looks disgusting. we should be ashamed as marylanders.
Posted by: allen | June 30, 2010 3:13 PM
“Governor O'Malley does enjoy some occasional Smith Island Cake - everything in moderation."
EXCEPT MD TAXES
Posted by: tevonaustin | June 30, 2010 3:38 PM
D'oh...cake....mmm...
Anyone heard of portion control??? It's a piece of cake...not a meal...use your judgement or don't eat it!!!!
Posted by: Brak | June 30, 2010 3:38 PM
Can you imagine washing down a piece of this cake with a choolate milkshake? Eat your new Jarvic heart out!
Posted by: dchinks | June 30, 2010 4:14 PM
Hey, Sam I Am (aka allen), don't knock it unless you've tried it. I've had it many times, and it's awesome in all its varieties! It is rich, so you don't need a large slice. But if you ever eat lasagna, pizza, donuts, ice cream, a Big Mac, or potato chips, then what's the difference? Life's short. Everything in moderation. Now can you please pass the milk?
Posted by: RavenFan67 | July 1, 2010 9:23 PM
True, life is short. But the idea is to avoid doing dumb things that conspire to make it much shorter.
Posted by: EricTN | July 18, 2010 7:24 PM
I THINK OUR GOVERMENT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT OTHER THINGS, THE LAST TIME I READ OR TALKED TO SOMEONE, WE BOTH AGREED IF WE PAY TAXES AND KILLED NO ONE IT IS STILL A FREE COUNTRY TO DO WHAT WE LIKED. SO IF I WANT A SMITH ISLAND CAKE I WILL HAVE.
Posted by: DEBBIE RUBINSTEIN | August 4, 2010 12:12 PM