Grandma Deb's Gourmet - Dark Rum Soaked Fruit Cake and Gift Baskets (Barrie, Ontario, Canada)

"Hi Debbie.....When Helen saw the basket she burst out in tears.....and once she composed herself and started looking at all the different things in the basket she commented on how well thought out the items were. You did a nice job on it Debbie....Thank you very much......She liked the angel too." - Brenda

"I wanted you to know, Kay wood called this evening. she was so excited over the fruit basket you sent. She described the items, esp. the cake, all the fruit she said she'd never seen anything like it. She even took a picture of it. It was so nice hearing her thrill of receiving it. I wish the thank you for doing this." - Rose

"We are almost finished your excellent cake that we purchased at Pusateri's.
Congratulations on such a wonderful product. We hope to try your shortbread cookies and sugar cookies. Will you be sending them to Pusateri's?"
David Cuthbertson, Toronto (Jan. 2010)

Hi Debbie,

I received the replacement Christmas cake yesterday and delighted with the size of the cake and the packaging. When I opened your card, I was astonished that you refunded me the purchase price as well.

Thank you very much Debbie. You certainly know how to keep your customers happy and coming back.

I will definitely see you next year at the show.

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Terry Rallis

If you were to ask me about how I felt about fruit cake two days ago you’d probably hear this from me ...

“Fruit cake was that holiday cake that my sister and I would take and hide for a few days. We found a great use for it. Once it was good and dry and hard while no one was around we’d fling it into the Christmas Tree to see if we could ping the ornaments. If it was a good shot, the ornaments would shatter. We’d howl and of course eventually blame the family cat.”

But two days ago while at Toronto’s “One-of-A-Kind Craft Sale” everything changed. There was quite a buzz at this one booth so I figured there was something really tasty to be tried. I really had no idea what I was lining up for, but having grown up significantly from my fruit-cake pitching days I politely said thank-you as I accepted the sample realizing now it was fruit-cake.

Well I am reformed. It was delicious. I have truly been a life-long fruit-cake boycotter. Grand Deb’s Gourmet Fruit Cake was delicious. I bought three of them as gifts - one for my mom -my boss and my neighbour. Each time I walk by my dining room table I’m tortured over who’s do I dare break into. But I remain strong knowing that as fruit cake enjoyers I’m going to be able to give them a real holiday treat.

I came to the website to write a testimonial because I was just so astonished at how delicious the fruit cake was and wanted to share the news. I’m even more excited to have read on the site that the cake is sold at Bruno’s in Richmond Hill. That’s one stop I’ll be making on my home this evening.

I’ll never fling another piece of Fruit Cake into the Christmas Tree ever again.

The shortbread & fruitcake arrived in perfect shape. I immediately had a piece of shortbread, then another piece, & in 2 days, it was all gone. But oh, the memories! Delicious -- the best I've ever had.

And the dark fruitcake is mouthwatering! I've never had better. It's the taste I remember from childhood & which doesn't exist in too many places these days. I'm trying to be judicious in my sampling of it, but it's difficult. I could put the whole thing on a plate & eat it all in one sitting!

Your fruitcake has made a believer out of me! Thank you so much for breaking the stereotype and producing a terrific dessert.

Just wanted to drop a quick line and let you know how fabulous your cake is ! I tried it at the Bala Cranberry festival this fall, and I HATES me some fruitcake ! Now, that has all changed ! Your cake is fantastic and my hubby, who loves fruitcake, absolutely inhaled it. I just placed an order for another one for his birthday which is coming up soon. Keep it up !

My husband and I attended the Barrie Xmas craft show and deliberately stopped by your booth. We had just finished reading the article in the Barrie Advance regarding your delicious fruit cake. As a person who absolutely despises fruit cake, I opted to have my husband try a sample first. He too does not like fruit cake, but was more open to trying than I. He tried the Dark Rum Soaked Fruit Cake and said it was fabulous. After much debate, I too opted to try the fruit cake.

In all my adult years, I have never purchased or had fruit cake in my home. Deb, this cake is wonderful. We ended up purchasing the cake and look forward to sharing with our guests.

To be honest, I would never have tried the sample, if I had not read the article in the local paper the day before.

Just a quick note to thank you very much for the Christmas cake that you gave me at the Barrie Craft Show this weekend. As I said, I normally do not like Christmas cake. I think it is all of the chunks of candied fruit that put me off. I'm so glad that you convinced me to try a piece of your cake. What a difference! It was moist, very tasty and none of those ugly fruit chunks. You said you puree the fruit before you add it to the cake. What a great idea. I am now a convert.

Your Christmas cake will be a proud addition to my "treat plate" this year. Thanks again. It was a pleasure meeting you.

Debbie, just dropping you a line to let you know that being a 'non-dessert eating person' has been altered somewhat after having sampled your dark rum soaked fruit cake. It was simply delicious and I am a Grandma Deb convert.

Good news...my fruit cake arrived today and you were absolutely correct...it is the best fruit cake I've tasted since I was a boy 60 years ago when my mother made them!!! You have no idea how many fruit cakes I have tried over the years searching for that perfect dark moist one that isn't overloaded with what I consider "fake" candied fruit!!! The only other thing I could add is this, without changing anything else, since I like more pecans, an additional cup of pecans in each cake would make them "PERFECT" for my taste!!!

However, now you have created a dilemma for me...since you mentioned I would be receiving one of the last ones this year, do you only make them at Christmas time? After you have fully recovered from the Holiday madness, if I wanted to purchase several, say five or six at a time other than Christmas, would you make them and ship them to me so I can enjoy your delicious fruit cake throughout 2006??? If you say no I will understand but I had to ask!!!

Thank you again for making my life more enjoyable by baking such a fabulous fruit cake!!! I'm sure you have better things to do with your time than correspond with me, but you seem like a really nice person and I wanted to share my thoughts!!! Happy New Year!!!

Hi Debbie: I purchased one of your fruitcakes at the One of A Kind Show and have to tell you it is the world's best!

It is totally awesome and the best I have ever tasted. Are they available all year round or just at Christmas?

If we are in Barrie some time is it possible to come by and pick up an order? Christmas Greetings!

Hi Debbie, I was at the one of a kind Christmas Show in Toronto, and purchased your dark fruit cake and some of your shortbread. I just wanted to let you know your cake was fabulous...I ate it all myself...I used to make dark fruit cake as it is my favorite and your cake puts mine to shame. I just loved it. I look forward to getting more next time.

Thanks so much. I am very glad that we saw you at the One-of-a-Kind Show. Your Christmas Cake or Fruit Cake reminds me of my Grandmother's. It is very good. Thanks for the memories...

Well hello there! I am hoping that you remember me, we traded some fruitcake and cookies for a scarf at the One of a Kind show.....?

We absolutely loved both of them and I either gave or ate all of it. As for the shortbread, I thought I should contact you as although my hips don't need any more, I would love to know where to purchase some (or from you directly, if possible). My 7 year old daughter LOVED it!! We also had some friends who loved it and we all got together and gobbled it all up.

We also loved your 'well done' pieces that you put a few in of in each package! I am guessing that people don't like them as much as the others, but we actually preferred them. Kudos on a fabulous product.

I received a gift of you delicious shortbread as a Christmas present. Is there any place it can be purchased the Kitchener/Waterloo area. Many thanks.

My husband and I have always loved fruitcake and much to the chagrin of our families serve it at dinner parties through the Christmas season. When we sampled your dark, rum soaked fruitcake at the One of a Kind Christmas Show in Toronto, memories of my Mum's baking came flooding back. It truly is fantastic! I am willing to bet that this cake will make fruitcake converts of my family.

You must also know that your shortbread is absolutely the BEST shortbread I have ever eaten. We tried a sample of the shortbread at the One of a Kind Show in Toronto today and I was hooked. The other vendors selling shortbread truly ran a far distant second to yours. You have truly found your niche in the kitchen.

DELICIOUS.

B. Simpson

Newmarket, Ontario

Something funny, yet wonderful, happened just the other day and I had to share it with you. I was rummaging through my pantry, looking for something and while rearranging the cans I felt something “squeezable” tucked behind them at the back of the shelf. You can imagine my surprise when I stumbled across one of YOUR dark rum soaked fruit cakes that I had bought at last year’s (2006) One of a Kind Craft Show & Sale! It must have rolled off the jars/cans last year and we completely forgot about it.

Lucky for us, it was still soft and moist like on the day that I bought it! My husband and I quickly put on the kettle and decided to cut ourselves a slice. It was just as tasty (in fact, I’d say tastier) when we had them last Christmas. What was MOST surprising was the fact that we didn’t do anything special, it was in the exact wrapping that it was when we purchased it from you.

And what’s become a tradition, my daughter and I will be heading to the One of a Kind Craft Show this year with the sole purpose of picking up another 5 or 6 cakes from you … and this coming from a woman who never cared for fruit cake until my daughter and I stumbled across your booth oh so many years ago (I think we are pushing 5 or 6 years now).

Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

With regards,

Mai Brandon

I attended the One of a Kind show in Toronto yesterday and was happy to see you there again. I believe it was the third time I purchased your fruitcake for my mother, who is a lover of rum fruitcake. I remember the first time, I was reluctant to try it, as I am not even a "liker" of fruitcake. I do enjoy yours though, as it is not like the typical ones, with the hard little pieces of strange fruit.

My brother tried it for the first time and bought three. Wonderful to hear that you are now in some Toronto fine food shops.

Much continued success!

Lillian

Not only is your fruitcake the best I have ever had, but I think I could become addicted!

I cut it into small slices and had a little bit each night after dinner. When it was gone, I got on my husband to order more immediately.

Normally he would never touch the stuff, but I think he ate the last piece I had hidden in the refrigerator - now that really says something.

He had been searching far and wide for a good cake for me for a while to make up for the horribly nasty cellophane-wrapped last minute 0.99$

door stop he got me last year on Christmas Eve at _al-Mart. Well he sure came through.

Your marvelous cake arrived a couple of days ago. We got into it last evening. Thank you for your prompt and courteous service. Your fruitcake is incredible. I especially enjoyed the pureed fruit. It is pleasingly rich and moist. With the first morsel passes over your tongue, the taste buds begin to "dance with delight". Next time, I want to sample the shortbread. It looks mighty tasty. Happy holidays to you and your family. May the coming year be a banner year for
"Grandma Deb's & Co. "
A very satisfied customer,

C. Hatcher (Gonzales, LA / USA)