Sir, – I strongly refute Frank McNally’s outrageous suggestion that Bewley’s Mary cake was “never perhaps as famous as the sticky bun or almond roll” (“Sweet and sour: Frank McNally on how Russian brutality brought the Mary cake to Ireland”, An Irish Diary, October 23rd).
Admittedly, those were also fine confections, as was Bewley’s legendary brack – at the time, so full of fruit it could have been one of your “five a day”. But the queen of all Bewley confections was the Mary cake with chocolate fondant, topped with marzipan and surrounded by chocolate.
It may have been a monument to cholesterol, but it was also an unforgettable childhood treat. – Yours, etc,
GEOFF SCARGILL,
RM Block
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
