When Palm Beach County bakery counts Trump family as a client, is cake any less sweet?
You might know celeb chef Art Smith from his numerous national television appearances and six restaurants, including Florida's Homecomin' in Disney Springs and Sunshine Diner at the Orlando Airport.
He's also quite possibly the world's only chef with an ownership stake in a professional sports team — The Chicago Hounds Rugby Club.
Raised in Florida, his star rose when he became Oprah's personal chef.
Before that life-changing position, he worked in the governor's mansion cheffing for Bob Graham. For 16 years, he cooked at the Celebration of Reading events in honor of Jeb Bush's mom, FLOTUS Barbara Bush, a champion of literacy.
More than a decade ago, I asked Smith if he ever had any issues cooking for opposing sides of the aisle.
He replied that 'fried chicken takes no sides.'
He greatly admires both former governors and said last week how, 'Every party may have a candidate we agree with, but we must never forget as humans that we shouldn't not lose the engagement of eating together.'
I was reminded of this 'Artism' recently when hearing from readers and friends about my story on Southern Belle's Cakery in North Palm Beach, whose deliciously nuanced (and trademarked) Sissy Cake is not just my current obsession but also earned rave reviews from my newsroom colleagues.
The Cakery's gorgeous signature grab-and-go gateaux (French for cakes) are popular with local moms; I serendipitously had a chance to indulge in a slice the day before meeting owners Jamie and Joey Fago because a lovely cake mixing fresh and iced flowers was served at a family birthday party.
The story also featured photographs and a video of cakes admired by President Donald J. Trump's inner circle, including a birthday cake for daughter Tiffany and Santa's Maga hat cake at Mar-a-Lago as posted on Instagram by Donald Trump Jr. The couple behind the Cakery told me their shop supplied 2,000 cookies to the private club on election eve.
And that's when things got tricky.
One reader was very excited to learn about the bakery until she "read further regarding ANY association with Trump. You can let the owner know that I and none of my friends will be patronizing this bakery.'
She added, 'I am always interested in learning more about new places to eat, especially a local bakery. I feel bad about making this about politics, but in view of the current political climate and my own personal beliefs, I find it very difficult to knowingly support any business which has any involvement with or shows support of our current President.'
It wasn't just readers; I also got staredowns and headshakes from a few friends.
Personally, I think it's bananas not to shop for best-in-class product, especially when price points are comparable to Publix and other markets.
You won't find any promotions of the political kind on Southern Belle's Cakery social media sites, just gorgeous treats to pickup or pre-order.
The only thing tangentially nodding to a 230-year-old political statement is a model of French Queen Marie 'let them eat cake' Antoinette holding a Sissy Cake, whose intricate details require pre-ordering.
Not unlike a typical family's Thanksgiving table, where different points of view often come into conversation, Smith said delicious food can create a common thread that brings us together.
'Hunger is the root of most problems in our world, and the lack of love prepared and served with it.'
He also said we all need reminders that life can be sweet.
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post's food & restaurant writer, fresh from two years at the Naples Daily News. If you have any news tips about the local dining scene, please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County bakery makes custom cakes, cookies for Trump family
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