Would you serve/eat cake that was on a wooden train track? *updated PHOTO post 1*

[ChristyMarie]

I am making a train cake for my son's birthday this weekend. It will consist of little train cars (the Williams Sonoma train cake pan) individually decorated. I was going to place them on wooden train tracks (from his train set) to display/serve.

Would you find it gross that they were being served on something not intended for food? I had never thought of it but on my food board people are concerned and it never crossed my mind. I don't want my guests to be put off.

So...totally cute or totally gross?

Ok, going to try to link photos. Let me know if this does not work.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6943286_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2983122_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...7_707681_n.jpg

[lmk1]

As long as the train tracks are covered with something (plastic wrap, aluminum foil) or the bottom of the cakes was, I'd be ok with it. Otherwise, it's kind of like putting the cake on the floor...which may be ok for some people, but not everyone. It really is a cute idea. I'd love to see pics when you have it set up. My ds loves his trains too.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Wash it, and maybe put some foil under where the actual cake sits (so that the cake isn't directly on it yk?) and totally cute!!! Or put the tracks around the cake dish if you can set them up that way.

[Alyantavid]

As long as it was clean, I would. I have no idea how you'd make sure everything got that clean though.

I've put toys in cakes I've made before after cleaning them really really well.

[AutumnAir]

I wouldn't mind - and I really doubt any little kids would mind!!

But if you're really concerned you could wrap the tracks in cling film (not sure what American term is, lol - you know the clear plastic wrapping stuff!).

[ChristyMarie]

Originally Posted by lmk1

As long as the train tracks are covered with something (plastic wrap, aluminum foil) or the bottom of the cakes was, I'd be ok with it. Otherwise, it's kind of like putting the cake on the floor...which may be ok for some people, but not everyone. It really is a cute idea. I'd love to see pics when you have it set up. My ds loves his trains too.

But why? How is it different from a wood cutting board that has been washed?

[pumpkin]

How about making train tracks out of pretzels?

I'm guessing you could use the big pretzel rods for the lengthwise pieces and the tiny pretzel sticks for the cross pieces. A little royal icing should hold them together.

[LynnS6]

I would, but won't the train cars be a little wide for the track?

Personally, I'd probably make train track out of black licorice.

[laila2]

So you can still see the tracks...

put parchment paper over them. That will totally separtate, and not stick, and partial see through

[tbone_kneegrabber]

would not even cross my mind to be concerned about. but you could always make a cupcake liner placemat for each train car

[ssh]

You could easily clean the train tracks. I wouldn't have a problem with it at all.

[LaughingHyena]

I would put a paper between the cake and the track, but that would be to stop grease marks staining the track.

I've put (well washed) trains and cars on the top of cakes before so why not the other way round.

[buttercup784ever]

I would be careful serving food from something not made specifically to eat off of. There are lower levels of toxins in dinnerware than a lot of things, HOWEVER I would assume that since this is a children's toy it's probably safe.

Personally, I like the idea of making tracks with licorice or pretzels. If I were at the party and saw the cake served from toy tracks, I would immediately think, 'I hope those are new', and eat the cake anyway.

[jeminijad]

I would absolutely eat it, and would not think twice about it.

If someone said something, I would tell them they were being ridiculous.

Has no one ever picked something up off the floor- maybe a book that had fallen- and then a few minutes later, eaten a piece of fruit or a cracker, without lathering up?

As for toxins, you aren't applying heat to it and I believe transfer will be minimal or nonexistant.

[LaLaLaLa]

Our train tracks are grimy and have been touched by lots of little hands in various states of cleanliness. I wouldn't expect that someone else's tracks were any cleaner.

Even if they had been thoroughly washed, I'd still have something of an ick factor eating off of toy tracks. I'd wrap the tracks in foil, like many others have mentioned.

[buttercup784ever]

Originally Posted by jeminijad

I would absolutely eat it, and would not think twice about it.

If someone said something, I would tell them they were being ridiculous.

Has no one ever picked something up off the floor- maybe a book that had fallen- and then a few minutes later, eaten a piece of fruit or a cracker, without lathering up?

As for toxins, you aren't applying heat to it and I believe transfer will be minimal or nonexistant.

That's not very nice. It always grates me when people say this. So dismissive.

If these are plastic tracks, we can assume they have little nooks and crannies in them, right? If these are generally used for play, are you sure you can get the dirt and dust out? Maybe with a toothbrush?

Like I said, I'd probably eat the cake anyway, but I don't think it's ridiculous for somebody to not want to eat off of something dirty whether it's a plate or train tracks.

[brooks97]

If cleaning the tracks an issue, can you put them on top shelf in the dishwasher? I think it's a cute idea. Maybe, have the cake board wide enough to run the tracks around the cake?

[lmk1]

Originally Posted by ChristyMarie

But why? How is it different from a wood cutting board that has been washed?

You didn't mention that you would wash it first Also, I don't know if they treat the tracks with anything to make them last longer?
Plus it'd be kind of a pain to make sure you got all the cake out of the tracks afterwards, so that it wouldn't get moldy.

I guess the other thing is, people may not know that you washed the train tracks...KWIM? I mean they'd have to ask if they cared, and they may be embarrassed to. I guess it depends on how well they know you...
I know people who are perfectly fine with eating things off the floor or whatever, and when I'm at someone's house, how do I know how something was treated? In general, I'd assume that a plate was washed well enough, but not necessarily things not intended for food. My 2 cents

[ChristyMarie]

Well these are wood, relatively new, clean and I'll wash them first with dishsoap if that makes a difference.

I have to make 16 of these little train cars so I'm setting the track up on my kitchen table. I don't have a serving platter anywhere near big enough. I was originally going to do a serving platter with licorice or such but the party, and the cake, grew.

[ChristyMarie]

Originally Posted by lmk1

You didn't mention that you would wash it first ....

DOH! Didn't think I needed to.