The rest of the story of the Chocolate Groom's Cake: One day summer day in 1966, in Austin, Texas, Luci Baines hometown, her good friend's mother, Loyola Beal, received a phone call from someone who said he was the "Chef at the White House," planning Luci and Patrick Nugent's Wedding Reception. "The Chef" reported that "Luci had requested Loyola's Recipe" for a "Groom's Cake," since Patrick LOVED the Chocolate cake that he had eaten at the Beal's House when they introduced him to the "other Austin Family, where she often came home from school to stay and play, till dinner at home. Mrs. Loyola Beal, mother of Betty Beal, one of the bride's maids and good friend of Luci's, wondered if she should "trust that call," since the special Chocolate on Chocolate was a "secret family recipe" entrusted to her? "Secret family recipes are a sacred Texas tradition," did he please understand? Loyola said she would have to check with her "source," her daughter's Mother-in-Law? When given permission, Loyola called the White House Chef back. Hence, the Groom's cake became popular, when mentioned in a newspaper article about that spectacular Texas-size wedding reception at the White House. AND, to her surprise, Mrs. Loyola Beal got requests from around the country about this "Chocolate on Chocolate Cake recipe." One letter was just sent to Groom's Cake, Austin Texas, before ZIP codes? That letter WAS delivered by the ever-faithful Austin Post Office. We treasure it in a Family Album to this day. Loyola answered dozens of requests, by hand. The actual Beal Groom's cake does have "gobs of chocolate icing" when served at the Beal's House, since the secret recipe is now revealed! Bon Appetit!

We've made and eaten this for 57 years. It is excellent.