Taiwanese Pineapple Cakes

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

It's such a pleasure living in a large, multicultural city. If you have a craving for injera, you only have to go a couple of blocks in either direction to stuff your face. We've got parades for every festival you could ever dream up. You can go down any main street at two in the morning and hit at least seventeen open sushi bars. We've got multiculturalism up the ying yang. I mean, check out this proud Vancouverite:

Journey Around the World (of Cake): Greek New Years Cake - Vasilopita

We're old. Not old by usual standards, mind you. To most, Mr. C and I are still young whipper snappers (does anyone say that anymore?). But, in our own little private world, we are, without a doubt, old. Gone are the days of bar hopping, drinking until wee hours of the night , and barfing into your friend's houseplant. Gone are the days of sleeping in until mid-afternoon and doing nothing buy playing video games for the rest of the day. Gone are the days when we could survive on nothing but stir fry and, my personal favourite, "Soup On Rice" (it's exactly how it sounds). Now, all we do is complain about "those darn kids" and their "fixed speed bikes" and "hipster mustaches".

Journey Around the World (of Cake): Victorian Sandwich Cakes

I always thought that the term "a spot of tea" was reserved for really contrived conversations in fake Cockney accents. Boy was I wrong. Not only to British subjects (that includes you, Canada) enjoy tea, but they seem to have the ability to suck a spot of it down at any time. To be honest, I don't understand the big attraction to the stuff. To me, it's just warm, slightly flavoured water. Long Island Ice tea is pretty good, but I don't think that's the same thing. At all.

Journey Around the World (of Cake): Dorayaki and Kasutera Cake

On March 30th, baked good lovers everywhere opened their hearts (and their wallets) and bid like crazy on The Tomato Tart. A goal was set at $2,500 - I thought that was pretty reasonable, but, to be honest, a high number like that got me a little nervous. Just how much would people be willing to pay for cookies and cakes from across the country (and sometimes even internationally)? I was biting my own nails when the sale begun, convinced that our little truffles would not make even the $20 starting point.

Boy, did you guys prove me wrong. Last I heard, the amount of money donated has reached $8,169. I'm still waiting to hear how much our truffles made, but I've been told it's in the $150 range. Which blows my mind. The generosity of all the bidders was absolutely outstanding. All of you absolutely rock! We can not thank you enough! I know, when we send out our truffles to the winner, we'll be packing their box full of love (and some other neato things). 

All this generosity inspired me to share a couple of Japanese desserts for our next Journey Around the World (of Cake):

Journey Around the World (of Cake): Pistachio-Rosewater Cake

I've gotten a lot of emails recently about these bad boys. We love the flavours, you tell me, but a cookie? For Valentine's Day? That doesn't seem too romantic. Okay. You're right. Cookies aren't romantic. I don't know anyone who seductively feeds their significant other oreos in bed. I don't even think you could eat an oreo seductively. I realize that my rosewater cookies aren't the best for a lovely romantic romp. But I do have a cake that will do the trick. It's got rosewater. It's got pistachios. And it's really exotic.

Say assalamu alaikum to the Iranian Pistachio-Rosewater Cake.

Journey Around the World (of Cake): Lamingtons

I haven't really seen the world. I've traveled throughout the United States and Canada, but have yet to leave the North America for some real Travel Channel style voyaging. For me, it's not so much a money issue - being double-income-no-kids is quite the treat. I honestly just haven't had the time. I didn't take any time off between high school and university to backpack around Europe. Nor did I leave my institute of post secondary education to "find myself" in South America. I didn't even have a time to do the Galapagos Islands between receiving my degree and getting shoved into a career. Now I'm just to damn busy to travel. 

Luckily, I can live vicariously through photos of Mr. C's travels, dusty history books, and the odd Anthony Bourdain special. But, sometimes, that's not enough. I want to see the sights. Live the night lift. And, most of all, eat all the food. I'd even forget my vegetarianism and horrible shellfish allergy to sink my teeth into some Thai/Moroccan/Peruvian street food. Hell, I wouldn't even regret the horrible dysentery that would follow. 

For now, I guess I just have to experiment with the tastes of globe. Especially the sweet tastes.