Welcome to Cake Picnic, Sydney edition. It's the viral event that's already sold out dates in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. Tickets in Dubai, London, and Mexico City were harder to come by than a double-yolk egg. And now it's landed on Australian shores, with a Melbourne event earlier this month boasting 1,600 cakes in one sitting.
I had no idea that I could ever go on tour for cake, laughs Cake Picnic founder Elisa Sunga, part-time hobby baker and full-time Google employee specializing in AI. People go on tour for music and whatnot, but for cake, Sunga says. It just seems so whimsical and delightful to be able to do that.
The concept is simple. Two years ago, Sunga—who moved to San Francisco at age 12 from her hometown of Baguio City in the Philippines—posted an online invite for a small gathering with one request: everyone must bring a cake. The 35-year-old figured maybe a dozen or so people might turn up and brought seven cakes to ensure everyone would get a taste. To her amazement, close to 200 people came, and more than 180 cakes were devoured.
Her simple summons has caused ripples of the buttercream variety across the foodie world. It feels unreal, Sunga tells the BBC. I had no idea that thousands of people all over the world would be as excited as I am.
There's plenty of excitement among the 500-plus crowd gathering at Saturday's event in Sydney's Botanic Gardens. As they line up to have their cakes inspected—which must be 20cm (8 inches) wide and 7.5cm (3 inches) high—many participants baked well into the night. Some participants used cake as a means of connection, with families working together to create their dessert.
From towering creations to delightful pastries, the feast featured cakes of various styles and flavors, including coffee pecan torte, spiced pear sponge, and even a focaccia cake with roasted tomato. Sunga notes the event fosters a sense of community, with people of all ages coming together to celebrate their passion for cake baking.
As the crowds gathered to collect their slices, many shared their baking experiences and the joy of being part of such a collaborative event. The Cake Picnic, beyond just an afternoon of indulgence, serves as a unique opportunity for social connection in a fast-paced world. When you're surrounded by thousands of sweet cakes, all you really want is salt, Sunga quips, emphasizing the balance of flavors and complexities behind baking.
Through the lens of cake, Sunga showcases the connection and excitement that can arise within a community, truly embodying the spirit of togetherness during the enjoyable event.
I had no idea that I could ever go on tour for cake, laughs Cake Picnic founder Elisa Sunga, part-time hobby baker and full-time Google employee specializing in AI. People go on tour for music and whatnot, but for cake, Sunga says. It just seems so whimsical and delightful to be able to do that.
The concept is simple. Two years ago, Sunga—who moved to San Francisco at age 12 from her hometown of Baguio City in the Philippines—posted an online invite for a small gathering with one request: everyone must bring a cake. The 35-year-old figured maybe a dozen or so people might turn up and brought seven cakes to ensure everyone would get a taste. To her amazement, close to 200 people came, and more than 180 cakes were devoured.
Her simple summons has caused ripples of the buttercream variety across the foodie world. It feels unreal, Sunga tells the BBC. I had no idea that thousands of people all over the world would be as excited as I am.
There's plenty of excitement among the 500-plus crowd gathering at Saturday's event in Sydney's Botanic Gardens. As they line up to have their cakes inspected—which must be 20cm (8 inches) wide and 7.5cm (3 inches) high—many participants baked well into the night. Some participants used cake as a means of connection, with families working together to create their dessert.
From towering creations to delightful pastries, the feast featured cakes of various styles and flavors, including coffee pecan torte, spiced pear sponge, and even a focaccia cake with roasted tomato. Sunga notes the event fosters a sense of community, with people of all ages coming together to celebrate their passion for cake baking.
As the crowds gathered to collect their slices, many shared their baking experiences and the joy of being part of such a collaborative event. The Cake Picnic, beyond just an afternoon of indulgence, serves as a unique opportunity for social connection in a fast-paced world. When you're surrounded by thousands of sweet cakes, all you really want is salt, Sunga quips, emphasizing the balance of flavors and complexities behind baking.
Through the lens of cake, Sunga showcases the connection and excitement that can arise within a community, truly embodying the spirit of togetherness during the enjoyable event.
