what is this ethereal thing, all nestled in white tissue?
there is a stall at the balmain markets, selling small, gluten-free cakes. you may think that small, gluten-free cakes would be mean little pellets, like hockey pucks… but they are not. after standing in front of the display trying to choose between the raspberry-coconut (pictured above, so you already know who won) and the lemon curd (a sunny yellow thing topped with a swirl of meringue), the shopman helped me out.
“the raspberry-coconut is very good” he said.
“yes, i cannot decide between that and the lemon curd.”
“ah,” he said. “that is very good too. but take the raspberry-coconut.”
“i’ll come back next week for the lemon one.”
“yes, come back, next week is my last week here.”
“…” my face was a question. “and you’re never coming back, ever?”
“i have a baby,” the shopman said, “and so i have found another job, working for someone else, less hours for the same pay. so i get to stay at home sometimes and my wife can work too.”
to which i nearly fell over, because goddammitt, that is the complete opposite of the life i live. i’m not bitter, o wait, yes i am.
i came away from the markets with a short stack of old books, despite my resolve not to buy any more cookbooks. but one was a 1970s penguin paperback of japanese recipes, written by a european couple who had lived in japan for a few years “and spoke the language”. and another was a slim hardback, also from the 70s, called “chinese dinner party” from the “international party series”, offering not just a menu and recipes, but advice on “dressing up for your party” (“oriental styled clothes are fairly popular and easy to find. specialty shops and department stores often carry beautifully designed oriental dresses, jackets, slacks and fashionable slippers.”) and “oriental hospitality” (“you can create a relaxed party atmosphere with a smile and a simple bow as you welcome guests to your home for a happy and wonderful time.”)
the raspberry-coconut cake was a layer of almondy-biscuity stuff, with a raspberry-studded cakey bit, and then a macaroony crust on top. it tasted of sweet, and i wanted it to be somehow better. i think i should have picked the lemon curd.
6 Comments
have you ever seen this site? their cupcakes are gluten-, dairy-, egg-, nut-, sugar-, and wheat free. i am totally curious as to what they taste like.
Yummm… I’d have picked the lemon curd myself. I have a thing for lemony yummies.
yah! who ask you? lemon, always lemon is the answer.
also, as an oriental, i confirm, the bowing is a popular trick.
tankyu!
*bow*
thank you for my cookbook “indian curry dinner party”. you do know that i am going to try a few dishes from it. and serve it wearing a sari with bangles and a dot on my head 🙂 perhaps you could join and sit on the big comfy cushions placed near a low table for a real indian experience. hehehe. love it!
i must say i too would have been torn – and the raspberry element would be the one calling me close to it.
santos, yes, i think i followed a link on cupcakestakesthecake, and was intrigued as to how they could make cakes out of nothing. their ingredients look like fairies made them, no?
lemon girls: i shall try and procure a lemon curd one on saturday, for the information.
saffron: i’m pleased you like the book! now i’m thinking i should also have snatched the “greek dinner party” book off the table. apparently there is also “french dinner party” in the series, which i’m sure has stellou’s name on the front page, and gives instructions on how to wear snug black skivvies, chain smoke, and laugh: haw haw haw.
Lemon girls! Heh. Please post pics of the lemon curd one when you get it!
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[…] those of you following the saga of raspberry-coconut versus lemon curd, the loser was… also me, for when i rocked up to the markets on saturday, the cake stall was […]