Exotic Dessert: Chinese Tree Slice
My husband brought these yummy pastries home from Shanghai. They are like buttery angel food cake. I am not sure the flavoring, but it is kind of nutty and very subtle.They're apparently based on the actual Swiss Rolls and started in Beijing by the local bakeries. The trend then spread to Shanghai. They come packaged in plastic and they actually sit in a little tray that you can see here. They really do look like they have tree rings.
He also returned home with 3 lovely kimonos, one of which fits now (the others are for when she is older). A co-worker carefully transcribed her measurements that he took to a merchant who sent him home with these gorgeous outfits. Here is a peek:
This dessert is actually called a "Baumkuchen" and is originally from southern Germany/northern Austria. It migrated to Japan, then to China. The Baumkuchen was originally baked on a spit over a fire. The nutty flavor you experienced is almond (the cake batter is made with almond flour). I am the only Master Pastry Chef in America trained to make this cake which can be made to be 5 to 7 ft tall.
ReplyDeleteChef Joye LaBarge Bryan
CMPC, Le Cordon Bleu Atlanta, GA & Paris, FR