Have a slice of cake

originally published in 2021, now presented with some fun additions.

Today is a perfect day to have a slice of cake. And why not? Cake lifts the spirits, gathers us together, and evokes coziness. It says, “enjoy today with me”, and “why not stay a while?”

Cake is regal. It’s sensual. It’s the perfect way to make any day feel special. No matter what the occasion, I warmly invite any chance for celebration, no questions asked. Plus, who doesn't have a fond memory of cake? 

Like the Sachertorte I enjoyed in Vienna. On a crisp winter's day, in a warm cafe flooded with that clean, bright, lightness that a February winter day in Northern Europe evokes. The sound of chiming teaspoons delicately twirling in cups filled with coffee and tea. I took my fork to the glossy cake in front of me. Dense layers of dark chocolate gave way to rich and jammy fudge cake. 

Or the Italian cakes I had in the middle of bustling Lower East Side, where I placed my order over a counter that had been aged from about a hundred years' worth of resting elbows and bellies. Waiters buzzed around us, transporting all types of Italian delicacies to bistro tables here and there. Our cappuccinos arrived, foamy milk piled high, along with plates of miniature Italian cakes and cookies. Joyful flavors of almond and sweet fruit all danced on my tongue.

And in 2004, when I was fourteen and I spent the summer in Israel to join my cousins at a day camp. I remember our first morning waking up to the warm smell of coffee and fresh Middle Eastern air. A plate of cookies accompanied the hot beverages on the kitchen table, and we all gathered around with sleepy eyes and messy hair. “This is the way we do breakfast here,” my aunt said. My teenage self could definitely get behind this style of breakfast. There’s always a variety of treats placed out with the coffee—some cookies are salty, others are sweet. Sometimes there are loaf cakes and rugelach. When we were in Israel in the fall of this past year, I got to introduce Dan to this tradition. “Mornings are for the sweets,” I said proudly, serving him up a plate of chocolatey pastries with a big mug of Nescafe.

In Denmark, there is a long-standing tradition of inviting friends and family over to enjoy not one, but fourteen different types of cake. This tradition called sønderjysk kaffebord began as a result of the region's rich production of dairy and eggs and is a way to get through the long winter months. Danes gather and indulge in bite after bite of ranging flavors and textures, all made by loving hands. The cakes are a reason to come together-- they're an avenue to rich community and friendship. Through cake, there is oneness and connection. This Danish tradition is steeped in what life should be all about--making even the most arbitrary of days a day to celebrate. 

So, I invite you to honor today with something sweet. Bake with a friend and enjoy the imperfection of the final product. Eat cake for breakfast. And most importantly, take a moment to get lost in the joy of the little things.