It is time to get personal and vulnerable. This year my birthday means more to me than ever. It has been four years since I celebrated, and I can’t remember the last meaningful celebration of my birth. This is even though I wanted to and love doing so.
The honest reality is, I was in a five-year long, Situationship, and I waited for the guy to celebrate for me. He would forget the date or choose to work instead. And if my birthday landed on a day that we were not scheduled to meet, I would not see him, nor would I get a text from him wishing me well. However, it is not his fault, I should not be depending on and waiting for a person to celebrate that which I want to, and that which means more to me than anyone else.
Therefore, this year I went all out to make up for all the time lost, starting with cake! One of the reasons why he said he never got me a cake was because I didn’t like sweets. He isn’t completely wrong. Although I did say, all I wanted, was to stick a candle in something and to blow it out in order to make a wish. Therefore, here is a collection of unorthodox, out of the box, savoury birthday cakes available for ordering in Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, and Langley. They literally allowed me to “have my cake, and eat it too”!
The first is a custom order, the last three requires advance notice. So if you too would like a savoury cake for whatever occasion, you can get one as well.
Texas Smoke BBQ
21565 Crush Crescent, Langley, BC V2Y 2R3
texassmokebbq.ca
Not on the regular menu, and the first of its kind, that could be making appearance for Father’s Day next year, is this meat cake from Texas BBQ in Langley. They are my favourite spot for barbeque in all of BC, so when I envisioned a cake of meat, there was no one else I wanted to look to. I remember visiting when they were just one food truck strong. Now there have multiple locations, with a full catering team, that can host your next wedding or special event.
This is a 10 inch wide 10 inch tall custom cake from the mind of their Executive Chef, David who focusses on the catering side of the business. His goal was to craft a savoury meat cake that did not look like one. Beef brisket, pulled pork, corn bread, mashed potato, and cheese are layered to make a cake that easily and beautifully slices.
The slice is finished with a generous drizzle of gravy from a squeeze bottle, this is the highlight of the cake and brings all its ingredients together. This is the full bbq experience in a bite with meat, sides, and sauce in a new and creative format. Especially with the brisket rosettes and the pipped on mashed potato “frosting”.
YL’s Curry Bowl
Unit 101E, 15277 100 Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 8X2
(604) 930-1155
ylscurrybowl.com
My second savoury birthday cake is a Hainanese chicken rice cake from YL’s Curry Bowl. They are a food court stall located within the Surrey Gilford location of T&T. They are an unexpected find, with no mention of the food court, or any of the 5+ vendors available within, from the exterior.
This cake is available purchase all year round, you only need to call ahead to arrange when and what for pickup.
This is the most recent rendition and it includes chicken rice, de-boned dark meat, cucumber slices and cucumber flowers, carrots carved into the outline of a rooster, pickled carrots and cucumber, and a couple of cherry tomatoes. This is basically their regular Hainanese chicken dish, but made into a cake. The owner of the business, Yvonne made one for her friend’s birthday one year, and it was such a big hit that she was encouraged to make it publicly available, and that she did.
I loved the flourishes and it looked too good to cut into. Be warned, once you removed the plastic film and do so it tumbles. The chicken and rice itself is amazing. Authentically Malaysian, this is one of the better versions I have tried and probably my new favourite, as I didn’t have one before.
The serving also comes with the trademark garlic ginger sauce and garlic chilli. So be warned your breath will be garlicky, but it will be worth it.
This hit the spot and was so tasty that I want to come back and try the rest of their menu, which includes other familiar dishes like beef brisket over rice, curry, and Laksa.
Ho Yuen Cafe
#113 – 1750 W 75th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6P 6G2
(226) 368-3891
hoyuencafe.ca
The third cake isn’t savoury, but just as unexpected nonetheless. This is a giant pineapple bun from Ho Yuen, my favourite Hong Kong style cafe in the Marpole area. It is available in classic with the iconic yellow cookie topping and a filling of pineapple cream with actual pineapple pulp pieces. This is the less sweet of the two options. The other is a chocolate bun, with chocolate cookie topping and a centre of chocolate cream with whole chocolate chips for crunch.
The buns need to be kept cool for the sake of the cream filling, but the dough and topping are best warm for a chewier texture and crunch. So the ideal temperature is room temperature to split the difference. These were easy to cut into, but doing so causes the topping to flake off, so make sure you go back and eat them all, because they are the best part.
And seeing as this was dessert, we ended with the “cakes”, but had a lunch with them before.
Ho Yuen Cafe is a quintessential, causal Hong Kong style Cafe. Located in an industrial area, it is frequented by nearby businesses, truckers, and those who know to go. It is a destination with fair prices and familiar favourites, including all day breakfast. Despite their smaller menu, each time I have visited, I have always tried something new and different. This is due in part to them improving their current offerings and adding on more to their menu. Nothing is overly complicated, as they focused on only little twists to change the script with.
As always I like to start with their Hong Kong style Yuen Yeung, half coffee and half tea. Available in hot or cold.
The Deep fried chicken wings in a salted egg flavour caught my eye. You can see the bold yellow paste smothering the wings, but it is harder to taste. They are cut in half and I have never seen this before. I believe it is so that there is more breading per bite ratio and the wings are even easier eat. One bone per wing, more flavour per bite, and more saucy than crispy.
The Luncheon meat and macaroni in tomato soup was simple, a tasty mix of flavours and texture that comforted and satisfied. I would order this one again. I loved the high acidity and the salty luncheon meat, it is hearty, but not heavy; despite eating like a whole meal with the pasta elbows.
The Baked curry sauce beef brisket rice is one of my go-tos. I love the added gooey strings of the melted cheese overtop. It harmonized well with the sweeter curry sauce over the starchy rice. The meat was on the tougher side, but the curry masks it well. Homey and nostalgic, this hit the spot.
Outside of their pineapple buns, their egg tart is worth trying as well. Another one that pinged on childhood. Buttery crust and a creamy eggy centre, this was perfection.
Sushi Lovers
4775 Blundell Rd #170, Richmond, BC V7C 1H2
(604) 274-5954
sushilovers.zomi.menu
The last savoury cake is a sushi tower from Sushi Lovers. The presentation is stunning wrapped in ribbon and topped with decorations and edible flowers.
You can choose the size and height of your cake. I got the largest and most decadent. Double tiered and enough to feed 2-4 people. It was layers of (Starting from bottom to top) red tobiko sushi rice, unagi eel and sauce, tomago egg omelette, shrimp, avocado, imitation crab and mayo, and salmon. Topped with fresh greens, vermicelli, and seaweed salad. Crowned with fish roe, red surf clam, scallop, and more salmon as garnish.
This was one cake that was hard to slice into, without having it fall apart. It was a good amount of food for the price. The price of a sushi tray with more than enough food to fill one.
The quality of the fish was good, nothing out of the ordinary. The novelty was how it was presented like this. It ate like a rice bowl, with you picking out what you wanted and curating each bite as you like.
I would advise taking it to go, the setting is small and dingy. Aged decoration, discoloured throw pillows, chipped paint, and a washroom that you didn’t want to touch anything within.
In short I enjoyed each cake and healed myself in the process. We might have to make this a tradition.
