I know we all cut cakes, light candles to celebrate our birthdays. Children gather around and blow out these candles, singing to the tune, and in hoarse voices, a rendition of a song first published in America in 1893.
Both do very different things for our Indian upbringing. still in practice India English was limited to the speaking, middle and upper middle classes, but gradually became part of popular culture among non-English speaking, traditional populations as well.
Even those who don’t speak English as their first language will be familiar with this timeless birthday song, its tune and its lyrics. Maybe because of movies, or television and just seeing the behavior of people around you who are rich or more westernized than yourself. After all, everyone has aspirations, and what better simple and cost-effective way to emulate the good life than just buying a cake and cutting it.
In the past, sweets like A type of sweet Or Barfi Usually used to celebrate special occasions, today it is the cake. A nice big cake, in chocolate or fruit flavours, or both, with layers of sponge, icing, cream and mousse, in a panorama of colors and shades, shapes and sizes, was once considered a luxury, exotic and out of reach Is. Most of the Indians, now available on every street corner.
Yes, there has suddenly been an epidemic of cake shops all over India in big cities like Mumbai as well as other smaller towns. In Mumbai, cake shops have mushroomed, especially in middle-class areas and even in slums.
Amidst tin sheds and blue tarpaulins, you are confronted with fancy, LED-lit, modern, glass and chrome emblazoned shops displaying the most psychedelic gleaming cakes. Tall, squat, round, square, full of jams, jellies and all that jazz. This is egalitarianism, and the democratization of the Western layered cake with icing. Cake has become increasingly accessible and affordable to people from all walks of life and is now a truly common and affordable luxury.
It’s a trend that was started decades ago by Iranian bakeries, and then popularized by a cake shop called Monginis. Even today, the Irani-owned City Bakery in Worli has reasonably priced cakes and pastries. Although brightly colored and decorated with a variety of toppings, such as fruit, chocolate and cream, in shades of bright fuchsia, emerald green and violent purple.
Monginis started in the 1960s as a moderately priced shop that sold sandwiches, patties, pastries and sponge cakes. He also pioneered a special cake called ‘Celebration Cake’, which was designed to mark special occasions. The celebration cake was decorated with colorful icing and came with a special message wishing the recipient a happy birthday or any other special occasion.
Monigans also had shops all over central and south Mumbai. Then came Bangalore Iyengar’s Bakery. Originally from Bangalore, they introduced special cakes for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations, and in flavors that most Indians had just heard of. Now these extraneous tastes were easily available. Chocolate, vanilla, pineapple, black forest, and butterscotch.
In fact, the bakery introduced a range of eggless cakes for customers who preferred vegan options. Now you can find a branch of BIB at every intersection and street in Mumbai.
Then came Cami Wafers and her sister Chinta Selezor. Celejor began offering a range of customization options; They allowed customers to have cakes tailored to their specific needs and preferences. Cakes that went beyond round, square and rectangle. Cakes in the shape of cartoon characters, animals, cars and anything that kids or adults can imagine.
They also introduced affordable versions of exotic cakes such as Baked Blueberry Cheesecake, Marble Cake, Carrot Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Dutch Truffle, Chocolate Ganache. Over the years, another cake shop brand has spread to the suburbs and middle and lower middle class areas of the city. It’s called Souffle Foodworks. You can’t miss the glossy Prussian blue signage with the golden cursive logo. They boast of a range of cakes for all occasions such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, Christmas, New Years, including photo cakes, signature cakes, cartoon cakes and also cupcakes, pastries, donuts. With names like Kiwi Strawberry, Death by Chocolate, Zebra Torte. All at very competitive prices.
As the cost of living continues to rise, I’m sure people are looking for more affordable ways to amuse themselves. And what could make you happier than being able to celebrate happy occasions several times a day, a week, a month or a year with affordable cakes, pastries and sweets?
Kunal Vijaykar is a food writer based in Mumbai. He tweets @kunalvijayakar and can be followed on Instagram @kunalvijayakar. The name of his YouTube channel is Khaane Mein Kya Hai. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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