Ms B’s Cakery, the brainchild of luxury restaurateur Bonnae Gokson, can be counted on to deliver theatricality in every cake. Their trademark refined sugar art and laser-printed designs will be put to use this autumn to breathe new life into a Hong Kong classic: the Old Master Q comics. The comics, which for those who speak Cantonese will remember fondly as Lao Fu Zi, are no less beloved than they were at their initial publication in 1962, and in recent years have graced everything from postal stamps to exhibitions and even a Yuen Long dining room. Hoping to bring a little levity to what has been a challenging year for all of us, Ms B’s Cakery is introducing a series of six new cake designs, featuring original scenes lasered onto decorative chocolate fondant, as well as Old Master Q Cookies.
The limited-edition cakes are available in 6-inch ($1,200) or 8-inch ($1,800) versions from November 20 onwards. Ms B’s has designed three original cakes depicting the characters – Old Master Q along with his friends Big Potato and Mr Chin – in their usual array of unpredictable situations: painting and crafting on the whimsical ‘Butterflies’ cakes, taking a dip on the ‘Hot Pot’ cake, and making music on the ‘Pop Rock’ cake, no doubt playing a good old Hong Kong classic. These are available in three flavours, including an indulgent cake with banana and burnt toffee sauce, and chocolate chiffon sandwiched with grape jelly and blueberries. For a flavour just as familiar to Hongkongers as the comics, go for the red bean creme and chiffon sponge cake for nostalgia in every bite.
While we don’t begrudge you the freedom to order one of these cakes out of pure, hardcore fandom, the playfully designed cakes are certainly fit for any special occasion. If you’re looking for a cake to incorporate into your holiday festivities, for example, Ms B’s is also offering three limited-edition Christmas-themed cakes, on which you’ll find your favourite characters going ‘Xmas Shopping’, feeling ‘Happy2gether’, or embarking on some ‘Xmas Curio Adventures’. Though the striking graphics do most of the talking, underneath the cake's exterior is where you’ll find delicate flavours, including strawberry and champagne, apple chunks, and cinnamon, and chestnut cream with French vanilla. Now, all we have to do is decide which one to try first! Kate Lowe