Welcome to Cake Picnic, Sydney edition. It's the viral event that's already sold out dates in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. Tickets in Dubai, London, and Mexico City were harder to come by than a double-yolk egg. And now, it has landed on Australian shores, with a Melbourne event earlier this month boasting 1,600 cakes in one sitting.
I had no idea that I could ever go on tour for cake, laughs Cake Picnic founder Elisa Sunga, part-time hobby baker and full-time Google employee. People go on tour for music and whatnot, but for cake? It just seems so whimsical and delightful to be able to do that.
Two years ago, Sunga - who moved to San Francisco from the Philippines - posted an online invitation for a small gathering with a simple request: everyone must bring a cake. To her amazement, close to 200 people came with more than 180 cakes devoured. Her simple summons has since created a global phenomenon.
At the Sydney Cake Picnic, more than 500 attendees gathered in the Royal Botanic Garden, showcasing cakes that must be at least 20cm wide and 7.5cm tall. From amateur bakers to professionals, participants presented an array of colorful, whimsical creations, including towering cake displays that elicited gasps of wonder from onlookers.
A crowd favorite included cake creations inspired by diverse culinary backgrounds, featuring flavors ranging from matcha-strawberry to pandan and ube. The event served not only as a platform for culinary creativity but as a community event celebrating shared experiences and connections.
Sunga reflected on her journey: It feels unreal. I had no idea that thousands of people all over the world would be as excited as I am. Cake Picnic forces people to not only come outside but spend a day on the grass, sharing delightful moments over baked goods.
As participants collected slices of their favorite cakes in boxes, they reveled in the vibrant atmosphere of the Cake Picnic, proving that baking is truly a communal act that brings people together, transcending generational and cultural barriers.
I had no idea that I could ever go on tour for cake, laughs Cake Picnic founder Elisa Sunga, part-time hobby baker and full-time Google employee. People go on tour for music and whatnot, but for cake? It just seems so whimsical and delightful to be able to do that.
Two years ago, Sunga - who moved to San Francisco from the Philippines - posted an online invitation for a small gathering with a simple request: everyone must bring a cake. To her amazement, close to 200 people came with more than 180 cakes devoured. Her simple summons has since created a global phenomenon.
At the Sydney Cake Picnic, more than 500 attendees gathered in the Royal Botanic Garden, showcasing cakes that must be at least 20cm wide and 7.5cm tall. From amateur bakers to professionals, participants presented an array of colorful, whimsical creations, including towering cake displays that elicited gasps of wonder from onlookers.
A crowd favorite included cake creations inspired by diverse culinary backgrounds, featuring flavors ranging from matcha-strawberry to pandan and ube. The event served not only as a platform for culinary creativity but as a community event celebrating shared experiences and connections.
Sunga reflected on her journey: It feels unreal. I had no idea that thousands of people all over the world would be as excited as I am. Cake Picnic forces people to not only come outside but spend a day on the grass, sharing delightful moments over baked goods.
As participants collected slices of their favorite cakes in boxes, they reveled in the vibrant atmosphere of the Cake Picnic, proving that baking is truly a communal act that brings people together, transcending generational and cultural barriers.
