BBC News
Welcome to the Cake Picnic, Sydney edition.
This event has rapidly gained traction worldwide, with sold-out dates in cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. Securing tickets for its upcoming gatherings in Dubai, London, and Mexico City has proven to be quite the challenge.
Now, it has arrived in Australia, following a successful Melbourne event earlier this month, which featured an impressive 1,600 cakes all at once.
"I never imagined I could go on a cake tour," reflects Elisa Sunga, the founder of Cake Picnic, who balances her time between being a part-time hobby baker and a full-time AI specialist at Google.
"It’s a unique concept—you don’t typically see cake associated with tours like you do for music."
The idea is refreshingly straightforward.
Two years ago, Sunga—who emigrated to San Francisco from Baguio City in the Philippines at the age of twelve—extended an invitation for a small gathering, stipulating that each attendee should bring a cake.
Expecting perhaps a dozen participants, she prepared seven cakes to ensure ample sharing.
To her astonishment, nearly 200 people attended, bringing over 180 cakes for enjoyment.
Her charming initiative has since created a notable buzz in the culinary world.
"It feels surreal," Sunga states. "I had no idea that so many people around the globe would share my excitement."
For cakes at the event, which is non-competitive, participants must adhere to a minimum size of 20cm (8 inches) in width and 7.5cm (3 inches) in height.
Anticipation runs high among the crowd of over 500 as they gather in Sydney's Botanic Gardens this Saturday.
As they await cake inspections—confirming the required dimensions—one might note a few sleepy-eyed faces in line.
Hilary Lindgren, 54, proudly displays her carrot cake, explaining that she and her daughter spent late hours baking.
"It was a whirlwind—a huge mess with flour and sugar everywhere—but incredibly enjoyable. With so much negativity in the world, it's refreshing to participate in something like this."
From passionate home bakers to professional chefs, influencers, and casual bakers, everyone showcases their creations on tables spread across the lush lawn, with Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge gracing the background.
However, the true marvels of this autumn morning were the intricate cakes, attracting admiration from attendees exploring exquisite designs crafted by the city's talented bakers.
Standout creations included a life-sized swan cake standing at one meter (3 feet) tall and an impressive bouquet comprised entirely of cupcakes. The dessert displays rival those typically seen in cake shop windows.
Innovative flavor combinations featured a coffee pecan torte, spiced pear sponge adorned with miso caramel, and a Persian baklava enhanced with golden, flaky filo pastry.
Various cake fillings emerged, including almond crunch and toasted pecan praline, as well as candied lemon. Unique Southeast Asian influences were evident through flavors like jackfruit and palm sugar.
Additionally, a savory focaccia cake topped with roasted tomatoes, pesto, and feta icing delighted attendees, a novel offering that Sunga wholeheartedly appreciates.
"When surrounded by an abundance of sweet cakes, it's natural to crave something salty," she remarks.
Recalling her upbringing in the Philippines, Sunga admits her household emphasized savory dishes, with desserts typically limited to sticky rice and tropical fruits.
"It wasn't until I began attending after-school parties in California that I discovered cakes, doughnuts, and brownies," she reveals. "The exuberance of Cake Picnic likely stems from my desire to indulge in these treats."
With a workweek immersed in AI, Sunga finds fulfillment in creating something tangible.
"Engaging in a hands-on creative process feels almost meditative."
Moreover, a picnic fosters social connections and encourages face-to-face interactions.
"While AI can accomplish increasingly impressive tasks, it still cannot bake a cake—at least not yet. Cake Picnic compels individuals to venture outside and enjoy a day in the sun."
Once the cakes are arranged, snapshots are taken, recipes exchanged, and compliments offered, small groups then enthusiastically dive into the cake bounty before them, racing against the clock to fill pizza boxes with as many cake slices as possible.
Some head straight for a popular matcha-strawberry cake, while others make a beeline for the tres leches.
Eunice Lim, a Sydney influencer with Singaporean roots, captures a selfie with Sunga as she balances her delectable assortment of desserts crammed into a pizza box.
"It’s vibrant and welcoming here," Eunice expresses. "There’s a sense of freedom—everyone's diverse cakes are part of the celebration."
Nearby, under a fig tree, Marcus Ehrlich, 42, enjoys cake with his wife, Kelly Ehrlich, 48, a passionate baker who contributed a blueberry and blood orange cake.
"In a large city, events like this are essential," Marcus states while sampling pandan and ube cakes.
Tanya Mouchawrab, 37, along with her daughters Lily, 13, and Ivy, 11, dedicated their previous night to crafting a trio of cakes: lemon, red velvet, and a rainbow creation.
"We simply adore cake," Ivy exclaims, noting how enjoyable it is to bake alongside her mother and sister.
Among the youngest cake enthusiasts, six-year-old Matilda helped her mother, Jasmin Gelsana, 36, decorate a store-bought cake, proudly declaring: "I’m a good eater, not a baker."
From delicate chiffon cakes to rich indulgences, Australian-themed cakes also captivated participants, including a towering koala cake crafted by Reg Leones, 40, incorporating Filipino flavors of ube and leche flan, which took three days to complete.
As guests collected slices of their preferred cakes in large boxes, they settled down to savor their selections.
Associate Professor Lindsay Kelley, who research food and technology, describes the appeal of a cake picnic based on its design.
"Cakes, unlike muffins, cupcakes, or biscuits, are inherently made to be sliced and shared," she explains. "When we encounter a whole cake at gatherings, it signifies that everyone at the table is included in the sharing experience."
This shared experience propels Sunga as she continues to generate excitement through Cake Picnic.
"At a concert, the audience tends to be homogenous in age," she observes. "Yet at Cake Picnic, there's remarkable variety."
"It’s a joy to witness such an array of people coming together," she adds.
As she manages a full-time career alongside her baking endeavors, Sunga relishes the ability to pursue both interests.
"I’m fascinated by technology and AI, but simultaneously, I yearn for creative expression and the enjoyment of cake," she concludes.
"I aspire to have my cake and enjoy it, too."
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