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Written by Katie Weinner/special to the World
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Monday, 22 May 2006 |
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 “You’ll get worms if you eat too much cake batter!”
Ah, the memories of baking with mom.
My mom was the master cake maker. Birthdays included cakes that resembled cabbage patch dolls, snowboarders, President Mikhail Gorbachev, and many more. These theme cakes were edible pieces of art and always the highlight of our birthdays.
Although Mother’s Day was a week ago, I wanted to wish my mom, the great baker, a special Mother’s Day wish. Her baking influenced and inspired my happiness as a pastry chef and more importantly my love for cooking. Thanks mom!
Unfortunately, for hungry cake-adorning Lake Tahoe Residents (and especially me) my mom lives in Minnesota. But there is a charming cake-creating solution, the Tahoe House Bakery and Gourmet.
This Swiss-influenced “Mom and Pop” family bakery has been fattening up Tahoe residents since 1977. I stand by their “Best Coffee on the Lake” 100 percent with daily, sometimes bi-daily coffee breaks. With my own birthday only weeks away I know exactly who will be making my cake.
There are numerous occasions calling for a cake (a bad hair day perhaps?), but the one day demanding cake is a birthday. Even the ancient Greeks realized the importance of birthday cake.
Although history doesn’t have evidence of Presidential or doll-shaped cakes, round cakes resembling the moon were recorded as the first cakes. Burning candles placed upon the moon-shaped cake were offered to the Goddess of the Moon. The smoke from the candles carried the Greek’s wishes and prayers to the Gods.
This belief reflects the current tradition of trying to blow out all of the candles in one breath while making a birthday wish. If you’re wishing for a miniature Tiramisu or Chocolate Mousse Cake, your wish has come true.
The Tahoe House has wonderful “mini” individual cakes which are perfect for couples or small parties celebrating a special occasion together. With the same incredible richness of a regular-sized cake, these petite indulgences are the sweet-solution to an intimate gathering. For under $5 you can have your cake and eat it to, unless you’re at a 17th century wedding where you have your cake and throw it to.
 With wedding season in full swing what better time than now to learn a little wedding cake trivia. Originally, the wedding cake was not eaten by the bride, but thrown at her. Evolving a little from this tradition, the notion of breaking wheat loaves — wheat being a symbol of fertility and prosperity — over the couple’s head. Guests were encouraged to eat the fallen crumbs for good luck. It was also believed that single women scrambled for the grains to ensure their own betrothals (much like the throwing of the bouquet). Women of the 17th century slept with a piece of wedding cake under their pillow hoping to dream of their future spouse. Wow, hide a tooth for money and a piece of cake for a husband! Chances are if you’re eating a wedding cake from the Tahoe House there will be no leftovers to hide.
Barbara Vogt, the wedding cake maker at the Tahoe House has been baking cakes since she was 10 years old. The Swiss ingredients Barbara uses combined with the numerous flavors such as Strawberries and Cream or Tiramisu will ensure your cake wishes come true. She can make you the ideal “Tahoe” cake with no bells and whistles, but pinecones and evergreens.
Now, with everything from sandwiches, salads, sauces, and bread the Tahoe House had baked its way into the hearts and stomachs of many Tahoe residents. The Tahoe House is located on Highway 89 1/2 mile south of the Tahoe City “Y”. You can also check out their Web site at www.tahoe-house.com.
Happy Eating.
Photos by Ryan Salm/Tahoe World
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 23 May 2006 )
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