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's 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, a part-time hobby baker and full-time Google employee specializing in AI. Sunga posted an online invite for a small gathering two years ago, asking everyone to bring a cake. To her amazement, close to 200 people turned up with more than 180 cakes devoured.
Now, more than 500 people gathered for the event in Sydney's Botanic Gardens, with cakes inspected according to the size requirements of 20cm wide and 7.5cm high. Enthusiasts, including home bakers and professionals, presented creations that dazzled the eye and delighted the palate.
The range of desserts was extraordinary. From towering multi-layer cakes to intricate cupcakes, and even savory offerings like focaccia cake, the event highlighted culinary creativity. As cakes were laid out for inspection, participants enthusiastically prepared to sample each other's creations.
'It's nice to do something like this,' said one participant who spent the night baking with her daughter. Sunga's vision of not just sharing sweets but fostering community is evident, attracting a diverse crowd that spans ages and backgrounds. The joy of baking and the celebration of cake have brought people together like never before, as they enjoy the creativity and connection this event fosters.
The event is not only about cake but also about the social connections it creates. 'AI can do an increasingly terrifying amount of things, but it can't bake a cake. Cake Picnic forces people to come outside and enjoy the day,' Sunga notes, emphasizing the importance of tangible experiences in today’s digital world. The day culminates in participants enjoying their collected slices of cake, proving that this sweet picnic is more than just an event; it's a celebration of community, creativity, and joy.
'I had no idea that I could ever go on tour for cake,' laughs Cake Picnic founder Elisa Sunga, a part-time hobby baker and full-time Google employee specializing in AI. Sunga posted an online invite for a small gathering two years ago, asking everyone to bring a cake. To her amazement, close to 200 people turned up with more than 180 cakes devoured.
Now, more than 500 people gathered for the event in Sydney's Botanic Gardens, with cakes inspected according to the size requirements of 20cm wide and 7.5cm high. Enthusiasts, including home bakers and professionals, presented creations that dazzled the eye and delighted the palate.
The range of desserts was extraordinary. From towering multi-layer cakes to intricate cupcakes, and even savory offerings like focaccia cake, the event highlighted culinary creativity. As cakes were laid out for inspection, participants enthusiastically prepared to sample each other's creations.
'It's nice to do something like this,' said one participant who spent the night baking with her daughter. Sunga's vision of not just sharing sweets but fostering community is evident, attracting a diverse crowd that spans ages and backgrounds. The joy of baking and the celebration of cake have brought people together like never before, as they enjoy the creativity and connection this event fosters.
The event is not only about cake but also about the social connections it creates. 'AI can do an increasingly terrifying amount of things, but it can't bake a cake. Cake Picnic forces people to come outside and enjoy the day,' Sunga notes, emphasizing the importance of tangible experiences in today’s digital world. The day culminates in participants enjoying their collected slices of cake, proving that this sweet picnic is more than just an event; it's a celebration of community, creativity, and joy.
