Cake — How we ice and slice our memories
About this episode
This episode explores the history and cultural significance of celebration cakes, featuring insights from various guests.
What would a birthday or a wedding be without cake? Celebration cakes are a signifier of occasion, sometimes requiring superhuman effort to bake and decorate. We explore the surprisingly recent history of the celebration cake, uncovering the role of the British royal family, The Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book, and our evolving relationship with time itself. Guests: Christopher Thé , founder of Black Star Pastry and Hearthe , author of Modern Australian Baking Alysa Levene, food historian and author of Cake: A Slice of History Pamela Clark, co-author of The Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book KC Hysmith , food writer and historian The interview with Pamela Clark was recorded by Tall Story Films. This episode was originally broadcast on June 7, 2025. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.
People in this episode
Guests: Christopher Thé, Alysa Levene, Pamela Clark, KC Hysmith
Topics covered
- celebration cakes
- history of cake
- cultural significance
- baking
- food history
Keywords
- cake
- celebration
- baking history
- food culture
- Australian baking
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Black Star Pastry, The Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book, Every Bite
Places: Australia, Wurundjeri, Kulin Nation
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