“They must not be eaten dainty flake by dainty flake, but inhaled with gusto like life itself”, instructs Mark Ruffalo’s character in last year’s critically acclaimed Poor Things. If you’re like me, you found this pastry just as intriguing as the movie’s eclectic costuming and steampunk world. The curious history of these Portuguese egg tarts is even more entrancing and globe-trotting than Emma Stone’s protagonist, Bella Baxter.
My goal of this weekly blog is to take you on a whimsical dive into the origin stories of baked goods like these egg tarts. We’ll sail around the world and jump back centuries to look at how these tasty treats came to be. Then you’ll virtually join me, as I recreate the recipes in my own kitchen!
We’ll explore international relations through the lens of baked goods, with stories such as:
- How the laundry habits of Portuguese nuns led to custard tarts in Hong Kong shops
- How a touring Russian ballerina prompted a centuries long dispute between Australia and New Zealand
- How a chocolate truffle sold to fundraise for a presidential campaign became a beloved Brazilian treat
Food is the oldest and most influential form of soft power. By studying how food and politics have interacted throughout history, we can facilitate future positive international exchange.
