The hummingbird cake
For some reason, reminds me of Ernest Hemmingway
Which is a ridiculous association.
I know
But all I can visualise is:
A dapper American gentleman from the 1920’s
Wearing a tailored waistcoat and top hat
Clean shaven
Crisp white ironed shirt (…no creases)
Black tie with a Windsor knot tucked neatly in
Eyeing a large slice of hummingbird cake in his left hand
Making him comically look miniscule in comparison
All the possible memes racing through my mind
————————————————————————————————————————————
*Bringing myself back from my ‘other’ reality’*
The sweat cooling off my back after my morning jog
The chirps of the cities’ tuk tuks swooping –
Through the chaos of Colombo’s peak time traffic
The incessant tooting drowning in organised anarchy
I tentatively walk into a tasteful colonial style building on Ward Place
Turning my back on Bedlam behind me
I immediately get slapped in the face (left cheek first)
By the rich and textured aroma of percolating coffee beans
Taking me back to leisurely mornings at Medicos in Concord, Sydney
Except for the small fact
That I am half way across the world
In exclusive Colombo 7
In Colombo 7’s inclusive café society
Where the beans are incomparable
And the baristas world class
The first sip of the creamy and rich cappuccino
I am once again slapped in the face (right cheek this time)
By the hint of sweetness from the foothills of Bologna
The caffeine rush reinvigorating my neuronal highway for the day
Pondering on my minds association with Hemmingway and the Hummingbird cake
I whip out my mobile
Damp from the ever-pervasive humidity
A quick google search answers a few gurning questions
Correct Hemmingway in fact is American
Wrong, my imagination does him a hell of a lot of justice
And the word Bedlam is derived from Bethlem Royal Hospital, the first place to specialise in the mentally ill
What exactly is a hummingbird cake? (you ask)
The hummingbird cake steeped in a “fascinating history”
Forged in the kitchens on the tropical slopes of Jamaica
Made popular in the 1970’s in the deep south of the United States
Made from vegetable oil and no butter
Due to the Great Jamaican butter shortage
Tropical fruits such as pineapples and ripe bananas mixed with cinnamon
80% of the world’s cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka
All woven together with a touch of flour
Hardly any flour is used in this recipe
Topped off with a cream cheese topping and a sprinkle of pecans to boot
HUMMINGBIRD CAKE
New to Coco Veranda
(a conveniently placed sign within eyeshot)
…Well, how about that
There is still half my cappuccino left
‘I ran this morning’ I whisper to the guilt gods
Making sure the attractive bird neighbouring doesn’t think I am schizophrenic
Fudge it
And fudge it I DO!
I sink my teeth in
Soft, delicate and smooth
Very smooth
Buttery (yet supposedly there is none)
All melting away into a thick, luscious batter charging the tastebuds
And if that wasn’t enough to tantalise
The fluffy cream cheese topping with a possible hint of citrus refreshingly cleaning the palette
ya-HUMMM!
…maybe Hemmingway devouring a Hummingbird cake isn’t so ridiculous after all.
AERATION RATING
Ambience 5/5
A lovely escape from the chaos of Colombo. Inclusive, chic and elegant.
Service 4/5
Award winning baristas who mean business serve behind the bar. Game face, smiles are few and far between. The coffee does the talking.
Value for money 4/5
Slightly on the more expensive side in terms of coffee in Colombo. However, you get what you pay for. The coffee beans imported from Bologna, Italy under the Filicor brand
Overall Aeration Rating
Very strong. The coffee at Coco Veranda opens up the pores and you will sure to be leaving ya-HUMMMING
*Photo credit to Ragulan Ketheeswaran
The Sarong Diaries 