London’s Asian Dessert Collective Bakes Up a Storm for Sri Lankan Charity

The #AsianDessertExchange, a collective founded as a postal exchange by Jenny Lau in the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue its new calling to raise funds in solidarity for urgent causes with a dessert box fundraiser.

Available for collection at Hackney’s E5 Bakehouse on 29 May, proceeds from the randomly assorted boxes — that could feature basbousa, bibingka, mochi, zongzi, sanwinmakin, ondeh ondeh, kueh seri muka, kueh lapis, muthiya, and countless more — will go to Community Meal Share, a Sri Lankan charity providing food aid during the country’s current economic crisis.

The roster of bakers for this box includes supper club specialists the Rangoon Sisters and Adobros; Gurdeep Loyal, of Mother Tongue; and Lau herself; it is the collective’s second fundraiser, following an event in solidarity with survivors of Typhoon Odette, in the Philippines. Lau said that “this is the direction I’m trying to steer the baking collective in, as an exercise in true pan-Asian solidarity and supporting causes outside of our ‘bubbles’ and newsfeeds.”

Covent Garden gets a new rooftop bar

German group Amano has done the decent thing and stuck a terrace on top of itself.

In review...

Jimi Famurewa wants a little more vice to go with the virtue at Chantelle Nicholson’s new restaurant, Apricity.

Pigs need Tesco to fly

The rise in pork production costs occasioned by Russia’s attack on Ukraine is putting farmers under pressure, and one of their biggest clients isn’t helping.