GetCakes by Enze is an online cake bakery established in 2020. It exclusively operates online, offering convenient choices of either delivery or pickup from their Ryde-based kitchen. Apart from crafting custom cakes, they offer a curated assortment of Mini Bento Cakes designed for two, a small group, or as a personal indulgence. We picked up two to try.
Umeshu Matcha & Cherries Mini Bento Cake ($18.00), with ‘Japanese ume fruit liqueur & jasmine tea infused mousse topped with matcha cream on a bed of cherry compote and [a] chiffon base’.
This dessert had a soft and lightweight texture. The matcha layer provided an enjoyable experience with its mellow, grassy green tea notes, free from any bitterness. However, the white mousse layer, which was meant to contain umeshu and jasmine tea, did not distinctly carry these flavours. Instead, it resembled fresh whipped cream. The whole ume atop the cake, while visually appealing, was unpleasantly hard with the smoky sourness found in Chinese suan mei tang rather than the softer, more vibrant plums in Japanese umeshu, rendering it merely decorative. The two jelly cubes contributed a subtle, unsweetened toasted Chinese green tea flavour, but the cake could have benefited from many more to provide a stronger contrast to the overall softness and sweetness. The cherry compote introduced a complementary fruity element, although a bolder tartness would have been appreciated to offset the sweetness of the other layers. A more pronounced umeshu presence could have also provided a better balance between sweetness, fresh acidity, and subtle booziness. While visually appealing, this dessert’s flavours left room for improvement.
Sweet Osmanthus & Fermented Rice Mini Bento Cake ($19.00), with ‘sweet and floral osmanthus honey infused cream and jelly paired with grains of fragrant fermented rice on top of [a] cotton chiffon’.
The dessert components were as described, featuring osmanthus flowers in both the jelly and the cream, lending a mild apricot-like honey sweetness. Grains of fermented rice were also visible in the cream, offering a subtle alcoholic sake-like hint identical to jiǔniàng that balanced the sweetness. The even distribution of osmanthus and fermented rice allowed both flavours to shine. The jelly’s firm bounce contrasted nicely with the cream’s softness and the sponge’s pillowy lightness. The generous sprinkle of osmanthus provided texture and emphasized the intended cake flavour. This cake achieved a better balance of textures and flavours compared to the previous one, making it a worthwhile choice for revisiting.
The kitchen and pick-up for GetGakes by Enze is located at Shop 2, 723-731 Victoria Rd, Ryde NSW 2112.