Ciao Wheel – © @marine_meudec
It's the Proust madeleine of the Taiwanese (and Japanese) and it's also a little culinary marvel. Coming from the big island in the China Sea, wheel cake is a sweet treat that Taiwanese or Japanese children enjoy after school.
Imagawayaki or obanyaki - that's its name in Asia - is a small stuffed pancake. The batter is poured into a hollow cast iron pan whose hollows form relatively thick “wheels”. Which gives this specialty a consistency between a soft pancake and a crispy waffle on the outside.
Wheel cake – Ciao Roue – © @c.rosenstrauch
In its sweet version, this delicacy is filled with chocolate spread, pastry cream or, more authentically, sweet red bean paste, sesame, matcha, chestnut or taro cream (a kind of purple sweet potato) etc. . From 4€
In a setting that resembles a light wooden school room, Ciao, a young Taiwanese woman has opened a small shop, dedicated to wheel cake (sweet or savory) in the discreet rue de Montmorency.
Wheel cake – Ciao Roue
“This project appeared to me during confinement, I cooked a lot of wheel cakes for my loved ones. Very quickly, I wanted to show off my “Proust madeleine”. My mother gave me her blessing and my husband helped me get started,” says this former recruiter (Talent Acquisition Specialist) who headhunted for start-ups.
The wheel cake is accompanied by Japanese lemonade, coffee or tea (you are entitled to a small ceremony) and is available in savory options: marinated turnip, vegetarian, dry pork, ham and cheese.
From 4 €
▼ Ciao wheel
3 rue de Montmorency 75003
Thursday to Sunday 13 p.m. to 19 p.m.
Wheel cake – Ciao Roue
Text: Katia Barillot
15.04.22
