My Liliko’i Opera Cake Makes a Fine Christmas Dessert

Liliko’i opera cake features 6 layers from Daylight Mind Bakery.

Let’s make one thing clear upfront — I did not personally create this liliko’i opera cake. In fact, I could barely order it because I had no idea what type of cake I requested. I’ve had a slice of liliko’i cake many years ago, and I loved it. Liliko’i is passion fruit. When my neighbor down the street invited me to Christmas dinner, she suggested I bring a dish I like. I figured I could find a liliko’i cake in Kailua-Kona. I’ve seen it at Costco. Except when I was there looking for it.

It is not really of Hawaiian origin, though. Liliko’i opera cake originated in Paris when I was three years old, in 1955. The story goes that the baker’s wife mentioned the cake reminded her of the opera. So he named it opéra gâteau. But there are many stories about the origin of opera cakes. None of which I knew when I entered Daylight Mind Bakery in Kona to order my cake.

The baker at the counter seemed a bit confused when I asked for the cake. She had a bunch of questions such as what type of liliko’i cake? Um, are there different kinds? I did not know.

With great conviction I replied: A traditional liliko’i.

So, layered, then?

Yes, layered.

For how many people?

5 or 6.

Do you want it in slices?

No. Just a layered liliko’i cake.

A few days after I ordered the cake, I relayed the story to my manicurist and asked if I had done something wrong. The woman next to her, not the least bit worried about eavesdropping, leaned over to put in her two cents:  the employees are new and don’t know what they are doing. How does she know the people who work at the bakery, I wondered, only for a moment, though. We have about 12,000 people who live in Kona.

Well, I didn’t see the cake when I went to pick it up yesterday. It was in a box, and they never opened the box and, in fact, struggled a bit with ringing it up. One would think they would want to make sure the customer got what she ordered and there would be some sort of elaborate presentation involved. But no, they just handed me the cake in the box. Oh, this is just how Hawaii is. No fussing around, and that’s just fine.

Very gingerly, I carried the liliko’i opera cake into my house. Opened the lid. Wow, what was this thing? There was no chiffon, no whipped cream, just a flat stacked cake, like maybe it was downsized from that Matt Damon movie? I carefully removed it from the box to study the creation.

The more I stared at this liliko’i opera cake, the more I enjoyed the artistry that went into this piece of work. There is sponge almond cake, chocolate, something crunchy, buttercream and maybe a mousse, including a liliko’i glaze on top. I can’t wait to taste it. This is far more beautiful and gorgeous than a chiffon cake.

Hopefully I won’t drop the champagne nor the liliko’i opera cake on my way to the neighbor’s today.

Mele Kalikimaka!