It's a chocolate ganache cake with a difference! Joao De Almeida is a skilled pastry chef, originally from Portugal. His expertise in making authentic cakes and sweets from his homeland is now on display in Sydney’s Little Portugal, at John’s (Joao’s) café/bakery, Sweet Belem.

The name Belem refers to the waterfront neighbourhood in Lisbon which is most famous for its “pastel de Belem” – the gorgeous, flakey, eggy pastries we know as “Portuguese custard tarts” or “pasteis de nata”. It’s believed this delicacy was first created by the monks at a Belem monastery and is now found at a famous café/bakery in Rua de Belém 84-8, Lisbon.

Of all John’s creations, the Rosa de Morango e Chocolate (Strawberry Rose Cake) is one of the most spectacular. John describes the inspiration behind this chocolate ganache cake with the extravagant pink curls as: “The chocolate represents warmth and the strawberries, something wild!”