Cake Researcher

Little things I love

We turned cake-making into something that looks like a movie.



Of course, these beautiful shots were filmed by .nl. Huge thanks to Olivia for joining us in New York and capturing all the chaotic behind-the-scenes moments that every baker knows so well—running around in a panic, turning the kitchen upside down… and who else would think of using a suction-cup hook as a flower nail? 😂

Chef Du , we’ll see each other again next time, either somewhere in Europe or in Chengdu. 😆

Taking a little break from writing papers to make a joyful cake.

A lot of the tiny cake decorations are made by my daughter’s little hands .mini.artist . Sometimes I’m amazed by the level of detail and patience she has, something even adults struggle to achieve 🥰

While visiting a few universities in the US, I took the chance to spend the weekend in New York and finally meet Chef Du, whose videos I’ve really enjoyed for a long time. These days I can’t even watch his videos while eating or drinking because I always end up laughing too hard.

I showed up in New York empty-handed, and over the past two days we sourced everything locally. We wandered through markets looking for unusual flowers, fruits, and ingredients, which is totally my style 😂 In the end, we created a cake together. We’ll each edit our own version of the experience, so I’m excited to see how the videos turn out. 😆

Between the two of us, we have more than a million followers on Xiaohongshu. To be fair though, most of them belong to Chef Du. 😂

These two days have been so much fun. I kept watching Chef Du’s videos on my phone, then looked up and realized he was sitting right next to me, making me laugh even more in real life. It honestly felt surreal. You spend so much time watching someone through a screen, and then suddenly you’re wandering through markets, baking, and chatting together as if you’ve known each other for years. We definitely should have met sooner, but thankfully it’s not too late. ❤️

A huge thank you to Olivia .nl for coming to New York with us and capturing so many beautiful moments. So many memories from this trip exist because you were behind the camera. ❤️

Last month, Terra Gallery celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Ever since I first arrived in the Netherlands, the gallery owners, Simone and Joke, have been dear friends to me, more like family, really. My daughter even affectionately calls them “grandmas.” Through them, I have witnessed a kind of vitality that refuses to be defined by age. What does it matter if you are 70? You can still keep creating, still cycle 2,000 kilometers during the summer holidays, and still remain curious and enthusiastic about the world.

The 40th anniversary celebration took place in Delft’s Old Church. Artist friends traveled from all over the world to join the occasion, and the church was filled to capacity with warmth, laughter, and celebration.

Ten years ago, Terra’s 30th anniversary was held in the same church. This year, many artists who came to the celebration again found themselves reflecting on how quickly time passes. In what feels like the blink of an eye, another decade has gone by, yet it has been a decade filled with creativity, friendships, and meaningful work.

I also made a small cake for the celebration and shared it with artist friends who had traveled all the way from China (@红脸蛋蔷薇 @一森泥社 @李振).

I have known Wenna ( ) for 11 years. Back in 2015, she created a two-story-high mural in Delft, and I was one of her enthusiastic “coloring assistants.” Over the years, every time we meet, our conversations always revolve around two things: food and creativity.

Whenever I see Wenna, I am struck by the natural, otherworldly quality she carries with her. She seems untouched by the noise and pressures of everyday life, as if she inhabits the very mythological world she creates. Perhaps that is why she is able to bring so many unforgettable immortals, spirits, and magical beings to life in her art.

I tested 6 different kinds of Chinese matcha

My talented friend custom-made a pair of cherry blossom earrings to match my pink-vibe dresses. Check her profile for more handmade crochet jewelries!