Food has long been used as a tool for building friendships, fostering cultural exchange, and strengthening international ties. One such example comes from Romania.
It all began in 1920, when the renowned French Marshal Joseph Joffre arrived in Bucharest at the invitation of King Ferdinand I of Romania and Queen Marie of Romania. He came to award the monarch the prestigious French Military Medal and to strengthen relations between the two countries after World War I.
In honour of his visit, confectioner Grigore Capsa, official supplier to the Romanian Royal Court and one of the most prominent culinary masters of the early 20th century, decided to create a special dessert. He crafted a cake using butter, sugar, biscuits, eggs, flour, and cocoa, and coated it with a rich, glossy chocolate glaze, enhanced with rum and vanilla.
The cake’s cylindrical shape was inspired by the hat worn by French officers. Its small size was also intentional, as Marshal Joffre suffered from diabetes and had to limit his sugar intake.
Once served in his honour, the cake quickly became a sensation among Bucharest’s elite. Before long, it was also offered in restaurants and pastry shops in France.
The recipe has remained unchanged for over a century, and the “Joffre” cake established itself as a symbol of diplomacy in Romania during the interwar period.
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