Abstract
While Australians and New Zealanders have long debated which country invented the pavlova – a large meringue dessert cake said to emulate the lightness of the famous ballerina Anna Pavlova – the real story behind the dessert has often been overlooked.
In The Pavlova Story, Helen Leach traces the origins of the pavlova, from the ballerina’s visit to the Antipodes to the emergence of three distinct pavlova types. Along the way, she uncovers the contributions of a gelatine manufacturer, a Dunedin spinster and numerous inventive New Zealand housewives.
This fascinating work of culinary history shows how creative cooks shaped and reshaped the recipe, transforming a fashionable afternoon tea cake into New Zealand’s most iconic dessert.