A heather color day, overcast sky and a spoonful of fog at lake Toftavatn. The autumnal setting of the gem, made of heather varieties and deep brown mounds. An enchanted place in the very south of Eysturoy; the fourth largest lake, the largest moorland area of the Faroe Islands. A little later, not very far from the lake, in a Faroese kitchen, pretty much the same colors, and a collection of books on a shelf, about cookies, cupcakes and desserts. The wall of inspiration, designed by Ranvá Knudsen, pedagogue and passionate baker.
She didn’t plan it. It just happened. “About seven years ago, I was baking a birthday cake. I felt that it had to be something special, so I ended up with a colorful, round cake, decorated with sugar flowers. After that, I wanted to learn everything about baking. I spent hours, days on Instagram and YouTube.“ When Ranvá considered herself to be ready, she took action, by setting up her own online presence: Ranvá’s Dream Cakes.
On Dreymakøkurnar hjá Ranvá, she shares pictures, recipes now and then, always creativity, her work, which is still a hobby, notwithstanding that she gets a lot of requests. Occasionally, she does commissional work, Ranvá tells me while she brings the striped tray with the ingredients for the chocolate chip cookies, bowls filled with brown chocolate, brown sugar, and so on. Shortly afterwards, the baking tray is covered with blobs of cookie dough.
It’s cozy in Ranvá’s kitchen, the oven temperature perfect, the most tempting flavor smellable already. The chocolate chip cookies taste delicious, Ranvá’s summer cheese cake dessert is just heavenly as well. Ranvá loves having guests, it’s not just baking she does, it’s baked love, and a deep passion for sharing something that’s home-made. Cookies. Dessert. Rhubarb jam. Or a cake. “We Faroese love a good cake. That’s our way to make people feel welcome.“
The best thing about baking? “The sharing. And the happy faces I get to see.“ Together with a friend, Ranvá has published a little cookbook a while ago. At present, she is toying with the idea of launching a small, charming, welcoming place in Runavík, not far from the enchanted lake. Maybe, maybe not. Either way, Ranvá will be baking and creating. Unicorn cupcakes. Raspberry mousse tart. Ice cream confectionary. From a Faroese kitchen with love.
Toftavatn is a natural preserve; stay on the paths. Dreymakøkurnar hjá Ranvá is on Facebook: Ranvá’s Dream Cakes