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I am simply addicted to Wife Cakes. Known commonly as "Lo Paw Bang" (meaning "Wife Cake" in Cantonese), this traditional Chinese pastry is made of winter melon, almond paste, sesame and pork lard (yes, that's what makes it so tasty!).

Legend has it there was a couple living in imperial China who loved each other very much. One day the husband's father became very sick and the couple spent all their money to treat him. But the father was still very sick so the wife sold herself as a slave in order to continue supporting her father-in-law's medical bills. Now tell me where you can find a daughter-in-law like her today!

Anyway, as soon as her husband found out about what she did, he made a cake filled with sweetened wintermelon and almond. The cake was his way of remembering his wife but it became so popular that he started selling it and was able to earn enough money to buy her back. I bet he had a few customers like me to help make that happen.

I have tried Wife Cake in all of the Chinatowns in North America, London and even at a few pastry shops in Hong Kong. My favorite ones so far are the ones sold at Double Crispy Bakery (230 Grand St.) and Golden Fung Wong Bakery (41 Mott St.) located in the Chinatown of Manhattan. When you bite into one, the outside is flaky with sesame bits and the inside is chewy but never too sweet. I just love it! Listen, if wives came in the form of a pastry, I would be married long time ago. Now just don't tell my mom about that!