Today and tomorrow only, LÀ LÁ Bakeshop will be giving away free slices of roll cakes to those who come into the store, after sharing why they are proud to be #VeryAsian or proud to be an ally online.
Working to continue to amplify the #VeryAsian campaign, this modern Vietnamese bakery has been constantly broadcasting their ethnic pride and hopes to use this opportunity to share their products influenced by South East Asian flavours, with more people. It's very easy to use a hashtag on social media to share your support, as evident by many social justice related events in the past, but to move this support from the digital, to the physical realm as well, is often what becomes the bigger challenge to achieve. This is what LÀ LÁ Bakeshop hopes to encourage.
The wave of #VeryAsian support online began on New Year's Day, after Korean-American news anchor Michelle Li took to Instagram to share a complaint towards her that the station received, regarding their New Year's segment in which she shared, "I ate dumpling soup, that's what a lot of Korean people do."
Despite the piece being focused on food eaten during New Year celebrations, the caller signals out Li for sharing what she ate, saying it was inappropriate, offensive and annoying that she brought up her culture.
"She's being very Asian and I don't know, she can keep her Korean to herself," states the caller.
In the now viral video, Li shares in the caption that she would love to hear others #VeryAsian food or culture stories, motivating many to actually share them, even outside of the United States.
Soon after hearing Li's story, LÀ LÁ Bakeshop on Bloor Street West posted a small sign to their door, sharing their own #VeryAsian experiences, taking a stance against some of the micro-aggressions they've faced as a #VeryAsian bakery. Focusing on the common response they get from potential customers who walk in, not expecting to see ingredients like durian, pork floss, salted egg and roasted seaweed within cakes, croissants and swiss rolls.
"I think some people they come in and they're really challenged by that and they think, oh that's not a normal bakery and then they leave," says co-founder Brian Tran in conversation with Michelle Li. "We wanted to post a little signed saying we are a very Asian bakery, we're very proud of what we carry, you're welcome to come in and have a look and hopefully you try something new."
After speaking with Tran on a video call, Li voiced her support of the new bakery's strides in sharing their pride in being #VeryAsian, and together they're making this initiative happen.
Today, they'll be giving away slices of their Salted Egg Roll Cake. Filled with buttery custard on the inside, covered in pork floss on the outside and topped with a drizzle of salted egg sauce, this cake is also their number one best seller. Tomorrow, they'll be giving away slices of their Roasted Seaweed Roll Cake, which is another popular item that's filled with custard, topped with pork floss and roasted seaweed.
"If we can amplify that message and welcome people in and encourage people to say, this is why I'm proud, I feel like that's the best result that can come of this giveaway," says Tran.
LÀ LÁ Bakeshop is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. You can pre-order your desired goods ahead of time on their website for pick up and delivery during their hours of operation as well. Follow them on Instagram for some #VeryAsian content.
