Tompouce
A tompouce (also tompoes [ ˈtɔmpuˑs ]) is a typical Dutch cake . It consists of a layer of puff pastry with a thick layer of vanilla cream . On top of this is another layer of puff pastry. It is covered with a mostly pink glaze . On King's Day and on the occasion of important football matches of the Dutch national team , the glaze usually has the national color of the Dutch: orange . The "brick shape" is characteristic of the tompouce.
History of the name
Allegedly, the tompouce was initially offered in a bakery in Amsterdam when Phineas Taylor Barnum's circus from the USA performed there. There, the small-stature Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-1883) appeared as a sensation , who led the stage name "General Tom Thumb". A few years later, the small January Hannema (1839–1878) appeared under the name "Admiral Tom Pouce" in the Netherlands. He was probably inspired by his American colleague when choosing a name. Pouce is French for "thumb". Both names refer to a fairy tale character known in German as “ Däumling ” from the Grimm fairy tales.
Comparable cakes
The tompouce is an imitation of the mille-feuille known in France , which spread over Europe in the course of the Napoleonic conquests. A very similar German pastry therefore bears the name Napoleon cuts , in Poland it is called Napoleonka . In Austria it is called cream slice , a classic in the Austrian, especially the Viennese confectionery.
Web links
- Eerbetoon aan de Tompoes: rijk, zacht en zoet . 17 February 2012, in Dutch.