May West facts for kids
A May West is a yummy round cake with a creamy filling inside. It was first made in Canada, and it's still super popular, especially in the province of Quebec. Today, these cakes are made by Vachon Inc., which is part of Canada Bread.
The cake was first named "Mae West" after a famous movie star. But in the 1980s, the spelling was changed to "May West."
What is a May West?
A May West is a sweet treat that's shaped like a circle. It has a soft cake outside and a delicious, creamy center. People in Quebec really love this snack!
How the May West Was Born
The May West cake was invented by a talented person named René Brousseau. He was a patissier, which is a fancy word for a pastry chef. René Brousseau worked at a bakery called Vaillancourt Inc. in Quebec City.
Who Made Them?
By 1932, another company called Stuart Ltd started making May West cakes. This company was run by the Allard family from Montreal. Later, in 1979, a company called Vachon Inc. bought Stuart Ltd. Vachon Inc. was a big competitor of Stuart Ltd for a long time.
For a while, Vachon Inc. kept selling the cakes under the Stuart brand name. But eventually, they decided to put all their cakes under the Vachon brand. So now, you'll see them as Vachon May Wests!
The Changing Taste
When the May West cake was first made, its creamy filling was a custard. Custard is a rich, creamy dessert made with eggs and milk.
However, over time, the filling was changed. Now, the May West has a vanilla-flavored cream that's made with shortening. This new filling tastes and feels a lot like the cream inside Twinkies.
