Historic Bay Area Restaurant 7 Mile House Is Hosting Its Third Annual Ube Baking Competition | Eater SF

"In Brisbane, CA I visited the historic 7 Mile House, built in 1889 (it was a toll gate before) and now owned by Vanessa Garcia, the restaurant’s eighth owner, who—proud of her Filipino heritage—started the Ube BakeOff in 2019 to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month. Now in its third year (running October 12–17), the contest brings customers in to sample ube treats from four competitors: Ava Marie Romero with ube madelines, pop-up bakery Made by Grace with mo’ube mochi bars, custom cake baker Novela Bakes with ube kouign amann, and Sweet Pipers with ube buko pie; for $16 diners can order a dine-in-only sampler (four small portions) purchased from the bakers, receive two ranked voting ballots with a feedback section, and help choose a winner who receives a $100 7 Mile gift card and placement on the menu for a month. Garcia says the contest began to highlight ube and Filipino culture but during the pandemic shifted to supporting pandemic-born small businesses—this year all four contestants are cottage bakers or operate out of commercial kitchens—and she notes that last year’s winner, Aleli Crutchfield, saw such demand for her ube tres leches cake that it never came off the menu and has generated at least $10,000 in sales. The event grows each year (40 samplers the first year, 80 last year, 130 this year) and culminates in a Great British Bake Off–style finale on October 20 at 6 p.m.; Garcia intends to keep it an annual tradition because it’s about more than food—it’s about the restaurant’s history and service." - Paolo Bicchieri