gateau marie - The Sweetest Part of Assumption Day

Every year, sometime around late July, Mauritians around the world start getting an itch.
Not the hay fever kind - the “Have you ordered a Gateau Marie yet?” kind.

A bit of background

Did you know that 15th August is a public holiday in Mauritius where we celebrate the Assumption Day of Mary, also known as Fête de l'Assomption. It marks the day Catholics celebrate the Virgin Mary's ascension into heaven. How is it celebrated? Every family have their own traditions, but here are some popular Mauritian customs that we grew up with - Church in the morning, feast in the afternoon, beach if weather is good, wear a blue outfit, and sugar in the form of Gateau Marie always. If you ask around, you'll find that the name Marie or Mary is a very popular girl's name in Mauritius, and since it's the celebration of Virgin Mary, every girl named Marie or Mary gets to be served the first piece of the Gateau Marie. Oh and let's not forget the napolitaines... They also get a blue makeover that day, instead of being their usual pink colour.

​What’s A Gateau Marie?

Also called Gato Marie or Gateau La Vierge, everybody has their own interpretation and flavours for the cake, but the only requirement is it has to be blue! At The Whisktakers we love a nice almond buttercake (pâte d'amande) coated in a delicious white & blue meringue buttercream. It’s honestly one of our favourite things to do - partly because of the deep cultural meaning, partly because we love the piping challenge, and mostly because we get to see how excited everyone gets when they see it in our display fridge. Gateau Marie isn’t just about flavour - it’s about connection. It’s a sweet little reminder of home, of values, of our mums and grandmas and aunties or specialty bakeries who piped those tiny blue rosettes with care. It’s not overly fancy. No tiers. No hidden fillings. No 12-step baking process. But wow, it's a must-eat on 15th August.

​Every Family Has a Story

Some people make their Gateau Marie from scratch every year, with three generations in the kitchen and someone inevitably fighting about icing tips.
​Others swing by the local bakery or order it from “that place that makes the really good ones.”
Some freeze a slice to eat months later, and some forget to order and go full meltdown because “Assumption Day without Gateau Marie is like Eid without briyani or Christmas without a bûche de Noël.”
And honestly? Fair enough.

​Why It Matters (Even If You're Living Overseas)

When you're far from home - whether you're in Melbourne, Perth, Canada, England (I'm just listing places where I have relatives at this point lol) - that one bite of Gateau Marie can hit like a hug from your childhood. Even though it is a Catholic holy day, it is a festive day celebrated by various communities irrespective of our religious beliefs. This is one of the very beauties of our island - as one people, as one nation. It's a day to celebrate faith, family, and food. And while we can’t recreate the warm island breeze or your uncle’s off-key singing during mass, we can help bring the nostalgia to your dessert table. And every year our bakery in Melbourne gets super busy in mid August as we get ready to bake our version of Gateau Marie, the traditional blue cake that every Mauritian knows. 

So if you are Googling:

• What is Gateau Marie?
• Where can I find Gato Marie in Melbourne?
• Why do Mauritians eat this blue and white cake every August?
• What’s that almond cake I used to eat at my grandma’s house?
• Is it normal to cry over my piping skills?

...this is your answer.
It’s not fancy. It’s not trending. But it’s available at our shop! 


Date: 14th or 15th August (every year)
Address: 8 Wally Place, Lynbrook, Melbourne (THE WHISKTAKERS)
Flavour: Pâte d'amande (Almond massepain)
Size: 6-8 serves

Never heard of it? Come see what's it's about and let us add a nice touch of blue to your day. 

Published by Chin on 24/07/2025