What’s In Cameron Nicholas’ Kitchen Tools To Trigger Your Sweet Tooth

Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle, we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expat parents each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.

You might not be as familiar with Cameron Nicholas’ name as the name of his baked goods business – The Sweet Tooth, and it’s even more likely that you’ll recognize his cakes and pastries rather than his person. That’s because Nicholas prefers to give the spotlight to his culinary creations like his blondies and Nutella brownies.

This enigmatic baker shares his top tips, favorite kitchen tools and go-to restaurant in the capital for special occasions.

Nicholas came to Beijing 4 years ago and has been teaching since then. He just started selling his baked goods about 18 months ago and offers them weekly in the Sweet Cravings WeChat groups and on his WeChat Moments. He also bakes on request, customizing cakes for special occasions like birthdays and baby showers. His motivation? “I used to bake back home and couldn’t find the things that I like here, this is what lead me to baking again. My friends enjoyed the things I made and suggested that I should start selling them as they couldn’t buy the treats they liked either, and like me, they wanted a taste of home.”

While Nicholas is open to baking just about anything, he most enjoys baking cakes, brownies, and Christmas desserts such as fruitcakes and mince pies.

When we asked for his kitchen essentials, he shared, “I prefer using a scale to measuring cups as it is more accurate, a hand mixer saves me lots of time and a spatula is a must for scraping down bowls and mixing batter thoroughly.”

After 4 years of living in the capital, we ask him what appreciates most about the city, “The convenience,” Nicholas replies. We couldn’t agree more. And where does the seasoned baker go to enjoy a meal in Beijing when he wants to put down the baking gloves? “My favorite place to go to is The Cheesecake Factory for any occasion.”