Birthdays: Candles, especially tall thin ones in multi-colors, are apropos and easy; chocolate curls make gorgeous and delicious decorations.

Other toppings include whipped cream, meringue, cinnamon, ice cream, and chocolate curls.

Making chocolate curls, praline, candied fruit, even caramel sauce are relatively simple operations, detailed in most baking books.

Tapika serves it in an oversize shot glass garnished with slim chocolate curls.

That may mean rigging together a few pans to make a smoker or using a melon baller to make chocolate curls.

You just take a hunk of dark chocolate and a sharp knife, slice off a very thin layer and the chocolate curls back on itself.

Decorate with chocolate curls.

To make chocolate curls, smooth about 30ml (2tbsp) melted chocolate at a time in a thin layer over a flat baking sheet.

Pour mixture into two chilled glasses, and top each with whipped cream and chocolate curls or a dusting of the cinnamon or cocoa.

It is a variation of the chocolate cake, and sometimes decorated with chocolate curls.