Italian bakery celebrates success of Obama cakes with statue

CAMPI SALENTINA, Italy, July 5 (UPI) -- An Italian chef who credits the success of his bakery to a cake named for U.S. President Barack Obama said he opened a new factory and put up a statue of Obama.

Angelo Bisconti said he and his team at the Pasticceria Cheri shop in Campi Salentina were searching for a name for their new chocolate-infused version of pasticciotto, a typically white pudding cake, just as news came in that the United States had elected its first black president, The Local.it reported Friday.

Bisconti said the "pasticciotto Obama" became so successful that his kitchens now produce 5,000 of the cakes each day and they are sold as far away as the famed Brio restaurant in New York.

"Over the last five years, this cake has really helped business grow so much," Bisconti said Thursday.

Bisconti opened a new factory Thursday where 10 workers will be making the Obama cakes full-time, the baker said. He also marked the occasion by unveiling a marble statue of Obama outside in the square opposite Pasticceria Cheri.

Bisconti said the cakes had the blessing of David Thorne, the U.S. ambassador to Italy, but The Local said it was unable to confirm the statement with the U.S. embassy Thursday.