Chocolate lava cake breaking open in Vancouver bakery

Pale morning light floods the glass display case, bouncing softly off the cream-colored walls of the Gastown bakery. A rich chocolate lava cake sits on a ceramic plate, its top cracked open to reveal a glossy, molten center that spills slightly onto the dark surface. The warm interior shadows nestle in the deep crevices of the cake's crust, against the bright skylight overhead. Early summer daylight falls through the case, highlighting the smooth, wet texture of the flowing chocolate against the matte, crumbly exterior. Beside the dessert, a silver fork rests on a white napkin, catching a sharp glint of the ambient light. at the edge is a single droplet of dark syrup clinging to the rim of the plate, waiting to be wiped away.