This Giant Baklava Cake Made Manolo’s 35th Birthday Unforgettable!

Manolo Gonzalez Vergara turned 35 on Wednesday, September 16, and his mother Sofía Vergara commemorated the occasion with a large baklava cake. The dessert stood at the center of a family portrait shared by Vergara on Instagram, where her Chihuahua Amore rested on her shoulder.

The birthday photo and its origins

Vergara captioned the image: “We luvvu! Happy bday!!” The same photograph appeared on Manolo’s own Instagram account. It was first posted by Good Baklava, a company whose founder Roy Donk is personally acquainted with Manolo. Donk told PEOPLE: “If you know Manolo, you’ll know he is the world’s #1 baklava supporter!”

A shared culinary venture

The mother and son co-founded the food brand Toma in 2024. Vergara characterized the venture as their “love letter to Latin food.” Their joint business ties extend into the birthday celebration, where baklava — a treat Manolo particularly favors — became the centerpiece.

The cake featured six tall candles and was surrounded by additional pastries and balloons. The arrangement emphasized both familial closeness and a mutual enthusiasm for food. For Manolo’s 35th birthday, the oversized baklava cake served as a deliberate and personal highlight.