By D’Ann Dreiling
“Patty-cake, patty-cake, baker’s man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can…”
Mother Goose
This famous rhyme used in rhythmic clapping games or teaching babies to “patty-cake” is one of the most famous of all the Mother Goose rhymes. Now, in a minuscule sense, it has become part of Kansas City’s own story.
Our famed quarterback Patrick Mahomes was tagged with the nickname Pattycakes when he was in elementary school. “(It’s) the first nickname I ever had,” says Mahomes. “When I was seven or eight, one of my friends called me Pattycakes.” It seems one of his teammates, Travis Kelce, has revisited this moniker. In an NFL interview, when questioned about Mahomes, Kelce’s reply was, “Pattycakes can come in and roll the dice on anybody.” When asked if he objected to the nickname, Mahomes laughingly responded, “I’ll roll with it.”
What is a patty-cake? It’s a term commonly used in Australian English to describe a small, individual serving of cake. In the U.S. it’s a cupcake. Those entertaining with a theme party dedicated to the Chiefs and their illustrious quarterback would have to include his favorite condiment, ketchup.
“I’ve been a fan of ketchup for as long as I can remember,” says Mahomes. “When I was young I used to eat ketchup sandwiches, just bread and ketchup.” He admits to topping mac and cheese, steaks and turkey with a healthy dose of ketchup. So, of course a patty-cake named for him would have to include the same and would be the perfect dessert to complete a Chiefs-themed menu.
