A SWEET treat from the heart of Transylvania is set to emerge from the bowels of Bolton's old market.

For years now Liviu Cadar, 38, has been preparing old-fashioned chimney cakes for family and friends.

His dad Nelu used to break out the sweetmeats on road trips between the central Romanian province and Hungary.

And when Liviu relocated to the UK in 2004, he brought along a 100-year-old recipe, to preserve a taste of the old country.

Adventurous foodies can now see what all the fuss is about when he launches Cadar Chimney Cakes in Market Place next Friday.

"This is the first time that I'll be serving our cakes to the public and we are really excited about it," said Liviu.

Known as a kürtöskalác in Hungary or Romania, or a 'trdelník' in Czech, their version is a simple idea, which takes plenty of technique to perfect.

First of all their dough is handmade, and cut into strips, before being wrapped around a wooden cyliner and baked in a specially-adapted rotisserie oven.

This leaves the exterior golden brown, with caramelised sugar adding to a crispy crunch, with a light and fluffy dough inside.

Steam cascades from the top of the cakes, on leaving the oven, resembling a chimney, hence the name.

Liviu, who now lives in Oldham, fashions his cakes into cones and his wife Bianca, 35, came up with the idea of inserting ice cream fillings.

He is planning a range of savoury as well as sweet fillings when his shop throws open its doors, with a cheese and rosemary version rubbing shoulders with coconut, chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla varieties, among others, on the menu.

"The original recipe for these cakes dates back to the 16th century so we wanted to find somewhere which was full of history and we're very happy with Market Place," added Liviu.

His wife and other family members will also be helping out in the shop.