Hazelnut meringue chocolate cake

Latvia is having a birthday next week, and I cannot think of many other occasions that could warrant making a lavish cake with delicate hazelnut meringue and rich chocolate cream. Called “Cielaviņa” (“Wagtail”) in Latvia, it has been one of the most popular cakes on offer since 1970-ies. As much as I would like the convenience of buying this cake in a bakery here in Australia, home made cake takes out its industrial counterpart in one punch.