Puppies Are Delicious, and This Food Trend Proves It

Tracy Wang, Senior Editor | Sep 19, 2018 8:30 am | 1 comment | 5990 reads

When it comes to food trends, we've seen it all. History repeats itself, and whether the trends are tacky, smelly, and dirty, such as the popular dirty bun, dirty milk tea, and durian puffs, there’s nothing really new under the sun. Yet, this recent fad is pretty hard to swallow and that's because it's a puppy. Well, a puppy mousse cake to be exact.

What the heck is a puppy ice cream mousse cake anyway?

Inspired specifically by the wrinkly shar-pei breed of dog, which actually originates from south China, a 3D mold is filled with a mixture of chocolate, whipped cream, milk, and sugar, before being frozen. Retrieving the mold from its icy depths, the resulting treat has an uncanny likeness to a sleepy puppy (the detail of the hair is remarkable, and even when it melts a bit, the water looks like it has wet fur).

Why? And where can I get one?!

Yep, puppy-shaped ice cream mousse cakes first became popular in the coastal Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung and then became a hit in mainland China before spreading to the rest of Asia. Once the news was out, the cute little cakes became a hot internet sensation. Lots of bakeries and restaurants in Beijing have followed suit, now providing this controversial cake for those wanting to shock their friends with a disturbingly realistic video of them massacring an innocent pup. Get give it a try at Salsa House, Café Flatwhite, Corner Café, and Lugu Zhicha, for around RMB 38-58 each.

What do people think of it?

Some reviewers have said that the cake's “too real to be eaten,” or “I might cry if I had to eat it,” as well as, “I felt guilty when I scooped from the head.” But that didn't stop many from buying and posting pictures and videos of themselves eating it on social media. One reviewer even gushed, “I like the strong chocolate flavor so much. The cake is great for two people, especially a couple.” That's true romance.

As for us? We say, why not? It's just a cake, after all. Even better, skip the inflated prices across Beijing and scare the bejesus out of your next dinner guests by making your own. Find the recipe here (in Chinese) and the 3D silicone mold here.