Latest news with #ricecakes
UAE Moments
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Too Cute to Eat? 10 Aesthetic Filipino Kakanin You'll Want to Post First
Living in the fast-paced city means you crave content that's fresh, fun, and shareable. Enter aesthetic Filipino kakanin —those gorgeous rice cakes that look like they belong on an IG feed. Think glossy latik, pastels, layered colors, and coconut textures. In this article, we're diving into 10 standout kakanin you'll actually want to eat and post, plus tips on where to get them, how to style your shots, and even quick DIY hacks. Ready to level up your feed and impress your followers with seriously cute (and delicious) rice cake content? Let's go. What Makes Kakanin Aesthetic in 2025 Kakanin naturally nails the Instagram look due to its vibrant colors, textural contrast, and traditional plating on banana leaves or bilao trays. With food aesthetics dominating social platforms, these rice treats shine—not just for their flavor, but for how visually engaging they are. Add in glossy coconut curds, soft pastel layers, and unique shapes, and you've got viral-ready bites. Their cultural roots give your post depth—folklore, family recipes, and festival memories. That's next-level content. Meet the Star Kakanins Biko – glossy sticky rice with latik A classic: sweet, chewy, topped with caramelized latik. That shine and texture = totally binge-worthy visuals. Sapin-Sapin – pastel rainbow layers Vibrant hues and creamy coconut sprinkles create crisp, Instagram-perfect shots. Puto – soft pastel rice muffins Mini and pastel—simple, minimalist, and aesthetically pleasing in any flat lay. Palitaw – snowy discs rolled in coconut White discs with coconut flake edges look clean and textured—great for close-ups. Kutsinta – chewy brown sugar rice cake Earthy brown tones and coconut topping give visually rich contrasts. Maja Blanca – creamy coconut pudding blocks Soft, milky cubes with corn kernels – neutral tones that pop in moody feeds. Pichi-Pichi – green cassava balls coated in coconut Pandan green, fuzzy texture—playful and unique shots. Mache – stuffed buko pandan rice balls with sesame Round and filled—schematic symmetry plus sprinkle of sesame seeds = strong visuals. Morón – chocolate suman bundles Chocolate roll aesthetics: dark color, rustic wrap, perfect for moody tones. Ube Bibingka – purple yam mochi cakes Vibrant purple and the soft, chewy look? Instant visual win. Why Millennials & Gen Z Are Hyped about These These aesthetics combine nostalgia, bold visuals, and convenience. Kakanin hits all the key content triggers: colorful, bite-sized, story-worthy. Plus, they tap into Filipino heritage—something young creatives love sharing. Unlike gourmet pastries, kakanin connects emotionally and visually. Its portability (bite-size dumplings, muffin-like puto) works for grab-and-go city life. And because each rice cake has its own backstory (like biko at fiestas, puto for merienda), your caption can give followers a culturally-rich read. That's content gold. Where to Score and Snap Hot Manila kiosks and cafes Look out for heritage stalls, weekend markets (e.g., Salcedo Market), and pop-up spots (like foodbymetro on IG), offering well-styled platters perfect for capturing. DIY styling in your apartment kitchen Use banana leaf, pastel plates, and natural light by a window. DIY, layer, and use props like woven trays, tropical leaves, candles, or baked beans cloth for that laid-back yet curated feed vibe. Kakanin Photography 101 Lighting tricks: Natural daylight near a window gives soft, flattering vibes. Avoid overhead flash. Props & styling: Banana leaves, wooden boards, pastel ceramic, vintage spoons, and cloth backdrops create texture-rich images. Angles: Top-down for flat lays, 45° rigs for layers, close-ups to show coconut flake detail or latik gloss. DIY Aesthetic Kakanin at Home Quick recipe for Biko Use sticky rice cooked with coconut milk, sugar, and finish with latik. Cook in a square pan for straight edges—great for slicing and styling. Speedy Sapin-Sapin jars Layer glutinous rice, coconut milk, and natural pastel food colors in glass jars—easy, customizable, and ideal for colorful shots. Cultural Context That Adds Story Each kakanin carries regional and seasonal meanings—like bibingka for Christmas, puto bumbong after midnight mass, or suman at fiesta. Mention that in captions to add emotional flavor and heritage value. This layered approach deepens engagement and tells why it matters beyond looking cute.
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's newest obsession isn't viral pastries, it's bland and boring cottage cheese
As a child of the 90s, I distinctly remember cottage cheese being the frumpiest of foods, peddled as a miracle ingredient for those on restrictive Weight Watchers-style diets. High in protein and low in salt and fat, it was often suggested as an accompaniment to that other ghastly anti-gourmet product: rice cakes. Not the deliciously savoury, soy-glazed roasted rice crackers you might buy in a Japanese snack aisle, though – we are talking those squeaky, puffy discs of what could otherwise pass as styrofoam. Yet, in 2025, I found myself a convert to cottage cheese. After decades of eschewing these lumpy curds, I was influenced to go buy a pot by a friend who swore by it – it is worth noting that this friend enjoys actual salt and flavour – after she texted me her latest recipe: 'New cottage cheese creation – balsamic, salt, halved cherry tomatoes, anchovy pieces. Am calling it Pleb Burrata.' Cottage cheese on toast with cherry tomatoes and bacon. Photo: Charmaine Mok She was onto something. Like the soft and creamy Italian cheese, cottage cheese is a gentle base for an array of flavours – I have recently taken to mixing in a bit of fermented, salted green chilli and slathering the mix on hot sourdough, before topping it with tangy cherry tomatoes and a bit of cheeky bacon.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bodybuilder who went viral with 'fish and rice cake' meme finds love 18 years later thanks to his beloved diet
A bodybuilder who became an internet celebrity with his 'fish and rice cake' diet has now found 'the love of his life' through a reality TV dating show. Danny Andrews, 35, became a 16-year-old viral sensation after a 2007 documentary called Baby Faced Body Builders showcased his peculiar fitness regime of eating fish and rice cakes at regular intervals throughout the day. Danny, then aged just 16, later took himself off all social media after suffering from a negative backlash online in response to the broadcast and multiple internet shares. But he has since embraced his meme fame, and featured on several TV dating shows such as First Dates, Celebs Go Dating and most recently Channel 4 's Love Triangle eight months ago. And now he says he has met the love of his life, 29-year-old Bristol-based social media manager Sadie Bass - despite initially going on the show primarily for fun and to promote his rice cake business. Sadie says she is smitten - while dubbing her partner 'meme royalty'. Danny, now living in Preston, said: 'I went on Love Triangle to have a holiday and have fun - and promote the rice cakes. 'I never thought that I would meet the love of my life on there, but Sadie's absolutely my soulmate and I'm so happy that embracing the meme has led to us meeting. 'We've been together for eight months now, but we couldn't go public with our relationship for the first seven months as we had signed an NDA so not to ruin the show. 'Things are going along really well though since going public. 'She's moving from Bristol to my four-bed house here in Preston to move in with me, after our first holiday to Tenerife in two weeks' time, and I can't wait.' Sadie added: 'I knew of the video - I used to live with my cousin who would watch the meme. 'He showed me it, and my friends and I would quote it all the time and laugh about it. 'When I met Danny, I didn't realise he was the guy from the meme. I didn't know until some guys ran up to us asking him for pictures. 'I was confused, I was thinking he was some big celebrity. He awkwardly told me he was the fish and rice cake man - I thought it was hilarious. 'I am dating a legend - he is British meme royalty.' In the original clip from Baby Face Body Builders, Danny revealed to producers his itinerary for the day including his very repetitive diet. Appearing in the show, Danny shared his meal plan ahead of a 'Mr Cumbria' bodybuilding competition. In the video, the producer asked what he was preparing - to which he replied: 'Just me fish for me 12 o'clock meal, which I'll have with a rice cake.' Revealing the 'very strict diet' given by his trainer, Danny went on to say he started the day with fish and a rice cake at 8am. That would then be followed by fish at 11am and then moving on to the same breakfast meal again at midday. He then detailed six different meals, all of which included the same two ingredients. Danny now says he remains thankful for the meme - and that without it Sadie would not have typically gone for a self-professed 'gym lad'. He said: 'I wouldn't be her type normally as she doesn't go for gym types, and vice versa - she's into poetry and is a bit more introverted than me. He says his girlfriend Sadie Bass (pictured) is now planning to move in with him in Lancashire 'Gym lads tend to have a bad stereotype and I must look like a prat, because everyone always says they're surprised when I meet them in person. 'If I had met her on a night out, it probably wouldn't have worked because of preconceived ideas about how we both look, so the show has worked. 'Or if we had met on a dating app, she would have definitely swiped past me, which is why I'm so glad we did the show because we had a spark. 'You hear about dating shows and a lot of it is for fun, exposure and clout, and a lot of relationships are "showmances". I've done all of them, but now I've got the real deal. 'I'd never do reality TV again, but I'm very thankful to have met Sadie through it.' Sadie was initially unaware about the meme, which Danny says helped their relationship blossom at the start. He only explained it to her after a group of people approached him to ask for pictures in Manchester's Trafford Centre. He said: 'In the Trafford Centre people were asking for photos, so I had to explain it to Sadie, but she didn't judge me or find it cringey. 'She thought it was funny and by then we were fully together so it hasn't affected the relationship. 'It's not too bad getting recognised now. At the start when it first came out, I'd say 80 per cent of the comments on social media were negative and that's why I came off those platforms. 'But since embracing it, I'd say 80 per cent of my interactions are positive. But even if you were Mother Teresa, you'd still get bad comments.' Danny has used his experience of being associated with rice cakes to create a firm in the food industry from March last year onwards. He works with business partner and friend, Zack McGuirk, 38, employing five people. Danny said: 'People would stop for photographs and laugh their heads off and they would always think of me with rice cakes. 'I thought I could create a protein rice cake and I asked my friend Zack if we should go for it. 'We've had lots of success in the first year, and we've done it all ourselves - all the merch is made and sent out off our own bat. 'Lots of memes come and go, but people still remember mine because it was the first internet meme, and now younger people watch me on TikTok. 'It's crazy that I make money from something that I used to absolutely hate. 'It's mainly online sales off the website at the moment and to get to the next level we need to get into supermarkets - and we're in talks right now.
