The world is absolutely obsessed with making food look good. Take a look at your Instagram and Facebook feeds and you’re likely to run into pictures of friend’s brunches, second breakfasts, and lunches. We hit the thumbs up and heart on those pictures because we’re all obsessed with food and love showing it off. And it just so happens that Japan has made a functional art form out of it for decades.
Making realistic looking plastic meals is big business in Japan and has been part of food culture there since the mid-20th century. Restaurants figured out showing off what they served was a good way to entice customers to eat at their establishments and while a picture may say a thousand words, a replica meal says way more.
These videos are but a sampling of the many out there showcasing the intricate art of creating this faux food. Companies use assorted plastics and massively talented artistic employees to create dishes to put on display all over Japan.
What may come as a surprise is just how pricey some of these dishes can get. Some of the more complex meals land in
the neighborhood the thousands of dollars. It’s not so shocking when you think about how much work goes into making plastic noodles look real and if you think of them as investments. If people are able to see exactly what you’re offering, then it’ll mean more customers in your restaurant.
How often do you think co-workers prank each other by swapping out lunch items in the break room fridge? What do you think of this faux food facsimiles? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Image: Great Big Story
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