JAPAN: A Japanese pastry chef whips up cakes filled with dog-friendly ingredients to spice up the festive season for his four-legged customers

Record ID: 466761

  • Title: JAPAN: A Japanese pastry chef whips up cakes filled with dog-friendly ingredients to spice up the festive season for his four-legged customers
  • Date: 4th December 2012
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 4, 2012) (REUTERS) PASTRY CHEF PLACING CAKE IN DISPLAY CABINET CAKE IN CABINET CUSTOMER WALKING INTO THE RESTAURANT WITH DOG SIGN FOR RESTAURANT DOG JUMPING UP ON CAKE DISPLAY CABINET DOG WAGGING TAIL IN FRONT OF CABINET DOG STARING AT CAKES DOG SNIFFING AROUND CABINET (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 47-YEAR-OLD PASTRY CHEF AND OWNER OF FINOCCHIO ITALIAN RESTAURANT, NAOHIKO NAGATANI, SAYING: "The birth rate's declining here in Japan so dogs have pretty much become like children and people want to share Christmas with them. But if it's just the grown-ups, the humans eating cake, well the dogs put on a really sad face. They want to have some themselves and get upset if you don't give them cake too." VARIOUS OF NAGATANI MAKING CAKE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 47-YEAR-OLD PASTRY CHEF AND OWNER OF FINOCCHIO ITALIAN RESTAURANT, NAOHIKO NAGATANI, SAYING: "It all depends on how dog owners rear their pet. Of course if they feed them cake everyday, then the dog can become really fat and lazy. But, you know, Christmas comes just once a year. If it's served like a reward, well then I think that keeps both dogs and their owners happy." NAGATANI CUTTING CAKE NAGATANI CUTTING CAKE BESIDE DOG AND ITS OWNER DOG EATING CAKE FROM FORK OWNER WAVING FORK AND CAKE ABOVE DOG'S HEAD VARIOUS OF DOG EATING CAKE FROM FORK OWNER TAPPING DOG'S CHIN (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 46-YEAR-OLD OWNER OF SIX-YEAR-OLD DOG CALLED 'KENJI', AKIKO UCHIDA, SAYING: "I share out the cake between us, take photos and shoot videos to capture the moment. So is it all for the dog? Well, to be honest, I probably enjoy it more than him." DOG LICKING CAKE FROM FORK MORE OF DOG BEING FED LAST PIECES OF CAKE FROM PLATE CLEANED-UP PLATE
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA38O9ENGI7B9SLLRAPGG9U9XVH
  • Story Text: Lining the shelves with festive cakes, pastry chef Naohiko Nagatani is getting ready for the Christmas rush, but he has a treat with a twist.
    Made with canine-friendly ingredients Nagatani has designed a cake that can be eaten by both dogs and their owners.
    Japan's four-legged friends have a wealth of pampering options open to them, from luxury pet hotels to premium health insurance.
    And the latest offering from Nagatani seems to be going down well, as he says his largely internet-based business is booming.

    "The birth rate's declining here in Japan so dogs have pretty much become like children and people want to share Christmas with them. But if it's just the grown-ups, the humans eating cake, well the dogs put on a really sad face. They want to have some themselves and get upset if you don't give them cake too," said Nagatani, who also sells more mainstream pastries at his Italian restaurant in the outskirts of Tokyo.
    To make his new creation more dog-friendly, Nagatani leaves out chocolate and alcohol.
    He also makes a sponge made from spelt, a type of wheat that he says causes fewer allergies than regular flour.
    But even so, Nagatani warns his cakes are not an everyday treat.

    "It all depends on how dog owners rear their pet. Of course if they feed them cake everyday, then the dog can become really fat and lazy. But, you know, Christmas comes just once a year. If it's served like a reward, well then I think that keeps both dogs and their owners happy," Nagatani said.
    Cake shop regular Kenji, a six-year-old mongrel adopted three years ago, seems to agree. His owner, 46-year-old Akiko Uchida, says eating the special cake is a guilty pleasure.

    "I share out the cake between us, take photos and shoot videos to capture the moment. So is it all for the dog? Well, to be honest, I probably enjoy it more than him," Uchida said.
    As for Nagatani, this holiday season he's already filled 70 orders for dog-friendly cakes, costing customers up to 73 USD (6000 yen) a slice.
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