From the French word “souffler” that means “to blow,” “to breathe” or “to puff,” souffle has become a global trend and is still gaining popularity–particularly Japan’s souffle pancakes.
The egg-based food is renowned by its puffy appearance which is believed to be due to egg whites being beaten into a soft peak. It is typically served by bechamel, cream sauce (white sauce made of flour, butter and milk) and crème patissiere (custard) or a puree (usually made of fruit).
Souffle, in addition to being a dessert choice can also be a savory option with variations such as potato souffle or crab souffle. Souffle may include vegetables, cheese, and herbs and can also include a range of pork or poultry to seafood and even fish.
The origins of souffle can be traced back to Hawaii around 1974 when Jan as well as Jerry Fukunaga established their diner Eggs N’ Things (which was expanded into Tokyo by the year 2010 as well and began the Japanese preference for American-style pancakes) Souffle pancakes took awhile before they became an extremely sought-after sweets around the world today.
Flipper’s, a Japanese souffle pancake café that has taken across New York City. Fuwa Fuwa Cafe (whose name comes of the Japanese word meaning fluffy) has also landed in London, Toronto, and other cities across the US. A brunch eatery that is open all day located in Los Angeles, Souffle’s, produces pancakes that may not be at the same height as other pancakes however, they compensate the difference in height with their delicious texture.
Within the Philippines, Japanese chains Gram Cafe, Motto Motto, and Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory as along with Hong Kong’s AM pm Taipei’s Puffy’s and our our very own Pancake House brought their own version of these pancakes to local markets.
Souffle pancakes are different from the typical flat pancakes that we typically create. The shape and the versatility (in the sense of being mixed with other ingredients to enhance the flavor) make this trend an Instagram sensation. Many people line up to try a bite (and maybe, even take photos) of this 2 inches tall Japanese pancake.
The buzz surrounding the new version of the breakfast staple doesn’t appear to be ending in spite of it receiving attention for a long time already. There’s not even a hint of it declining in popularity because social media is causing increasing numbers of people to become interested in souffle pancakes. Its dominance as the newest food trend is just beginning.
