Chef Creates Flippin' Great Animal Pancakes

By Shannon Lane @Shannonroselane

AS SHROVE TUESDAY has creped up on us, a chef has created detailed pancake art - of people’s pets

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Videographer / director: Keisuke Inagaki
Producer: Shannon Lane, Ruby Coote
Editor: James Thorne

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The chef has created various pet pancakes, from birds to cats

Keisuke Inagaki has been a chef at his restaurant La Ricetta in Zama City, Japan, for the last 18 years.

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He uses photos of the animals as reference

He rose to Instagram fame from his Pokemon and anime pancake art, and this time around he’s created a lifelike animal series.

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He uses the browning of the pancake cooking to create shading

Pancakes are traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday as symbol of using up all of the fatty foods before lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday.

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He began creating his work after the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima

The 46-year-old chef began making pancakes in 2011 to raise spirits after the devastating nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan.

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The chef begins his work by drawing the outline on a pan

He said: “After Fukushima I participated in a camp for children to comfort them. I wanted to think of some activities that mothers and children could do together.

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He then adds more batter once the outline starts cooking

"Then I discovered pancake art. I saw it for the first time on TV, an American named Nathan Shields making it and thought it was interesting. Whilst children were playing, the mothers and I wanted to surprise them.”

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The rest of the animal is then filled in with batter

Depending on the detail, the pancakes take 5-10 minutes to draw, and another 5-10 minutes to cook.

Despite being edible, Keisuke is hoping to exhibit his pancake artwork in the future.

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Voila! The finished pancake art is then flipped over and placed on a plate

He said: “There’s vacuum packing available, and you can present your work in this way. I think it would be fun to do a gallery show if I create enough pancake art.”

See more of his pancake art at https://www.instagram.com/keinagaki/