Raindrop by Darren Wong, New York Raindrop by Darren Wong, New York
Raindrop by Darren Wong, New York Raindrop by Darren Wong, New York
Raindrop by Darren Wong, New York Raindrop by Darren Wong, New York

Drip feeding

26 : 04 : 2016 Raindrop Cake : Mineral Water : Water Cake

New York – Chef Darren Wong is introducing New Yorkers to one of Japan’s culinary oddities, the water cake.

  • The sweet dessert contains agar, a seaweed derivative that enables it to hold its shape for around 30 minutes
  • Wong’s recipe made its debut at the Smorgasburg outdoor market in Brooklyn

Inspired by mizu shingen mochi, a traditional Japanese water-based cake, Wong’s Raindrop Cake is calorie-free, and sweetened by an accompaniment of molasses-like sugar and kinako, a roasted soybean flour.

The giant droplet is held together with a mix of mineral water and agar. Specially designed containers protect each dewy morsel from sudden movements and fluctuations in temperature until they are ready to be served.

‘The cake has to maintain its shape but still have the texture of water,’ says Wong. ‘It's not about flavour or nutrients, it’s about the texture.

The Big Picture

Western diets are increasingly influenced by Japanese culture. London’s Twig Teas has launched a range of cold brew teas inspired by a brewing method used in Kanazawa.

Discover More Daily Signals
Why Apple is leaning into artisanal charm for 2025 festive push

Daily Signals

Why Apple is leaning into artisanal charm for 2025 festive push

Apple’s 2025 Christmas campaign, A Critter Carol, puts human craftsmanship front and centre.
Technology : Advertising : Design
ISPO 2025: Innovation, inclusion and community drive sport’s next chapter

Daily Signals

ISPO 2025: Innovation, inclusion and community drive sport’s next chapter

At ISPO 2025 in Munich, talks, panels, activations and events spanned the full value chain of sport – from materials and manufacturing to brands an...
Global Events : Sport : Community
Stat: Young Americans drive growth across emerging social media platforms

Daily Signals

Stat: Young Americans drive growth across emerging social media platforms

A new Pew Research Center survey shows that while YouTube and Facebook continue to dominate the US social media landscape, younger u...
YouTube : Social Media : Facebook
Why smartphone-free is becoming a Christmas gift rule for kids

Daily Signals

Why smartphone-free is becoming a Christmas gift rule for kids

UK grassroots organisation Smartphone Free Childhood has launched a nationwide Christmas campaign urging parents to delay giving smartphones to the...
Advertising : Technology : Youth
Adolescence extends to early 30s, new five-stage brain map reveals

Daily Signals

Adolescence extends to early 30s, new five-stage brain map reveals

New research mapping how the brain’s wiring shifts across life suggests adolescence doesn’t end until around age 32.
Generations : Adolescence : Life Stages
Stat: Security concerns push UK shoppers to abandon digital transactions

Daily Signals

Stat: Security concerns push UK shoppers to abandon digital transactions

Security concerns are now the biggest barrier to completing online purchases, with more than 50% of UK shoppers having abandoned a transaction due ...
Retail : Technology : Security
Why Foam photography institute’s new brand identity is motion-focused

Daily Signals

Why Foam photography institute’s new brand identity is motion-focused

The 25-year-old photography institution Foam has unveiled a new visual identity by Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, marking the first time it has used a b...
Design : Museum : Branding
How Letterboxd’s Video Store counters subscription fatigue

Daily Signals

How Letterboxd’s Video Store counters subscription fatigue

Letterboxd has unveiled the Letterboxd Video Store, an in-app rental feature launching in early December that pushes the platform beyond film loggi...
Media : Entertainment : Rental Model
Stat: UK retail workers experience uptick in abusive behaviour from the public

Daily Signals

Stat: UK retail workers experience uptick in abusive behaviour from the public

The Retail Trust has unveiled billboards at key London sites as part of its Let’s Respect Retail campaign.
Retail : Workplace : Statistic
Football Manager and Sky Sports turn female gamers into real-life football coaches to close gender gap

Daily Signals

Football Manager and Sky Sports turn female gamers into real-life football coaches to close gender gap

Xbox, Sky Sports and Football Manager have launched Missing Managers, a campaign created with McCann London that turns gaming into a real-world coa...
Sport : Gaming : Technology
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN