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These plastic menu items are a tradition in Japan, where for the past several decades they’ve helped overcome language barriers, while also showing off the culinary artistry of their creators.
(Fake) Food Delivery
Justin Hanus, who is originally from Ohio, sells plastic food via his website, fake-food.co, and claims if you can cook it, they can make a replica that looks good enough to eat.
Tempting Menu
Where do you see “fake” food? “You see it in department stores, in shopping malls, in underground shopping areas, in touristy places – you see it everywhere,” Hanus told CBS News’ Seth Doane.
Fake Brew
Across Japan, realistic-looking food displays are an advertising tool, used by restaurants to demonstrate portion size, and laid out to try to lure customers.
Dummy Dishes
Fake food took root in Japan once Western-style dishes were introduced, said plastic food artisan Fumio Morino. “Customers were unfamiliar with them, so they didn’t sell well. Today, I think it’s as useful as ever.”
Fake Cuisine
True mystery meat.
Manufacturing
At Fumio Morino’s Osaka workship, Seth Doane found a sumptuous spread of treats – all completely inedible, of course. It is remarkable craftsmanship, which Marino first learned from his dad.
“My father always said, before you eat something, observe it,” he remembered. “Study its color, patterns, and then you can dig in.”
Pictured: An artist prepares a new delicacy.
Fine Food Art
Each piece is hand-crafted – and making it look “just right” takes a lot of trial and error.
Fake Cuisine
“Shrimp” is made from polyvinylchloride. Soba soup broth is actually urethane.
Fake Cuisine
Plastic prawns.
Food Manufacturing
Kiwi seeds can be created by permanent marker.
Fake Kiwi
Counterfeit kiwis.
Well Done
An airbrush is a required tool of the trade for this “chef.”
Plastic Pasta
And how expensive is plastic food? “It can get pretty pricy — anywhere from $70 on up,” said Justin Hanus. “But the benefit there is, if you leave it outside it should last for at least seven years in all weather conditions. It’s not going to budge.”
Fake Cuisine
A tempting menu.
Fake Cuisine
Care for some duplicitous dumplings?
Fake Cuisine
Some tempting tempura.
Fake Cuisine
Sham sushi.
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A sampuru display in Osaka.
