Flavorful World’s Friday Fourplay offers up a bite-sized tidbit of info on each of the four food- and drink-related things we found most interesting each week.

Photo credit: Tokyo Times
Manga Latte Art
The manner of presentation of food and drink being considered a legitimate art form is nothing new; we see the comparison made all the time. Meticulously-arranged meals plated in an attractive fashion are called “masterpieces.” Cocktails constructed with striking stylizations get photographed and those photographs blogged and re-blogged ad infinitum. Still, every so often, something food art-related speaks to the geek me in a personal way. This manga-inspired latte art created by talented latte artist Sugi is one such thing. Speaking as a fan of both manga and anime, the level of detail in these astoundingly accurate renderings seem more than worth waiting a bit longer for my cup of joe. Using toothpicks to draw in the milk foam atop the hot coffee drinks, she manages to do more with chocolate syrups and cocktails syrups than most people could do with pencil and ink, and that’s so cool, it’s hot (and caffeinated!)
Via Tokyo Times

Photo credit: Food Republic
Grilling Gift Pack Giveaway
Quality food delivery has been the business of Schwan’s Home Service for over 60 years. With the Memorial Day weekend about to unofficially kick off this summer’s grilling season (and with May being Grilling Month over at Food Republic,) Schwan’s is hosting a contest for a chance to do the thing up right without spending a fortune. For a limited time, visitors to their website can enter for a chance to win an 11-product meat and seafood sampler pack worth $250 and including high quality awesomeness like Beef Sirloin, Fire-grilled Italian Cod, Salmon Burgers, and more. Carnivores unite; Schwan’s is thinking about us and wants us to be happy…
Via Food Republic

Photo credit: birdcafe.jp
Bird-Flavored Ice Cream
Japan’s Torimi Café serves up homemade sweets in a comfortable setting that surrounds its patrons with birds. The latest ice cream flavor offerings it has rolled out (debuted earlier this month in Osaka at a small bird expo, natch) seem to take its characteristic appreciation for our feathered friends to new heights. Available in Parakeet, Java Sparrow, and Cockatiel, these ice cream flavors are intended to evoke “the aroma of parakeet” on your palate, or that moment “when you’re sleeping with your mouth open and your cockatiel runs over your face and gets its leg in your mouth.” (and honestly, who among us hasn’t been there at one time or another?) Insert your bird pun of choice here.
Via Foodbeast

Photo credit: The Braiser
The New Taste of the Upper West Side Classics 2013
The Braiser has two tickets to the New Taste of the Upper West Side Classics with your name on them. Happening next Friday, May 31st, this event hosted by Adam Richman will see over 40 chefs gather to showcase their best, most comforting culinary creations. Tickets are available for purchase at $105.00, or you can enter here for a chance at a gratis pair. Then after you enter, go polish up some witty repartee and maybe an interesting question or two for the chefs and culinary personalities that will be mingling among the crowds just waiting to rub elbows with you.
Via The Braiser

Flavorful World is proud to be a media partner with the Spirits of Mexico festival coming to lower Manhattan’s Astor Center on May 29, 2013. Catch our live Tweets from the event by following 



















