Author: Erica_38

Vancouver certainly is a place that embraces food trends, albeit usually 5 or so years behind everybody else. Think raindrop cake. Think Japanese cheesecake. Now think Japanese soufflé pancakes. Granted, the Japanese cheesecake seems to be transcending the label of “trend” or “fad,” but the...poor raindrop cake doesn’t seem to have been so lucky. Once a hot commodity a few years ago, it’s pretty hard to come by these days. The Japanese soufflé pancake, though, is just starting to bud and blossom. Fufu Café – Vancouver’s first all-soufflé pancake café – opened a mere 11 months ago to much buzz and fanfare from the media and food blogger community. Since then, a few other places have come online, most notably the Japanese leviathan, Gram Café in February 2020. So, it certainly seems as though the soufflé pancake is getting a strong foothold in the city, but will it stick around? I think the longevity of the soufflé pancake is a question that can only be answered with the fullness of time. Until then, we can certainly appreciate what we have because they are, to be blunt, “social media-worthy,” to quote the Vancouver Sun. But, of course, they are so much more than that. The Japanese soufflé pancake is deceptively complex despite its simple appearance. Unlike their North American counterpart, it isn’t just a simple matter of mixing the various ingredients together – which are basically identical – and slapping them on a griddle. The Japanese soufflé pancake follows a very precise process: The egg whites are beaten into a meringue and folded with the egg yolks to achieve their height and signature cloud-like texture. Thus, when you eat them, they are a lot less dense than their North American cousins; it is literally like eating an eggy cloud, if clouds could be eaten. If this sounds kind of familiar, it’s because Japanese cheesecakes follow a similar process (think Uncle Tetsu). While it was an article on Gram Café that initially introduced me to Japanese soufflé pancakes in Vancouver, it is Fufu Café that holds the distinction of being my first exposure to them – and what an experience it was! Located on West Broadway in a sort of “nothing” part of town, Fufu is a quaint restaurant with a pre-COVID seating capacity of 20 patrons. This, of course, has been reduced by about half thanks to the current Provincial restrictions in place. No worries, though, because it seems much of the early buzz has died down. On the two occasions I’ve visited, there was no waiting to be had; instead, I was promptly taken to my seat and thus began my exquisite foodie experience. The space that houses Fufu Café is what I’d call minimalist. Pre-COVID, food bloggers had written that the café is “influenced by modern French-style aesthetics.” While some of these elements are still in evidence (mainly the soft colours used on the walls and furniture), much of the artwork and whimsicalness has been scaled back, undoubtedly to accommodate the necessary safety protocols inherent in the “new normal.” Still, the space is attractive in its simplicity and provides the perfect backdrop in which to shoot your Instagram-worthy photos. During my first visit, I attended with my partner. We opted for the Tiramisu Soufflé Pancake and the Matcha Mochi Soufflé Pancake. Admittedly, Fufu Café’s excellent propaganda photos sold me on the tiramisu pancake and, I have to say, it was pretty divine. Containing mascarpone cheese whipped cream, espresso sauce, almond pieces, dark chocolate curls, cocoa powder and espresso flake ice cream, this version of the soufflé pancake is as delicious as it looks. The plating was elegant yet fun, and the pancake was jiggly and flavourful. I do feel that they were a little over generous with the cocoa powder, however. Its overabundance, at times, gave the otherwise delicate soufflé pancake a rather bitter taste. Still, that bitterness was tempered somewhat by the house-made ice cream that accompanied the dish. The Matcha Mochi, which the DailyHive suggested is a “must-try,” was a clear favourite for both my partner and I. Made with shiratamako mochi, house-made matcha sauce, matcha whipped cream, double chocolate raspberry ice cream, white chocolate flakes and matcha powder, this souffle pancake is matcha through and through. I was actually surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did, because I’m generally not too fond of matcha; however, it paired well with the pancakes and created a nice earthy and delicious flavour unlike anything I’ve experienced before. On my most recent visit, I opted for the slightly more traditional Mixed Fruit Soufflé Pancake. This version is served with seasonal mixed (fresh) fruit, whipped cream, dry raspberry flakes and icing sugar. If I had to choose, I would say that this pancake was my favourite overall. It wasn’t overly complex and allowed the natural soufflé flavours and textures of the pancake to shine. The whipped cream worked exceptionally well with both fruit and pancake while the dried raspberry flakes provided a nice textual contrast. For those who might want a more traditional pancake, I would highly recommend this one. All in all, Fufu Café served as a fine and fair introduction to the world of soufflé pancakes. Recognizing that I have no basis of comparison, I declare these to be a “must try” for anyone visiting Vancouver. The offerings are unique and highlight some of the city’s more elevated fare in an attractive way and manner. The “sweet” pancakes are available all week while the “savoury” pancakes are available on the weekends during brunch hours. I have yet to try the latter, but maybe one day. Just note that these delicate and jiggly “clouds” are made to order and thus take an average of 20 minutes to prepare. FOOD: 5/5 SERVICE: 5/5 VALUE: 5/5 RECOMMENDATION: Anyone who thinks these are nothing more than “pancakes” is clearly ignorant and ill-informed, because the North American flapjack they are not. Indeed, if you’ve never experienced the Japanese soufflé pancake, then you need to come here. They are absolutely divine – and this is coming from someone who normally doesn’t care much for pancakes. Highly recommended! PS: If you found this review helpful in any way please consider hitting the "helpful" button!More