Has
KFC just ripped off genius pastry-maker of our time, Dominique
Ansel, with its newest treat? Today, it was announced that the fast-food chain has partnered with Seattle’s Best Coffee to create what it's calling the "Scoffee Cup" — a fully edible coffee cup. While the cup looks unassuming enough, it’s actually a cookie lined with white
chocolate. Even the branded outer wrapper is made from sugar paper, and
therefore edible.
While
I am digging the zero-waste vibe here, is it just me or does this edible cup
concept feel over-explored? Let’s pull our minds as far back to November 2014, when Ansel released The
Cookie Shot — a chocolate-chip vessel for cold milk — which got me so
excited I almost cried. (It’s like all of my childhood dreams come true!)
It
wouldn’t be the first time that Ansel’s creations were, how can I put this, used as inspiration for a large food chain’s product. (Ansel’s breakout pastry, the
Cronut, is clearly the spark behind Dunkin' Donuts’ Croissant Donut, and a slew of other imitations.) We reached out to Ansel to see if
he thinks his ideas are being exploited by KFC this time around.
"Edible-cup shapes have been around, so I’m
not sure if the cookie shot did inspire this," he said, adding, "Either way, I’d love to try it!" Only a pastry chef could be so sweet. I suppose imitation is the sincerest form
of flattery, and it's also worth noting that the Scoffee Cups will only be released in the U.K. for now, with no plans for a Stateside debut at this time. In the meantime, I am going to continue to drool over this genius coffee-sweet combo.