Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Thursday 12 OcTOber 2017

Old-world charm in Europe? Cereal cafes serving Lucky Charms

By ALBERT STUMM bon, one of the most pop- patrons doze off for a quick flagship near Times Square nations are balanced with
Associated Press ular is a mix of Froot Loops nap. Pop also has hosted and one inside a designer both flavor and texture.”
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) and Rice Krispies with mini events, such as a paja- sneaker store in Brooklyn. On one recent afternoon,
— Travelers wandering the all of El Flako’s 20 seats were
streets of European capi- filled, mostly with Spanish
tals in search of old-world speakers who giggled at
charm might just as likely the menu’s fruity, chocolat-
stumble upon a bowl of ey, honey or healthy com-
Lucky Charms. binations.
Cafes serving American Lining the white shelves
breakfast cereal have ex- around them were tech-
ploded in popularity in nicolor boxes of Sugar
Europe as young entre- Smacks, Disney Princess
preneurs tap into both nos- and dozens of others cere-
talgia and novelty among als, as well as potted plants
customers who’ll pay be- labeled with first names
tween $3 and $9 a bowl. (In of famous rock singers
U.S. supermarkets, you can like Patti, Jim and Alice. A
buy entire boxes of cereal soundtrack of The Doors,
for less.) Jimi Hendrix and The Clash
In the last two years, cafes pumped out of the speak-
have opened in London, ers.
Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Castan, 29, said the nod to
Lisbon, Berlin, Hamburg, classic rock points to the
Manchester and many origins of the boxed-cereal
other cities. The trend also boom in the 1960s and ‘70s.
has a toehold in the Middle “We have a concept of
East. This photo shows one of the fruity combinations of sugary cereals, topped with candy, going back to the roots, re-
There’s no single model for at the El Flako cereal cafe in Barcelona, Spain. Behind it is Nicolas Castan, one of the turning to being a kid, back
the cafes, but they tend to owners, making another healthier combination. to the origins.”
offer at least 100 brands, The combination of nov-
dozens of fruit and candy marshmallows and dried ma party with a live band Despite making inroads elty and atmosphere were
toppings, sweet syrups, and strawberries, topped with called Beliche, which is Por- elsewhere, nowhere has enough to bring Maria
several kinds of milk, includ- strawberry syrup, a waffle tuguese for bunkbed. the trend caught on quite Roca, a 19-year-old stu-
ing nondairy and flavored cookie and a scoop of Vicente, who was a me- like it has in Europe, whose dent from the University of
varieties. Many also serve vanilla ice cream, served chanical engineer until grocery stores never Barcelona, back a second
coffee, cereal-flavored with a side of milk in a glass 2016, said they got the idea stocked the hundreds of time with a friend, Nuria
milkshakes, soft-serve sun- bottle. from seeing Cereal Killer varieties that fill entire aisles Amor, 19.
daes or inventive takes “Cereal has existed for Cafe in London, which was of American supermarkets. “It’s not cheap, but it’s
on Rice Krispies treats, like what, a hundred years?” the first of its kind in Europe. Nicolas Castan, one of not really expensive,” said
tiered cakes made from said one of Pop’s three Identical twins from Belfast three people behind El Roca, who had a 5.60 euro
marshmallowy layers of owners, Filipe Vicente, 32. had opened it in 2014 after Flako in Barcelona, said combo of Cookie Krisp,
Fruity Pebbles, Apple Jacks “But for a hundred years it seeing cereal cafes in the the lack of experience led Choco Krispies, Kinder
and other sugary cere- was cereal and milk and United States and watch- to some risky combinations chocolates, M&Ms, ba-
als. Rare varieties from for- that was pretty much it. ing the 2007 independent after they opened in the nanas and chocolate milk.
eign countries also bring in Now this product has so movie “Flakes.” Now Ce- spring of 2017. “And it’s something origi-
homesick expats. many varieties, the com- real Killer has two more “Almost half the people nal, so I wanted to show
A classic bowl with milk binations are endless, and stores in England as well as would make their own her.”
is still the standard. But we think, what about ice branches in Jordan, Dubai but they wouldn’t finish it Would they be back?
they’re often topped with cream or pudding? Why and Kuwait. because they were mak- “Yes, for sure,” said Amor,
combinations that go far not?” Cafes that had opened in ing really weird mixes, like who had Cinnamon Toast
beyond what most Ameri- Brightly colored boxes Chicago, Florida and Texas Froot Loops with chocolate Crunch and Apple Jacks
cans would recognize as line the shelves at Pop for have since mostly closed, Krave,” said Castan, who with honey, apples and
a breakfast banana sliced practical and decorative but two flashy entries previously worked in pub- wheat milk. “It was really
over Corn Flakes. purposes, and a bunkbed opened recently in New lic relations. “So, we tried good, and you wouldn’t
At Pop Cereal Cafe in Lis- and padded benches let York, a Kellogg’s-branded to make sure the combi- do that at home.” q