17 October 2020
A restaurant in Prague, Czech Republic has invented a sweet treat shaped like the new coronavirus. The cake is an attempt to increase business -- and it is already popular with diners.
The Black Madonna restaurant has suffered as travel to the Czech Republic decreased because of the coronavirus health crisis. The country is battling one of the highest rates of coronavirus infections in Europe.
The cake's creator, Olga Budnik, said she got the idea while most businesses in Prague were closed earlier this year.
She told the Reuters news service, "I found a photo of the virus on the internet and I figured out in detail how to make the dessert - how to make the spikes, what the color would be like, and I prepared it all."
The cake is a little smaller than a tennis ball. It has a chocolate surface and is covered with cocoa butter. The virus' "spikes" are made of white chocolate and dried raspberries.
Inside the cake is a nut filling with raspberry sauce and raspberries in the center.
The cake has been a big success. The restaurant has been selling more than 100 each day.
Vojtech Hermanek is the restaurant's marketing manager. He said the coronavirus crisis has caused "a huge drop" in business for Black Madonna and other Prague eateries.
He added, "But at the same time it was a chance to bring out the coronavirus cake which is a symbol...showing that not everything is lost."
Olga Budnik said she already looking ahead to the next product – a COVID-19 vaccination-themed sweet that tastes like "lots of lime with a bit of alcohol."
I'm Jonathan Evans.
Jiri Skacel and reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
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Words in This Story
cake – n. a sweet baked food made from a mixture of flour, sugar, and other ingredients such as eggs and butter
manager – n. someone who is in charge of a business, department, etc.
spike – n. something pointed like a nail
symbol – n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality