Chef makes edible 'food illusions' with an unexpected taste

The chef has certainly found a niche when it comes to his unique creations, but as tasty as the ingredients might sound, the presentation is likely to put most people off trying these tasty dishes.

UK chef Ben Churchill is known for his delicious foods with a twist. He recently decided that not only did he want to make delectable desserts, but he wanted to make these tasty treats look completely unappetizing too.

There are a myriad of strange new flavors and foods that come onto the market almost daily these days, but for the most part, all of these items still look and sound like they have the potential to not taste terrible.

But phrases like "ash-tray dessert" and "dirty kitchen sponge pudding" are not among these. Yet these are two examples of the type of creation Churchill has set out to make.

While they might sound totally disgusting and unappealing, the ash-tray dessert is actually made from "Vanilla Pannacotta, SmokeyLapsang Gel, Meringue Powder, Chocolate..." according to Churchill.

Another creation is that of his washing up sponge, seemingly covered in dirt and grime from washing the dishes, yet made of "olive oil sponge, topped with a mint crumb, served with foamed sweet milk and a toffee sauce."

On his blog, Churchill explained his project.

"I've decided to embark in a new direction towards the gross and the stomach turning, making off-putting desserts out of beautiful ingredients. I've certainly got a fair few ideas already knocking about, but when it comes to getting inspiration it can be a bit tough. I don't want to just go with obvious gross objects, I want it to be more thought provoking and deeper. The problem I'm having is when I research certain aspects. Looking through hundreds of pictures of mouldy oranges, I eventually felt a slight bit nauseous. Just today I was looking at pictures of maggots, trying to colour match as closely as possible. But believe me, there's only so many pictures of maggot infestations you can handle, especially just before you eat said fake dessert."

Fortunately, in between all the grossness, Churchill has also offered up some yummier-looking alternatives, which include an egg on toast that is actually "coconut pannacotta, mango gel, grilled lemon sponge..."

And the Iron Throne from "Game of Thrones" made completely out of chocolate.