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The Korea Times

Food does not always go viral for its flavour – sometimes, it is the story that sells. That is the case with “Ex-Boyfriend Toast”.
This simple dish – a slice of toasted bread topped with cream cheese and blueberry jam – has evolved from a viral internet post in Korea to a popular item at a cafe in Brooklyn, New York.
“Treat yourself to a delicious toast – made with blueberry preserves and cream cheese – that has an interesting background story as to why it got its name!” reads the item description on PHiL Cafe’s Uber Eats menu.
Priced at US$10, it is reportedly one of the cafe’s most frequently ordered items.












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The backstory involves a Korean woman who missed the toast her ex-boyfriend used to make for her. After their break-up, she texted him asking for the recipe – making it clear she was not trying to rekindle the relationship. To her surprise, he sent back a detailed set of instructions.
She shared their text exchange online back in 2018, and it quickly went viral. As the post gained popularity, Korean convenience store chain GS25 briefly sold a “Boyfriend Sandwich” made with the same ingredients in 2019. The item is no longer available.
Interest in the toast recently spiked again after it popped up on an episode of Earth Arcade, a variety show on Korean channel tvN.
During a quiz segment where participants had to guess the names of various breads, the now-famous toast appeared and An Yu-jin of K-pop girl group IVE answered “blueberry cream cheese toast”, sidestepping its internet-famous nickname.

The K-pop singer’s response sparked a playful debate over whether she had given the correct answer or not – but in the end, it was accepted.
The original toast has since inspired multiple variations. PHiL Cafe also serves an “Ex-Boyfriend Croffle” – croissant dough pressed in a waffle iron and topped with blueberry jam and cream cheese.
Social media is filled with new takes on the dish, along with upgraded versions of the toast featuring extra ingredients such as banana, strawberry and basil, as well as an ice cream sundae.
Read the original story at The Korea Times.


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Food & Drink

Why is cream cheese and blueberry jam on toast trending? Dish served in a New York cafe, and popular online, originated in a break-up story


Why is cream cheese and blueberry jam on toast trending? Dish served in a New York cafe, and popular online, originated in a break-up story.


Korea Times

South Korea

What's hot in Korea

What is Ex-Boyfriend Toast? From viral internet story to hot seller in a New York cafe

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Why is cream cheese and blueberry jam on toast trending? Dish served in a New York cafe, and popular online, originated in a break-up story

Why is cream cheese and blueberry jam on toast trending? Dish served in a New York cafe, and popular online, originated in a break-up story