38 / matters magazine / hearth & home 2019 finalmatters Playing with Food Local dad makes breakfast an art form BY ELLEN DONKER M aplewood resident Rudi Anggono has trans- formed the breakfast experience for his sons, ages 3-1/2 and 6. Instead of serving the standard toast or pancakes, he's elevat- ed the meal to an art form, featuring perhaps an octopus wearing a tutu or a squirrel playing the accordion. Creativity comes naturally to Anggono having held various creative director positions over the years, including his present job at Google. He says, "Like most parents I tried to get them (his boys) excited about eating." He started add- ing basic items like a tail or an eye to their food and saw the boys were enchanted by it. That's when he realized "eating had be- come a magical experience." Over time, Anggono's creations have become more elaborate and can take up to an hour to prepare. He'll ask the boys what they see and is especially amused when they say some- thing different from what he sought to create. For what has become a weekend ritual, Anggono says he uses ingredients on hand – no special shopping is involved – and creates whatever pops into his mind. And on the days when he fails, he and his wife give the boys cereal. You can follow his creations on Instagram @PapaMakesBreakfast.