# Pink Sugar After Dinner DIY Cotton Candy at Kenka, NYC By Bianca | Published 2008-01-27 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kenka-nyc-cotton-candy References: [timeout](http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/east-village/2162/kenka) A hip Japanese restaurant in New York has put an innovative spin on the after dinner treat. Instead of passing out mints or [little chocolates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tucho-angel-hair) after a meal of gyozo and okonomiyaki, the East Village restaurant gives each patron a [tiny jar of bright pink sugar](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pink-candy-floss-electrolytes). Without further explanation, this would seem a little bit odd, but [Kenka](http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/east-village/2162/kenka), as the Japanese eatery is called, has really dreamed up something quite sweet. The pink crystals are actually meant to be carried out to the door of the restaurants where a machine awaits: a cotton candy machine! Each person gets to take turns dumping in their sugar to create their very own take-away [cotton candy cone](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pink-cotton-candy-cone)! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.5/10 - Popularity: 64% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Personalized Desserts:** The trend of personalized desserts allows customers to create their own unique treats, like the DIY cotton candy cones offered at Kenka. - **Novelty After-dinner Treats:** Restaurants are exploring new and unique ways to provide after-dinner treats, such as offering patrons a tiny jar of pink sugar to make cotton candy at home. - **Interactive Dining Experiences:** Interactive dining experiences, like the opportunity to make cotton candy at the end of a meal, are becoming increasingly popular as a way to engage customers. ### Where This Applies - **Restaurant Industry:** Restaurants can capitalize on the trend of personalized desserts and offer unique after-dinner treats to enhance the dining experience and encourage customer engagement. - **Confectionery Industry:** The confectionery industry can explore innovative ways to offer customers the ability to create personalized treats, like DIY cotton candy, to cater to changing consumer preferences. - **Hospitality Industry:** Hotels and resorts can incorporate interactive dining experiences, such as DIY dessert stations, to provide guests with memorable and engaging experiences during their stay. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Candy Floss Hot Chocolates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cotton-candy-frrrozen-hot-chocolate.md) - [Playful Animal-Themed Cotton Candy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fluffee-floss.md) - [Sushi-Inspired 3D-Printed Confections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3dprinted-confections.md) - [Salad Dressing Cotton Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ranch-cotton-candy.md) - [Deep-Fried Candy Bar Desserts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kushi-katsu-tanaka.md) - [Sugary Cotton Candy Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cotton-candy-explosion.md) - [Cotton Candy Drink Toppers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cotton-candy-magic-floating-puff-balls.md) - [Dessert-Centric Temaki Sushis](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mochi-ice-cream-temakis.md) - [Pickle-Flavored Candy Floss](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pickle-cotton-candy.md)