The face of food

Making faces out of food is probably a practice as old as eating. In the 16th century, after a childhood spent mostly on the naughty step due his 'artistic' table manners* Giuseppe Arcimboldo managed to make a living out of it with eye-bending images like this cheeky portrait of Emperor Rudolph II as the Roman god Vertumnus, dated about 1590.

* this probably isn't true Photograph: Samuel Uhrdin/PR

In the modern era, the 'Nun Bun', a cinnamon roll baked at the Bongo Java Coffee Shop in Nashville and feted for its resemblance to the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, is probably the most notable case of serendipitous food portraiture. First spotted by a customer in 1996, the bun was varnished and displayed in a glass case until it was stolen in 2005. Reports of its currant (ahem) whereabouts are sketchy ... Photograph: Public Domain

The faces of more heavyweight religious figures are the most often spotted likenesses. Fred Whan, of Kingston, Ontario, cooked a fishstick in 2003 that he claims shows the image of Jesus Christ with a traffic cone on his head after the wedding at Cana*. He kept it frozen (and quiet) until the following year when he heard about a Florida woman who had a grilled cheese sandwich bearing the likeness of the Virgin Mary.

*OK, OK, so this isn't true either, but it is the face of Christ. Or possibly Che Guevara Photograph: Ian MacAlpine/AP

That woman was Diana Duyser, blessed indeed amongst women, whose Virgin Mary toastie was later bought on eBay by the Golden Palace Casino for $28,000. Sheesh. Photograph: Peter Brooker/Rex Features

This must be one of the more bizarre places to find the Lord, or at least a break with tradition ... Photograph: Public Domain

The other main subgroup of the food face genus is edible portraiture, and when it comes to famous, there's only really one person at the top of the pile. We're not saying Barack Obama is bigger than Jesus, but there is a distinct lack of Christian iconography in sushi. Photograph: Public Domain

This portrait of Wayne Rooney is made from the finest German Bratwurst sausages and sauerkraut, with the face done in spicy tomato sauce and mayonnaise. The likeness is uncanny, but wouldn't some sort of potato-based portrait have been more appropriate? Photograph: PR

Rendered with aplomb is this effort made from Black Forest Gateau with cherry sauce and cream. It must be nice to be famous enough that people think "I know what I'll do with that bit of leftover cake - I'll make a portrait of that Rio Ferdinand" ... Photograph: PR