You may not find this sign very funny at first glance:
“CHEER! CHEESE
Cheese Cake Factory”
But does the sign become funnier when you learn this store sells neither cheese nor cheesecake? My wife loves cheesecake and we both love cheese, so you can imagine our excitement when this store first opened near our house, and our ultimate disappointment when we discovered this bakery doesn’t sell a single cheese product.
Here’s another product I’m not willing to try, but I’m curious enough to allow the kids to eat it.
“ployphenols egg
JUST YOU EAT A WILL LIKE IT”
If I had to guess, I imagine this is a weight-loss aid that suppresses appetite by giving you an adorable parasite.
…..
A hearty pip-pip and congratulations to the caption contest winner, gardenmad! Learn more about her prizes and submit a caption in the new contest here.
The Good Greatsby 
gojulesgo
September 25, 2011
It does make you wonder what they think cheese cake really IS… well, now I have something to think about today instead of exercising. Thanks!
The Good Greatsby
September 26, 2011
Any excuse to think of cheesecake instead of exercising, right?
georgettesullins
September 25, 2011
A Chinese mirage perhaps?
HoaiPhai
September 25, 2011
Cheer cheese sounds like what you say just before drinking a bree and brandy shot.
The Good Greatsby
September 26, 2011
I knew my morning bree and brandy routine was missing something.
gerknoop
September 25, 2011
Photographers that specifically take pictures of cheerleaders? “Say Cheese” snap!
thelifeofjamie
September 25, 2011
Do the Chinese just throw the names of wildly popular restaurant chains into their titles as a marketing ploy?
The Good Greatsby
September 26, 2011
They do sometimes use variations of popular brand names but I wouldn’t think the Cheesecake Factory would be known in China. Chinese people aren’t actually big cheese eaters.
ryoko861
September 25, 2011
When you translate ANY asian phrase, it never translates the way you would think it would translate. My son has a bunch of Japanese toys with English and Japanese in them. The English translation is just hilarious! I wonder if that’s how they talk to eachother?
limr
September 25, 2011
I’m fascinated by the fact English is so prevalent in places where it is not the primary language. Of course I know that English is the current lingua franca, so it makes sense…to a point. But there’s got to be something else going on, right? I really think there is. Maybe the inclusion of English in marketing and on packaging gives the product some strange prestige and really has nothing to do with marketing towards actual English speakers.
Sorry, I realize I’m using comment space to proto-brainstorm for a future post!
Beach Bum
September 25, 2011
I’ve found similar odd phrases here in the American South, now the odd part about my statements is that I am Southern and lived most of my life here. Sometimes I feel like I must have been adopted.
John Erickson
September 25, 2011
Man, I’d be PISSED to find out the store sold neither cheese nor cheesecake. Bait and switch!
I’m not getting an image of the second gizmo…..
The Good Greatsby
September 26, 2011
I felt especially bad for my wife who passed the store on her way to work and back for the two months the sign was up, but the store hadn’t opened yet. She really had her hopes up.
The image wasn’t working on some browsers earlier but should be working now.
Laura
September 26, 2011
Polyphenols are supposed to be good for you — but ployphenols? I’m staying far away from any “food” that admits it’s a ploy.
spilledinkguy
September 26, 2011
No cheese?!
(I’ll be honest… I was finding it hard to continue on past that point…)
pegoleg
September 26, 2011
I’m amazed that enough people speak Chinglish in Shanghai, that tons of companies print their stuff in that language!
judithhb
September 26, 2011
This reminds me of a post I wrote last month on outdated adverts. One was for tapeworms to lose weight. I wonder if anybody really bought them.
If you are interested the post was – http://growingyoungereachday.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/and-todays-offers/
Brown Road Chronicles
September 26, 2011
Those hairy little jellybeans look delicious!
Binky
September 26, 2011
Now I want some cheese cake. At least I know where not to go to get it.
pattisj
September 27, 2011
I think I’ll stay on this continent.
flippingchannels
September 30, 2011
Wow, if your kids ever do try that second thing please take a picture of it for us ok?