New Dog Man Activation Brings 2 Dishes to DreamWorks Imagination Cafe at Universal Studios Florida

Fighting evil-doers as a half man, half dog police officer is no easy feat (probably), but somehow, Dog Man gets the job done. This kind of heroism deserves a tribute in the form of food, and DreamWorks Imagination Cafe in DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios Florida is happy to oblige.

To properly celebrate the January 31 release of the “Dog Man” animated film, DreamWorks Land is hosting a Dog Man Activation, which will include the unveiling of two new offerings at DreamWorks Imagination Cafe and a Dog Man Character Encounter. I’m extra excited for the food, and I know you will be too once you see what’s cooking in the kitchen.

Wait, Who Is Dog Man?

All this talk about dogs and men may have some of you wondering just exactly who Dog Man is. DreamWorks Animation brings you the canine-crime-fighting film adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s bestselling literary phenomenon, “Dog Man.” It tells the story of a human police officer and his faithful police dog, who are both injured together on the job. A harebrained (yet life-saving) surgery fuses their bodies into one — thus Dog Man is born. It’s his job to protect and serve his city, with a little bit of fetching, sitting and rolling over here and there, all while keeping the villainous feline Petey the Cat at bay.

Ruff Mix Mac & Cheese

Ah, a dish after my own heart. Mac & cheese is already one of my — if not my number one — favorite foods to feast on, so seeing a Dog Man-themed rendition of it come to the menu at DreamWorks Imagination Cafe truly has me feeling pumped. Ruff Mix Mac & Cheese is some of the best dog (man) food you might ever hope to have, and it’s got the perfect combination of creamy mac & cheese and picadillo beef served inside a Ruff Mix dog food can. In the film, Ruff Mix is featured in an advertisement, and chefs like Chris Colón in research and development at Universal found this bit utterly inspiring.

“We were looking for any kind of screen grabs that showcased either something iconic in a big moment or that got pulled up to the front of the screen that screamed ‘Look at me!’ and that was one of those things,” Chef Chris says. “I was like ‘Man, this feels so organic that it makes the most sense.’” Chef Chris adds he and his team wanted to go for a blend of Spanish and American flavors, and that’s where the picadillo beef comes in to give a unique twist to a classic American dish.

Chef Chris’ daughter, Nora, is a long-time fan of the “Dog Man” graphic novel series, and he says their shared love for it helped inspire him when developing these new promotional dishes. “I’m always trying to be the cool dad as much as I can,” he says. When he told Nora he was making food for the movie, she was ecstatic. “She also thought I was very cool. She is very, very thrilled at the idea of me being able to do some food for this. So, it’s really cool.”

Greg the Dog Tennis Ball

We’ve got our savory bases covered, but now we need something sweet. A tennis ball may not sound like the most appetizing treat — unless you’re a dog, like Greg — but at DreamWorks Imagination Cafe, it’s definitely the way to go. Named for Officer Knight’s four-legged best friend, the Greg the Dog Tennis Ball is a light, fluffy vanilla cupcake decorated to look like a real tennis ball with a jelly filling and topped with a peanut butter mousse and Greg’s name written on it. If you’ve ever met a dog before, you know how much they love peanut butter, so including it in this dessert’s flavor profile was the perfect move.

Chef Chris says in the “Dog Man” film, the tennis ball holds a special place in Dog Man’s heart. “It’s the first thing you see once he becomes Dog Man and he goes back to his old house that he had as a man … and all that was in that place was the tennis ball,” he says. “Before he became Dog Man, he was Greg the dog, and then he keeps that ball with him throughout the whole movie.”

Not only does he want guests to appreciate how delicious these dishes are, but Chef Chris also wants them to see just how much thought was put into each one. “I think everything that we do now across all the properties is about immersing our guests into the worlds that we have,” he says. “Universal has forever brought the movies to life and I think we’re doing that.”

CAN’T MISS: Dog Man Character Encounter

To really seal the deal with the Dog Man Activation, there will be a Dog Man Character Encounter right across from these delights at DreamWorks Imagination Cafe. Meet the big Dog Man in blue yourself for a few flicks and see a children’s classic come to life right before your eyes. With a tennis ball cupcake in one hand and a can of Ruff Mix Mac & Cheese in the other, you’ve got everything you need for an exciting date with Dog Man!

“Dog Man” is in theaters now! See him on the big screen, and comment with what you’re most excited to experience in DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios Florida.