Molten chocolate cake is characterized by an oozing, lava-like chocolate inside. Hong Kongers named it xin tai ruan (literally, ‘heart too soft’) which happens to be the name of a Taiwanese pop song in the 1990s.

Ms. Warisa Kung, chef of Si Yuan Amenities Centre, United College, said that to achieve lava-like chocolate inside a slightly crispy exterior, one removes the cake from the oven before it is completely done. This means the key to making a good molten chocolate cake is time control. That is why the cakes are always made to order, never baked beforehand. However it is not difficult to prepare this spectacular cake. First melt chocolate and butter over a saucepan of simmering water. Then mix with sugar and eggs. Sift in the flour and divide the batter into ramekins. Lastly put them in the oven to bake. Does the cake melt your heart? Well, it depends on the chef’s skill. The one on campus definitely does.