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wow, thats a tough one. The only thing that comes to my mind, is my sister made a veggi cake like all the characters in veggi tales. It was adorable, everthing looked just like a vegetable,it was all in the cutting and frosting, very vivid colors. It looked like a basket of vegetables.She used a tan frosting and a fork print to look like the basket and I believe she used a real basket handle, then she put the cake veggies inside and some hanging out, probably alot of work.
Another old traditional cake is the one that looks like a beautiful dress, tapering up, then you stick the old barbie doll down in from the top, kind of juvenille, but you could use your imagination and make it modern, or look like something your friend might wear. It could be fun.

Okay, not dessert, but I made some pretty convincing eggs over easy using melted mozzarella and peeled yellow tomato halves.That might be nice as a starter, and it would hint at the theme for the rest of the meal.

You could probably get the same effect with white chocolate or very white ice cream, melted a little and refrozen onto the plate, topped with custard or a very yellow ice cream pr a halved peach or apricot. You could serve it with cake that looks like toast.

Hmmmm....I'm actually having an easier time thinking of foods that look like desserts than the other way around. Like, make a stew or meat pie of some sort, and top it with potato slices that are cut to look like apple slices. The yukon golds would probably be a good color for that.

You could bake a cake in a shape, like you could do a a pumpkin by baking in 2 bundt pans and flattening the bottoms and putting them together, then frosting them like a pumpkin or jack-o-lantern. Unless you want a lot of cake, I'd suggest hunting up some smaller bundt pans, though.

I've seen some pretty convincing desserts that were make to look like burgers and fries. Chocolate brownie like thing for the burger, raspberry sauce for ketchup, mango puree for mustard. I think the fries might have been mango as well. Bun was just cake, baked in the proper shape. You could do individual ones, or one giant burger.

Thought this was really cute but I'd use REAL mashed potatoes.

This Spaghetti and Meatballs cake is out of this world. I was lucky enough to enjoy a piece recently and let me tell you - it looks amazing and the truffle "meatballs" are not to be missed.

Visit this site for a whole selection of cakes that look like other food.

@jaclynmck--if you haven't already, check with the wine bar to make sure it's okay to bring in outside food.

Ever heard of a kitty litter cake? It's a cake put in an unused litterbox, frosted and sprinkled with something--I'm not sure what--to look like cat litter, with tootsie rolls shaped to look like--well, you know what. I guess it's not really food that looks like other food, unless you're a dog. Never mind.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I had already confirmed that the wine bar was OK with it. She's probably bringing a cake of her own and welcomed crazy food that looks like other food.

there's a blog i like called "motherhood is not for wimps". she served her children cupcakes for dinner on april fool's day. they were thrilled until they realized that the "frosting" was mashed potatoes piped from a pastry bag with a star tip, the "cupcakes" were meatloaf placed in fluted cups, and there were even little red pepper stars {cut with a cookie cutter} decorating the tops. she had photos up and they were wonderful. unfortunately i couldn't find the link.

Buffy.. My husband and I are still laughing at your kitty litter cake . How funny " unless your a dog"

I made the Spaghetti and Meatball cake for my nephews and it looked great, and they were fooled (and disappointed) for a minute, thinking their Aunt didn't make them a birthday cake! It took a lot of frosting "spaghetti" to cover it....thrilled the kids, way too much for me!

LOL, Buffy.
FOr a savory, I like to add a couple of grilled salmon center slices, shredded, and dill, or even diced dill pickle to Joy of Cooking's basic cheescake recipe. A drop or two of Liquid Smoke is good if the salmon was broiled instead of grilled over wood or charcoal. Omit the sugar, and line the bottom of the Springform with crushed saltines and butter instead of Graham crackers and butter. Portable and good cold or room temp.
But I've never done sweet disguised as savory. I'll have to check the link to the magicans.

Oh and to echo another comment on here, the Surreal Gourmet (on Canadian Food TV) has done a number of items made to look like something else (in some cases, other foods, in some cases, inedible stuff). I remember one where he made desserts that looked like shaving cream in a cup (remember the old fashioned kind) for a barber's party. That was the same one where he made the cocktail that looked like Barbisol (is that spelt right, the stuff hair professionals soak their tools in - it's blue.....). I'd look the show up and peruse the entries.

Ok I can't help it. I have to comment. To those two individuals who declined to actually comment on the topic at hand and instead decided to take on the role of this girls mother I can only say this: WTF? Seriously WTF? You two are obviously the worst kind of people to ask a question of. You're the type who goes around giving unwanted and unasked for advice. I'm sure your friends and family are overjoyed by you're overstatement of the obvious. @ Wookie - "if you haven't already, check with the wine bar to make sure it's okay to bring in outside food." Are you effing kidding me? One can only assume this grown individual who can more than likely navigate her way to said wine bar, probably has all the follow up details already sewn up. And to you @ DBCURRIE - You're even worse because not only did you echo that idiotic comment you took it a step further and said "even though you said that you want to surprise your friend with the dessert, you might want to rethink that, and make sure she doesn't mind. She may already have made arrangements with the wine bar for some sort of dessert to be served." OMG! Are you serious? As stated above one can assume that this person has all other details regarding the event taken care of. In fact the event is totally irrelevant. She asked about food that looks like other food. That's it! Would either of like to inform her to floss and brush after eating sweet snacks as well? I'm sure she'd relish that tid bit. Or how about advising her against drinking too much wine at the wine bar before she drives home, and to give the keys to a friend if she feels as though she's had too much. I'm sure that's along the lines of helpful advice you feel like you need toss out to the world. The gist of this is: Shut the eff up because nobody cares for your self indulgent "advice." Now, as for the post. I really super like the blog with the meyer lemon egg and toast. That's rad!