Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Sweet Story

Tokyo Cake shops

DSCN2154Although there seems to be a good cake shop on every corner in Japan, the basement floor of department stores often have different cake shops competing with each other side by side. The city of Jiyugaoka (自由が丘) in Tokyo has a whole department store called Sweet Forest dedicated to sweet shops. We would have gone there if we would have had  time. Note: a picture above and next five were taken at Takashimaya department.DSCN2147 I almost bought the Lady bug cake.DSCN2146DSCN2152DSCN1855

For those of us who have a hard time deciding, the option of Winner takes it all ABBA approach was available. Oh! Mama Mia! Here we go again. My, my. How can I resist…DSCN2144

We had an accidental encounter with Dominique Saibron in Shinjyuku  (新宿), it was an exceptional cake shop in my opinion. Because of cherry blossom season, almost all the cake shops we visited had a cherry blossom theme. Delicate pink color and design, it tugged at my heart. The taste was divine!DSCN1755DSCN1753

My husband and I headed to Kagurazaka (神楽坂) one day in search of incredible cake. We quickly lost our way and called the store for directions twice then asked a passerby twice more. Tucked in the corner of the Agnes Hotel property, Le Coin Vert was there. Ever since I watched the movie “Patisserie Coin de rue” (洋菓子店コアンドル), it was put on my ‘must go’ list. The charming and often funny story of young female patisserie apprentice with cooperation of the store making the film and a cake (Renard) below actually appeared in the movie too. DSCN2128I detected nuts, chocolate mousse, orange compote and coated with caramel gurasaju? Woooow!DSCN2130An another customer parked red electric bicycle on front and apologized me for distracting the picture taking. No, no that bike makes this picture I assured her. DSCN2133Actor Yosuke Eguchi on the left, I had a crush on him for a while. Cute ya? DSCN2139Hypnos is my husband ‘s choice. Honey, turn the cake around, I think it’s the back side. Taste the same you said? Absolutely but think about the blog.DSCN2129DSCN2131Cream cheese mousse with strawberry filling. Heavenly!DSCN2124

Time was really short on this trip. I had my favorite marron cake only one time at Harajuku’s Sembikiya. It was almost as good as mine, perhaps bit too sweet. See, looks like soba noodle on top, right?DSCN2160We sometimes took cakes home (to the hotel) and ate them. Sugar overloaded for sure, not so good for our health? Certainly! But we don’t know when we come this way (store) again and we don’t want that chance. So so baaaad.IMG_0394I lost 2 pounds before the trip and came home 4 pounds heavier so I gained only 2 pounds. Is this the way math works?

 

IMG_1291Anyway, my son married a cute Japanese girl. Now that’s a sweet story!

 

 

13 comments:

  1. Congratulation that you have a new member now in your family :D Very sweet, indeed!

    With so many dedicated cakes to eat, I will put on at least 5 pounds! At least, you have lost some before this trip :D

    Zoe

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  2. I love your dessert-alogue! Such ravishing photos and a very cute ending! Congratulations to you all!

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  3. 息子さん、ご結婚されたんですねー。道理で日本に行ってたわけだー。おめでとうございます!とても綺麗なお嫁さん♪ケーキ、めちゃ美味しそう!

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  4. WOW! All those beautiful cakes! They are all called celebration cakes! Congratulations and all the best to the beautiful couple too:)

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  5. Wait a minute . . . all those sweets after sweets after sweets . . . then suddenly . . . your son got married!!! Awwwww . . . nice surprise!! Congratulations!!

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  6. Congratulation on your son wedding! There are so many delicious looking cakes in this post, especially the chocolate mousse with caramel frosting. I need it in my mouth.

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    1. Thank you Tataya. You must visit the cake shop and watch the movie too.

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  7. I'm sad I didn't get to go to that cake shop with you. Especially now that we're looking at the pictures. Maybe we should go back next week?

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    1. I know...it was really short trip. We were glad that you came with us.

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