Lindt, Truffle au Chocolat Framboise

Tried to actually exercise again today, beyond just walking. Expected that it might induce coughing, but no such problem. Went by bicycle down to Lindt first, as a quite fine shop that I need a third cake from. I got the Truffle au Chocolat Framboise, which was the only viable option for a new cake (more cakes are listed on their site, but I suspect there aren't that many at the Kitaaoyama shop).

Then I went over to the Fiorentina Pastry Boutique at Roppongi Hills and confirmed that they still have Estate, which I want for a cake-off tomorrow, so I should be set. Back home, I only did push-ups as indoor workout and I was pretty weak, but it's a (re)start. Maybe I'll do abs, back, and arms tomorrow.

The raspberry truffle cakes was definitely fine. Lindt might just be a big commercial chocolate maker, but they have a good brand and protect it. Not exciting but solid and dependable. They shouldn't have trouble hanging on to a position among the fine shops (targeted to be the bottom half of the top 127 Tokyo shops). Eleven more quite fine shops to confirm, including both of tomorrow's cake-off targets, who are top contenders to move up to the next level.

Lindt: Montreux

Got a second cake from Lindt, in North Aoyama and then traced Omotesandou Doori on the older route minus a loop and missing one turn and then made a second try in the future Tougou Shrine and SDA Tokyo Central Church neighborhood. The shrine is fine, but without backtracking, there's no avoiding crowds visiting the church because it's behind the Meiji Doori Omotesandou intersection, which is usually going to be too crowded fro running. I started running faster than recently but of course was slowed down in Harajuku carring cake. I walked the last 800 m or so, as I had already run 61 minutes.

The cake was Montreux, which is a pecan brownie base with a layer of caramel chocolate mousse (though a pretty thick one) with mascarpone cheese flavored with vanilla. The vanilla cheese part is definitely good, but the rest drags it down. Not sure that a brownie is every going to work for me as a cake base, but this certainly does. I'm going to be generous and say it was at least good (rather than just okay), but there's no huge hurry for the third cake.

Lindt: Gateau Truffle au Chocolat

Continuing from Friday, I walked confirming and running in the reverse direction loops in Sendagaya down to North Aoyama. Road was closed for the Zuienji Loop, so I'll need to do that one another time. Anyway, I decided that the one near the National Noh Theater should go around the front rather than the back, since that's easier and shorter. I suppose the reason I did it the other way was to run the length of the mark there, but passing the southeast side is sufficient for me. I also decided that I could just run by the front of Jinguumae Public Park rather than come the back way with the public housing drive (which has a posted speed limit of 8 km/h). I thought the Jinguumae Loop is fine, but now I realize that I don't need to come down Meiji Douri, cut over to Harajuku Street and the cut over again to Cat Street, I could should just cut over to Cat Street along the cross street and void the crowds and alleys (though I'm still going to run into crowds on Cat Street (though no cats).

For cake, I stopped at Lindt, who have a cafe on Aoyama Douri which I've been to several times, due to it's convenience and visibility, although not since getting serious about running and cake. They do take out, though, and I judged correctly that they wouldn't bother to adjust their line-up for Christmas. I got the Gateau Truffle au Chocolat and walked it back home the long way to confirm that  Bubó Barcelona also had standard cakes (my plan for Christmas) and see whether Takashima would have their normal Patisserie selection. They didn't, though they did have a small selection, because large Christmas cakes, so I might go there Tuesday and get something from somewhere I haven't posted on before.

The Lindt cake, while understandably somewhat like eating a chocolate crunch bar (though it was truffle, so thick ganache, not solid chocolate in crystal form) was reasonably good for a brand sold in supermarkets. I'm willing to say that it was excellent and plan on going back soon to try a second cake (they have four types total, and I'm not expecting those to vary much, if at all, though I haven't been watching).