Cake-off: Éclat des Jours's Baked Cheesecake over Toshi Yoroizuka's Saint Marc

Tried to do a proper long run before Saturday's cake-off, which I did. This was a fourth-round cake-off between the last two available three-time winners. First I ran to Éclat des Jours to get their Baked Cheesecake. Then I mostly ran back to get Toshi Yoroizuka's returned Saint Marc from the Kyoubashi shop. Despite the three wins, I wasn't able to get into the Saint Marc for some reason. I'd think I was off chocolate, but that doesn't seem to be the case generally. It's possible that the recipe changed, but I won't think so. This is only it's first loss, so should get to again next year. If I can, I'll do that early, before it disappears again. No problem with the cheesecake which while not dramatically superior remains by best guess for best cheesecake in Tokyo; every time it wins, I'm kind of surprised, and yet it keeps winning. If it's not broke... 

As implied, recently I speculated that not doing enough exercise before eating lunch and then doing a cake-off might have interfered with my enjoyment, which still seems reasonable. In this case, I ran three times the distance, but I did get a snack from Éclat des Jours that might have nullified this, Chapeau. I got this as a pastry, although the shop person referred to is as "pan", so I was a little afraid about the inside, but this is plenty decadent and definitely more than one person should eat by themselves (not that the price hides this). Can't wait until I can get it again, but not on a cake-off day and maybe I'll try to get it home first.

Cake-off:Toshi Yoroizuka's Saint Marc over Bien-être's Mont-Blanc

Sunday, I got up at an only slightly more reasonable 6:00, though it was so cloudy that it seemed earlier. This time I was racing only my plan to arriving at Toshi Yoroizuka at Tokyo Midtown, not meeting anyone who was expecting me, so less pressure. As it happened, I could have been another several minutes later, since the Saint Marc were not ready.

I successfully finished all the planned parts of Azabu (south, west, base, and #10). I ran most of it, but didn't feel obligated to. Found some locations that I had previously missed and even had time to figure out the area around Roppongi Hills and how I was going to deal with a giant shopping complex (I'm willing to use stairs up to the level that crosses the running cutting through it). On the way, I stopped at the Mont-Thabor that's in Azabujuuban and got their Mont-Thabor Croissant Chocolat, or something like that. It's not very croissant-like, and actually it's not that pastry like, as the outer crust is more like a roll, but they were open before 9 am and this was fresh, so it was actually quite good and inside was typical of a pain au chocolat.

I decided that I didn't need to be in a hurry and had lunch before going to Bien-être. I hesitated about using the bicycle again, but was tired, and I was correct that their Mont-Blanc (which is pretty dense and squat) could take it. They had a couple new cakes (I've had five different kinds of mille-feuille from them so far, but never strawberry), so I might get back their this week, if the majors don't announce anything that I feel I can't wait for. For the cake-off (and note that I only had two cakes during the week, so I was planning for a double cake-off on the weekend), both cakes were definitely great and to the end I really couldn't decided between them, mostly because I was too busy enjoying them. I'm going to give this one to the Saint Marc because I feel it had more flavor, just because a little chocolate goes a long way, but that's really a guess.

Cake-off: Yoroizuka's Saint Marc over 14 Juillet's Au Lait Noix

Before I get to the cake off, Friday I went for about a 70 minute run, first to Shima to get a pastry, then tracing the Sophia University Link, most of the Hrakawachou Loop clockwise, and then most of the Nagatachou Loop clockwise and everything looked good except that I had to move where I cross the road from the St. Ignatius Catholic Church side to the park side, neither of which

I've labeled on the Neighborhood Running Map yet. At Shima, I got the Brioche Praliné Rose as a pastry, but I'm not sure that this qualifies, versus sweet bread (the French Wikipédia entry says its "une viennoiserie", but this includes puff pastry, which is mainly what I mean, whereas I lump tarts in with cakes, though this is more due to the broad types of things called "cake" in patisseries). Anyway, it was good, but not a pastry. I also took some pictures of where the HIrakawachou Loop passes through Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho.

For Saturday, I ran two hours, one each from noon and about 6 pm. I wanted to try again at the last cake-off and also hit all the Tokyo/Ginza area shops, where I didn't find any cake I was look before besides the two for the cake-off (which had been available pre-Christmas, so it wasn't a huge surprise to find them).

This was Toshi Yoroizuka's Saint Marc and 14 Juillet Tokyo's Au Lait Noix (written as "Noa"). There is some orange in the saint-marc, but basically this was two milk chocolate mousse/cream cakes. Still happy with both and it was hard to decide until the end, by which time I was really impressed by Saint Marc. I don't really need the extra incentive to visit Toshi Yoroizuka again for a new cake, but it's fine if I have it.

The running was along Roppongi, where I took a few photos to add, where I discovered the no-stopping connection to Midtown hills, so I should use those two as a bridge to east Akasaka rather than going to Akasaka Palace. At night, I could do Aoyama and Akasaka courses correctly with referring to my map but also decided where I was going to simplify them, so lots of map revisions to do and new courses I need to verify before I can do my next big neighborhood run (I want to do 60 km next).

My plan for tomorrow is cycling for cake reconnaissance and a pastry. If they are available, I'll try my first second-round cake-off on Monday (a national holiday).

En Vedette: Saint Marc Pistache

Finally got over to En Vedette in Miyoshi, Koto-ku. Can't say how long I ran, but about 2 hours at a low speed, so probably 9 km/h, or that at least would match the distance and estimated time. Got a little lost both ways (didn't take the same way back, as I stopped by at a few places along the way, for research). I got the Saint Marc Pistache (518 yen), which is what you would expect, except that there is a thin red layer under the chocolate cream that did not have much impact--I would guess cherry, since that's commonly paired with pistachio. It was creamy and it was definitely good, but didn't really excite me, so big plan to go back again. Nice looking little shop though, and I like the neighborhood, other than the low elevation (which is also true of Ginza), but not particularly convenient for me, which is why it's taken quite a while to get around to it.

Coming back, I went the north way around the Inner Moat course, where this time of day is mostly high school students, though they've gotten pretty ahead of me. Further up, there were a couple tourists, because of north exits for the East Gardens.

Sadaharu Aoki: Saint Marc

As planned, I visited the Marunouchi Sadaharu Aoki for their exclusive Saint Marc (640 yen). This is almond biscuit top and bottom, along with a caramelized layer on top, with layers of vanilla cream and chocolate cream. As usual with Sadaharu Aoki, this is big and well constructed. I'm going to say that this was excellent, although I am some bias toward them, and toward this cake, which my I took this over, for example, green tea and azuki bean cake (though I've also seen an éclair I haven't had recently).

I'm hoping to make a long fast run tomorrow, so I took it somewhat easier today, 10 km/h out and 9 km/h by a somewhat short route of about 5 km each way.

11.4 km to Bien-Etre Patisserie and back: Saint Marc

Tried running over to Bien-Etre. They close at 8:30, so that's reasonable. Ran along the road south of JR Chuo train line, swung north to get around Meiji Gingu just outside the Yamanote loop, came down the west side of Yoyogi Park and went west where Yamanotedoori meets Inogashiradoori. Kind of dark and the path could be little more even, but it's quite wide most of the way and not very crowded. I ran closer to Shinjuku Gyoen (the big government park) on the way back, but ended up with about the same distance both ways. Wasn't really up to going fast, given the new uncertain route and conditions, but did 11.4 km in 1 11'22'', which is okay.

Got the Saint Marc for 520 at Bien-Etre. It was very good, but not great (don't think I've ever had a great one) and the remaining selection was somewhat limited and did not interested me, so I won't be going back soon. Nice, bright, and clean little cafe space, though, so I'd definitely stop in there more if it were convenient, but of course, if it were convenient, so would be Fraoula, which is great, and Asterisque, which seems much more high end, is just another block, and is good and popular (I could get there too, if I wanted to add places to jog to during the week, since they're open until 8 pm).

39 km to Acacier + 1+ km home: Souvenir and Saint Marc

This time I went to Acacier. The trip (from 4 am) went up to Yasukunidori (Yasukuni street/road), but then followed the canal to Akabahara. I turned north along Showa Dori, past Ueno Station, across Sumidagawa (Sumida River), and until the near side of Aragawa, by which time the sun was well up,

which has a riverside road for runners and cyclists. It was nice. I've gone across it but it really runs across where I usually want to go, so I had to work it into a roundabout route. 

I went four bridges, which is about 5 km, and then crossed and followed Shibagawa (actually, I followed "New" Shibagawa, the main branch) into Saitama Prefecture, my first time as a runner.

Eventually I reached the end of that path and took the road west toward the prefectural office, which ended around here,

which I'm not likely to get back to (who wants a "Fair Weather" cake shop?), and was definitely not so nice for running or walking, although it got me where I wanted to go and even there I saw at least one cyclist. Things stayed pretty outskirts-like (I don't think I've ever seen a drive-in Starbucks before) until actually at the prefectural offices, which are near the shop. I guess Saitama is not Tokyo.

The cakes I chose were Souvenir and Saint Marc. As usual, the park photo is not very flattering, but it's very hot today, so I wasn't going for maximum presentation. Actually, after running 39 km, I found that I was not that emotionally invested in the cake, so I was able to remember that three pieces is too many.

The Souvenir (500 yen) is chocolate mousse on the outside and lemon mousse on the inside. They were about 50:50 in terms of volume, which was a good balance (also, lemon is strong enough to compete with chocolate). The bottom was a kind of flaky in a bread-like way, which was interesting, and had nut pieces (almonds?) mixed in, for some additional flavor and texture. The cake was very good.

The Saint Marc, however, was sort of nothing. There's caramel on top, which gives crunch but not much taste, only the chocolate layer could really be tasted and it was nothing exciting. I've had Saint Marcs before elsewhere and liked them, but I'm not sure what was different this time.

The plus 1+ km in the run is the jog from the train station to home, just because I could, was dressed for it, and prefer not to waste time walking. Actually, from Urawa Station in Saitama was very convenient, with Shinjuku Station as only the third stop. I thought it was a "local" train, but I guess it does not serve that many stations, even if it runs parallel to tracks that do. They said something about it using some other line's tracks for our part of the route. It continues down to Yokohama.