Cycling to L'Abricotier: Noisettine

No running today, and now I feel sick (not sure with what), so no running tomorrow looks like, but it wouldn't hurt to keep resting my knee.

Did go out by bicycle (wasn't feeling particularly sick then, although there were symptoms yesterday; could just be new pollen flying around there, especially with these high winds). It was back to L'Abricotier again. They didn't have the featured cake that I was looking for (only three little fresh cakes featured on their main page, and I've had the first two), so I went with what appealed to me the most, even though it is new (new things aren't necessarily the best way to evaluate a place, since they can be novelty for novelty's sake, but this is the third cake, so not a big deal). I ate in again, for the same reason as last time: bicycles and cake do not mix and strong wind (although I waited until the rain had stopped). This time, a different person (and on a different day of the week) didn't press me to order a drink (although that could have been my misunderstanding last time).

I got the Noisettine, which is apple and hazelnut on a (butter?) tart base. Specifically, there is a lot of hazelnut cream (I think) with chopped hazelnuts, a tart base that may have apple but I strongly suspect hazelnuts (or hazelnut power) in it, since it was obviously darker than just butter and flour, with some small green pieces of apple sauté (so, really soft) in between. I liked all aspects of this and the basic idea appeals to me, although I didn't know that apple would be good (actually, there is not a lot and I'm not sure how much I could taste it other than sensing that it added some sweetness). The price was only 450 yen. I definitely plan to go back next week and the week after that (no cake could be bad enough next week that I wouldn't still think this place potentially great).

27 km to Un Petit Paquet

It was a good run. I couldn't get started until 11:30, but it was not full summer heat and it was cloudy (looked like it was going to rain toward the end). Most of the Tokyo route I'm familiar with and choose because I like it. The long stretch in the middle is Komazawadouri, which I've been on or across many times but have not really thought about it. It's very good; I should use it more. I made sure that I had a 500 ml bottle of sports drink and a small snack at two points along the way. Also, I started with one bottle of water and refilled once, which seemed to be about right for the current level of heat, although I needed more with the cake.

Kawazaki-shi (Kawazaki CIty), however, was very bleak mostly, along main roadways or not well-populated streets along the train line. Part of that is that I have to pick a main route to start with to get into Kanagawa, so I tend to have to stick with it because I am not close to another route that goes the right direction.

Tried some running gel on the sides around my knees. Didn't get a rash, but then my clothes were not soaked in sweat either, so it's not a good test.

At Un Petit Paquet, I got a bostock, which was cut radially, so it was a long wedge rather than a puck. Tasted like there was alcohol, which I have not noticed elsewhere. Along with all the egg and sugar, it packed quite a punch for 220 yen plus 8% tax. I also got Aria, which is the only one I got a picture of. It was 440 yen plus. It's milk chocolate mousse, praline cream, and lemon cream. It seemed like an interesting combination and I was having a hard time finding something that I thought I might like. They had the right shape of cakes (round or rectangular, not wedge; this is just my experience with cake stores; certainly, the round and rectangular ones have to be individually made, but it might have to do more with whether they are trying to make fancy cakes for your friends or cake for children and strangers). I didn't think much of it. The lemon did not do enough to make the milk chocolate and praline interesting. It had an unusually thick base (as it was soft), which seemed gingery, which is fine.

The last one had no name on the card (or the receipt), but was a large almond macaron with hazelnut cream for 440+ yen. Sliced almonds were set in the cream around the outside and the macron was mounted on a little base of cream to hold it in place as a cake. It was very good, although very sweet, so I felt like I really needed to get the taste out of mouth afterward. I wanted to do some shopping, so I was eating outside again, which is just not great after a long run; I'm just not ready for cake, I think. I need to take it straight home and try it later. 

13 km to Dalloyau: Dalloyau

Today I used part of the new route to Akasaka Palace, and then to the Inner Moat, from which I ran to Dalloyau to get my cake and then the shortest route back home.

Tried to take a night scene shot when stopped at a light, but haven't got it down yet, so it's just cake for today: didn't keep my hand steady enough.

This is Dalloyau (ダロワイヨ), the shops signature cake (note the edible name in chocolate). The texture hides that the left side seems a little collapsed, maybe from the run. For some reason, they did not seal the box shut enough for a 5 km run home, but it stayed in place better than the one I walked home from Isetan yesterday.

This maybe not quite great cake from a great shop is 540 yen. It is caramelized almonds and hazelnuts around hazelnut cream with a base of Dalloyau's original meringue (although I'm not sure what is special about it). Actually, the taste is very light and yet sweet, so I'm not sure what it goes best with, maybe tea. I need to get there with a partner and go to the cafe. I love nuts, though, and though not really an exciting cake, it is a nice recovery from the Japanese-pudding-type caramel flavor of yesterday, plus I'm trying to get to each of the great shops for this blog, so it was about time for them and I know I haven't had this cake this year. They've got a lot of different cakes, so I need to get back there again as soon as I finished hitting the rest of the greats: just a few more to go.