Viron, Gourmand

Got a second cake ahead when Viron had their other new came available Friday. This is the Gourmand (I think), and besides nuts it's meringue. It might actually be all meringue, just with different nut additives. It's certainly quite dry, making it quite light, and quite decadent, in keeping with the name. No complaints about any of that, as it was excellent. 

Toshi Yoroizuka: Mémorial

Sunday night, I ran first to Ginza, where FC was sold out of what I wanted, not sure whether I checked in at Pierre G, but they would have been closed by the time I could have gotten there under current hours, but went to Tokyo Midtown, which also was closing early, but has later base hours, so I could get a 21st cake from this quite exceptional shop. I went with Mémorial, which was memorializing probably 10 years at Tokyo Midtown. It's chocolate, yuzu, and nuts, or at least that's what I can remember, and what was obvious. It was good, but the flavor combination wasn't really working for me as anything special.

Liberté: Saint Honoré

Thursday, I wanted to do a short run and get a pastry or some other small non-cake item. I was going to check Jinguumae and go as far as Shibuya Station, if necessary, but did not expect to find a bakery café on the north end on Jinguumae. I only found it because I overshot where I intended to turn and was doubling back on a road that cuts perpendicular to any direction I'm usually trying to go. The shop is Tournage and the café aspect is apparently fairly recent, not not terribly obvious from even looking inside, since there is not a lot of space. There was lots of sold out display space relative to the tiny size and I guess they do baking classes there. A newer shop is out in Toranomon could also be connected to the neighborhood course map if I use subway access stairs and tunnels to get past the main roads. I got a nut tart of some sort, which was definitely good and better than I expected, so they probably have good stuff, if you go earlier than I did, though they are more bread oriented than pastries. Anyway, it seems a much more significant bakery than the other bakery on the Jinguumae north loop.

Friday, I went to Isetan and got a cake from Liberté, who are a relatively new place and was visiting Isetan for the first time. I got what was labeled as just Saint Honoré, though it was chocolate. Unfortunately, it was just good: worth eating but not really worth buying. It can boast good ingredients, which I believe. I've been giving good shops a second chance when they visit Isetan, but I might wait until their next visit, as I have a lot of other places I want to go. For running, I successfully practiced the newly revised Jinguuemae north loop. It's another half kilometer longer but simpler in some ways.

Schloss Bäckerei: Sachertorte

Took advantage of Schloss Bäckerei being at Isetan and got their Sachertorte (have to check and update, as they probably called this the Sachertorte Schloss Bäckerei), though it seems more like a truffletorte with nuts, since it has nuts and I couldn't taste apricot (again, I need to check the card and update this post). Still, it was a good solid German cake after a number of less impressive ones, so, as a first cake, I feel this was excellent and I'd like to have more before they go (not sure whether I could make their 7 pm closing time on a weekday). Still, the selection of fresh cakes is pretty limited.
The run was confirming my last change to the Jinguumae 3&r+ course (which I also shaved a corner off of). Not sure sure about the loop around Franzè & Evans, which could be shortened slightly, but I'm really to move on to the next neighborhood. I explored a little bit among the intervening neighborhoods and at least used the designated entrance for each but did not try to complete them in the light right. It was about 9 km at 9 km/h. Rather than other Ralph Lauren display window pictures, I'll note that these two buildings are next to each other on the north end of what at least becomes Cat Street to the south. This area is more street fashion than high fashion and the buildings are eclectic. I assume it developed to its present popular state by being old and relatively cheap.

14 Juillet Tokyo: Carmel Chocolle Prelle

Mixed rain and snow today, but not so much and the ground is not cold enough for ice, so I was able to run, but kept it at around 10 km/h all 11 km, which is fine. I'm going to run up against my budget limit Sunday, so I don't need to run fast. Actually, because coming in from outside as soon as possible seemed more important than shortest distance, I came back the slightly longer way that runs past P. Shima in Kohjimachi, which seems to be more level (which can be good or bad, but definitely good in bad weather). Also, I notice looking at a map that this takes me near a natural baked-goods shop TiMi, which I realize that I should check out, although I'm more interested in French sweets with exotic ingredients, which probably is not their thing.

I went to Marunouchi again for 14 Juillet Tokyo for Carmel Chocolle Prelle (カラメル・ショコラ・ポワール; 480 yen), which is definitely not the French spelling and Google doesn't recognize, so it probably was not thought about very much. Anyway, this is chocolate and caramel mouse with a caramel gelatin coating and pear in the center, as well as a some alcohol of some sort and visible nuts, which I didn't try to identify. There are so many things that could have gone wrong for me here, but actually this was a good well-balanced cake. It didn't "grab me", but the more I considered it, the more I respected it, so I went from rating it good to definitely excellent, which is very nice, since this shop is very accessible and has a large selection.

Heritier: Mars

Yesterday's run was to try to do 11 km/h around Akasaka Palace, which is hard because, as the name "Red Hill" suggests, there are slopes (enough to put up sign for cyclist to watch their speed), so probably I'm going 12+ km/h down slope sometimes and -10 km/h up slope sometimes. I managed my target 1 2/3 laps (5.5 km), before I pealed off to do some shopping.

Today, I went to (Patisserie Francaise) Heritier, which is in Hakusan, in Bunkyo-ku. I got even more lost than last time I went, so I have to just guess about the distance there, but probably ended up around 6.5 km, in which case it was 10 km/h. After I got cake, I ran about the same speed for around 3 km, but then after I picked up 2100 of peanuts at Nikunohanamasa, I was slowed down to around 8 km/h, which is still pretty good, as I was carry things in both hands at this point.

The cake was Mars (マアルス; 540 yen).  The cake is kind of bowl of chocolate coating (though not noticeably chocolate in taste) studded with nuts full of a dried fruit mass that you shoot run into. It's definitely good and definitely interesting, but ultimately not particularly flavorful besides being sweet and a little rummy, so maybe a good shop but not a priority for a quick return.

Esquisse Cinq: Armagnac

Took the long way (down through Meiji Jingu Gaien to Aoyama Avenue) to Ginza. Stopped at Hibiya and then walked the rest of the way to Mitsukoshi Ginza, where Frédéric Cassel had already ended their November Inspiration cakes. Checking later online, and they will have a couple specials starting Dec. 1, so maybe I'll go back tomorrow. For today, I used my planned backup, Esquisse Cinq (エスキス サンク), which I had not bought from before, although Sweet Sonobe, has, so I added them to my list of places to visit a while back. They're in Tokyu Ginza Plaza, where they have a tea salon. I got the Armagnac (アルマニャック, 750 yen).

This was definitely good, elegant, and sophisticated. The base is nuts, though I'm not sure what kind. Seemed to be a mix, but something in the walnut or cashew and something about the shape of a pistachio, which might have been what that was, though I couldn't really work out the familiar taste. The dome is a delicate shell, inside which is caramel sauce along with almost pudding. It had a certain Japanese pudding feeling, but was thankfully sweeter, so I didn't have a problem with it. Was not disappointed and the quality was high, but it wasn't something I'm interested in having again, so no huge hurry to go back. I should mention that the counter person mentioned that there is cognac in it, but like a reviewer online noted, you can't actually tell. Sorry, the lighting is not very flattering in the photo, though I suppose they never are for these night park ones.  

In running news, my elaborate schedule for the next two weeks is ruined, because I ran the 9+ km at 10 km/h (strictly, I was about 9.9 going out and just over 9.5 coming back), so my budget is completely out of wack and there is no point in doing a training run where my "sprint" is 10 km/h now. Still, that's my only 10 km/h running in the last week, so I'm not suddenly going to kill the +40% penalty for going over 9 km/h, but I might reduce it to 20% starting now, since I've been doing at least a little 10 km/h for quite a while. All this is trivia to anyone but me, of course, but I'm enjoying and able to run faster now, it seems, so that's good news. Still a ways to go on my left hand, though.

Shima: Paris Framboise

Rushing thru congested sidewalks in Yotsuya, went too fast: 2.3 km out at 5'30''-6'10''/km pace, which counts as 3.45 km of my budgeted 12 km of 6'10-7'/km, and 2.2 km back just under 7'/km. Need to work on my pacing.

To P. Shima (in Kojimachi) for Paris Framboise, which has nuts (supposedly; must be paste or cream) and puff pasty layers top and bottom, as well as raspberry, for 540. Like mille-feuille, cream tends to squeeze out if one tries to cut through from top, but still excellent, like the shop so far. Raspberry delicious without being overwhelming.

Yesterday, no running, but tried a C.B.S. chocolate from Henri le Roux, for 324 yen. Excellent caramel chocolate.

Ryoura: Tarte Chocolat Caramel Salé

Cycled out to Yoga in western Setagaya to visit Ryoura, which seems to be a hot topic right now, seemingly for good reason. No line near opening time, which is late, 11:00 am, but it's a nice shop. They had Tarte Chocolat Caramel Salé and I read the description as far as "nuts", after which there was no reason for me to resist my impulse for chocolate. I'm very biased, but think this is great. If other places would make more chocolate, salt caramel tarts with nuts, maybe I would become more discriminating but until then, I'll appreciate this shop's accurate anticipation of what I want. Also, the price was 520 yen, which is reasonable for great cake. This is basically a standard chocolate mousse dome, complete with (bavarian) cream, on top. The base is a tart shell, a layer of chocolate biscuit/cake, and then the caramel. Also, the outer coating is obviously very reflective; not sure what I could have done about that for the photo.

I was cycling, so my route was somewhat random and I ended up going past Patisserie Main Mano again, so I decided to stop and see what they had. I was thinking they were more a bakery, because their other shop nearby (both in the Yoyogi area) is a boulangerie and café, but they had some cakes. I had already had cake, so I got a choux cream for 200 yen. It was good. Also, they filled it after I ordered, which seems to be the best way. It rolled around a little before I took this picture, so don't judge to harshly.

Went over to Takashimaya and verified that they have Ma Priere cakes, so I don't need to run out there tomorrow. Already have plans to visit L'Abricotier on Saturday and expect to get cake at Isetan earlier in the week, so my best bet for unvisited places hard to go to on a workday is Avranches Guesnay. I got it from Joshi+, which isn't that reliable (since its priority is to go some place new and it's been running for a years now), but the online info looks okay and it's close on a rainy day. Guess I need to dig further into Sweet Sonobe to make a plan for Sunday, unless I want to get out to Eclat des Jours, which didn't look quite as good, I think, but still worth visiting.

Sunamachi-Kasai-Mizue History and Culture course: L'Abricotier

Took today off and got up early (before dawn) to run the Sunamachi-Kasai-Mizue History and Culture course. Still having knee trouble, or rather I think the tendon or something under and on the outside of the knee, so I have to be careful turning with the left leg, but no problem running fast straight or running up hills and stairs, which is weird. Not the normal knee problem. If necessary, I'll rest days or weeks until it is better, but in any case, I should not consider myself ready for longer distances until I can run in the 40 to 50 km range without getting this kind of problem.

First leg of the course is the Sunamachi Saltspray Walk from Minami Suanamchi Station. Doesn't seem to be any reason for this leg (although it was sort of on my way). I mean, there is sort of a park at the beginning, but I've been there before and it's just some place for people to pass through going north from the station (toward the residential section). The walk ends where the course branches, north of Nishi ("West") Kasai Station.

The south branch goes down past the station, by a big baseball stadium, and from there goes through a park course down to Kasirinkaikoen Station, which is named for the big park south of it, Kasai Seaside Park. The course weaves along a cycling road, park, bridges over main roads, and paths along artificial streams with lots of little bridges, so it's hard to be quick and it's well separated from the street. The final park, which I didn't get deeply into, is big and was recommended to me once by a birder as the best place to see birds in Tokyo. On the other side of a channel that connects up to Edo River is Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea. This walk is the Kasai Wave Walk.

I traced the Kasai Wave Walk back to the branch point and headed northeast long the Sound of Old River Walk, which has a long stretch along a narrow stone path weaving along an artificial stream toward the end. The course changes name when you get to the same channel as I mentioned below (only, this is a different branch than the one going to Edo River). The final part is the Ichinoe Nanushi Estate Walk and ends at Mizue Station. It's okay, but again, I'm not that interested in this flat, below sea level (?) part of Tokyo, which is very car centered.

I came back mostly along Route 50. At Nihonbashi, I went in Mitsukoshi to visit the Dalloyau and got a Pain ("bread") d'Orange 324 yen. It's a danish made with their croissant dough and cream, orange, and sugar. Like their croissant, it was great.

Then I continued home running until the Lawson 100. I was very slow all day, but not terribly. Going was 13.0 km, then 20.15 km on the H&C course, and 17.7 km running back, which is about 51 km, perhaps farther than I should have run, although on the way back, I had figured out how to run so that my left leg didn't cause problems. It's not a good long-term solution, but later when I had to walk a little after going out again for cake (which I'll get to next), I didn't feel any problems. I don't expect that to last, but I hope I can recover without having to completely stop for a few weeks again, by which time it will be the rainy season and then full summer. Still two more about 50 km H&C course runs that I can do, which just leaves two 100 km course runs that I won't be surprised if I'm never able to do as preferred (without a train or cycle assist).

For cake, I cycled to L'Abricotier, where I ate in. I had to buy tea, but it wasn't that expensive (only 350 yen more), and I got a little pot with about three cups worth, not like French Pound House. I actually needed the fluids (although I had eaten and drunk water before coming out again after running) and the winds were very strong, so even if I had been running rather than cycling (which doesn't agree with cake), it was better to eat in. I plan to do that on my next visit too.

The cake was Le Piemont for 450 yen. It's a mousse cake with milk chocolate outside, along with three kinds of nuts (the almond on top is hidden in the picture) and some biscuits that I also approve off. Inside is nut cream and chocolate cream, with chopped nuts within the nut cream, which is a good choice. The cake bottom has hazelnut in it. I'm choosing the cakes that appeal to me, so having two great cakes (as this was) is not enough evidence to be confident that this is a great shop, but it certainly seems to be at least another excellent one and I hope to go back next weekend, whether cycling or running (if I'm up for a long run, I want to do the Shibamata H&C course and visit La Rose des Japanais, which is my top priority after L'Abricotier).

Definitely Excellent Tokyo cake shops and Kyunakasendo History and Culture course

Haven't been able to train because of a cold, so I didn't try increase my distance. Also, very slow. I had gone out early in the morning, as there was a pause in the raining and the weather report then was rain at 1 mm/h from noon to 6 pm (whereas <1 mm at 9). The heaviest rain was coming back, although naturally from 1 pm it's been dry.

I manged 7.62 of slow running to get to the start of the Kyunakasendo History and Culture course.

The first part is the Land of "Yukari" Yoshino Cherry Walk from Komagome Station through a winding  path around cemeteries to Koshinuka Station and then as the Itabashi Guest House Walk continues up the same road to Itabashihoncho Station. There was one confusing marker that I had to go back and check early on (it was rotated, so I misinterpreted its recommended route) and the main straight shot switches sides of the road a few times with no warning (there isn't really any mechanism in their system from crossing the road and continuing in the same direction, other than to put a marker on the other side of the road and hope people notice). Due to some doubling back, it as a very slow 6.67 km.

During the H&C course running, after the 1 hour mark of the today run, I stopped at a 7-11 for a Caramel & Crunch Donut, which is 317 kcal, 2.8 g protein, and 120 yen. This is a good donut. And a donut is cheap, convenient cake. So when I buy fresh cake, I want something better than a donut, something excellent, to feel that it was worth the money and effort.

I just got slower from there for the next 5.05 to French Pound House. I choose this because it is close to the route (which I followed back, at least the long straight bit) and I had had written that it was good but never posted about it. I chose L'automne, which is kabocha (pumpkin/squash) with almond clusters on top and layers of vanilla, caramel, and chocolate cream, for 395 yen + 8% tax. I ate in, so there was also Early Grey teat for 450 yen + tax. The cake was good, although the cake part was a little different, sort of pancake like, in being a little rubbery, in the sense of resisting my fork, but no taste or texture problems. The taste was fine (the kabocha taste seems to go fine with the others, although its contribution is subtle). As I said, the cake was only good, so I could as well have had another donut.

If the previous was super slow, the last 6.75 km home was ex-super slow, but I don't need to track below very slow, so I'll just say that I ran 7.6 slow and 18.5 very slow.

Continuing the discussion of yesterday, of having identified 7 definitely great cake shops (sells enough great cake while avoiding good or worse cake) and 2 that are tentatively ranked great but need further review, I have 35(?) excellent cake shops. Doing the math, that's four time as many, so I should top up all my greats to 8 cakes before I worry about bring my excellent ones to 2 cakes, though I have to make use of the opportunities I have, and my first priority for the weekend is doing new history and culture courses.

The few definitely (relatively) excellent cake shops are as follows:

(1) Aigre-Douce. Near Mejiro Station. This is so French, I see French people visit there. Definitely some excellent and great cakes. It's a pretty big place and does a lot of business.

(2) Au Bon Vieux Temps (Kawata Pere Fils). Way out there in Oyamadai, two stations west from Jiyugaoka.

(3) Bigarreaux. On Sazae-san street south from Sakurashimmachi. Not huge, and only two tables for eating in, but nice.

(4) Fraoula. Actually, for cake, this fails as excellent, because of too many good and an only okay cake, but some excellent/great baked goods (croissant and bostock, particularly).

(5) Lettre d'Amour. In Shirogane. Has café. Never seem to be very busy, though.

(6) Origines Cacao. In Jiyugaoka. Very close to being great.

(7) Ryoco. In Takanawa, not so far from Lettre d'Amour. No café and very busy (expect a line or early sell-out).

These all started out as Great or "Worthy", which is why I've had enough visits to nail down their excellence. The other 28, which I won't list, will require time to sort through. I hope to get there, but don't want to divert too much attention from the great shops.

Nonstop local run and Henri le Roux (Isetan): Éclair Chocolat

Got a third Henri le Roux cake from Isetan, so for my running, I did a nonstop run, using what I had learned previously and starting by going west. Still ended up coming out of the wrong subway exit when using it to cross to a different block, so I could go farther, but it was okay. At 1 hour, I intended to finish my loop and go back, but hit road construction that closed the sidewalk, so I had to detour to the next street back, which is really what I should have been using since the light was out only because of construction for the Olympics. Ended with 1:12' run. Was sore at the beginning, especially when I hit the first slightly up-slope part, so yesterday's Akasaka Palace course work definitely had an effect.

The "cake" (and they call it cake there) was Éclair Chocolat for 432 yen, which has thick chocolate, a solid chocolate bar inside, the biscuit of course, and some caramel and nuts on top (nougatine, "brown nougat"). Best éclair I've ever had (which is not high praise by itself), and I'm going to call it "great", although it is simple rather than revolutionary. This is a third great cake in a row (and three of only four available), so I'm going to call the shop "great".

Probably go back tomorrow for the last cake. Not sure what I'll get from there after that, but won't have to decide until maybe next Tuesday, since I have other weekend cake plans. 

1 min intervals to Louange Tokyo: Cube-Caramel

Ran down to try a new shop. Did about 11 intervals of 1 min + 1 min fast to get there. Took the regular route down to Aoyama Road and then through Aoyama Cemetery to the Shibuya History and Culture route. The last part maybe isn't that great late at night, as far as traffic and sidewalk, but still okay.

At Louange Tokyo, I had a choice of 6 cakes and didn't choose well: I chose the Cube-Caramel for 846 yen (they're all the same shape and cost). I should only order caramel from shops that I've already judged based on other cakes, because the chance that I'll like it is low. This one had caramel mousse, caramel brulée, praline ganache, biscuit Joconde (which I think is almond added to meringue to make cake, versus using baking soda/power to get some sponge), and various nuts. Some parts were good (the nuts), but overall it's not a flavor that I like. It was a well-made cake, seemed like, and not small, but it would have to be pretty good for me to be satisfied at the price. Still, even only designating it as not bad but not worth special attention, it's close and open late, so I'll probably get over there for a second cake eventually (hopefully before the go out of business, not that I have reason to know whether that is likely).

No running or cake tomorrow, so it will be homemade. I want to make shortbread, which I've never done, just because it sounds good, so I should finally get myself an actual cookie sheet or big flat cake pan, although I can use the pans that fit the open if I stay away from their edges, since they are more fit for roasting something (I think I used them for pizza before I got my pizza stone, but otherwise I'm not sure what I use them).

Saturday, I hope to get over to La Primeur, but since it is Saturday and I missed my chance last week, I'd like to also visit Hidemi for takeout cake, which will make it a long run. For Sunday, I'm thinking about going up to Aigre-Douce.

Run to Shinbashi and Piece Montée: Batan Chocolat

I ran to Shinbashi, but that was overshooting to go to Ginza, where Pièce Montée is, so I had to reorient myself. Once there, I got the Baton Chocolat for 800 yen, which is nuts and raisins in a very dense chocolate cake. There are chocolate pieces and chocolate cream on top, although you're going to need more delicate handling than I managed to get them off without making a mess. It was very good, I think, but I was not happy that they just gave me a box, although (i) I didn't try asking for a bag and (ii) it was so windy that a bag would not have been that useful. Still, I felt that the service was not great. I ended up walking back to Hibiya Park and then just eating it there, so no picture. It was good, but messy under the conditions and left me thirsty and thinking again about making brownies next. Ultimately, I can't get too interested in there and no one has recommended them, so it's going down as visited by not of particular interest. I don't need everything from everywhere, and they are not particularly convenient even compared to Dalloyau, which is also in Ginza.

It was in fact, too cold for how I was dressed and the wind, although not fatally. Since today was the peak daytime temperature, I won't try again to go without a jacket, even if I get sweaty. No running tomorrow since rain is forecast, I need to do my indoor workout, and I need to stay home for a postal delivery. Hope to get something from Isetan Thursday, maybe a shop I haven't blogged yet, then do laps, either try for higher speed laps at Meiji Gingu Gaien, or a couple laps around Akasaka. Then Friday maybe back to Amitié, since I liked the first cake and they were reasonable. I haven't had much luck with places I've chosen from just seeing, but I still might try Louange Tokyo soon, which does not quite fall in the category since I discovered them online and they are maybe too new to have gotten a recommendation from Isetan or Joshi+, which are my two sources.

Similar but longer run than yesterday: Tranche noisette

I was going to try to plot the route from today, but got lost and Google Maps is slow, so I gave up. Anyway, it was like yesterday, only a little further out from Akasakamitsuke. Today was the 7th extreme heat day in a row, extending the record, that will probably reach 8 tomorrow, doubling the old record.

I got my cake first at Isetan from Chef Fujiu. It was the Tranche Noisette for just under 400 yen, which is nuts and chocolate. The cake is dense and coarse but still a little spongy rather than biscuit-like and the filling is very dense, like butter cream. The description just says nuts and chocolate and that it has some texture, or something like that. Very good. Lost their card already, but they are in Tokyo, but way out west. They open at 8 am, though, which sounds great. That should be my next long run: I can leave at 2 am. But I already have a plan, so I'll stick to it. Maybe in two weeks.

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.

9 km to Neues and Tokyo Midtown: Esterhazy Schnitten

I guess today's run was a little short, but still plenty hot. I stopped at Neues and got the Esterhazy Schnitten for 500 yen. Very good (but again, not on the on-line menu). The frosting was frosting sweet, so it would have been better with a drink, but this was in the middle of a run, so I didn't want to stop that long. Love this cafe, though. This is a kind of standard German (well, Hungarian) tort with spiced buttercream sandwiched between almond meringue dough (at least traditionally: this was a nutty cake, but not sure that it was meringue).

I stopped at Midtown to visit their nice grocery because I was interested in caramels for melting and topping my cheese pie with. I talked about caramel here previously but had not realized that the flavor I know as caramel is actually milk caramel ("caramels", as in the candy), or maybe caramel sauce, but full on caramel cooks all the water out, so that's probably why sometimes when I order caramel things they taste funny to me, because I'm only used the taste of sweetened caramelized milk. Found the same brand of milk caramels at Midtown as elsewhere for cheaper, so I went ahead and bought them. Don't know whether I'll have time today to experiment, but I'm thawing a pie.