L'Atelier Motozo, Torta di Ricotta

Did what passing for running with me these days, 1-min intervals, but only about 20 intervals, and then just walking, due to my knee. After confirming that Viron had nothing new (though the Valentine's cakes were gone), I made a 4th visit to (L'atelier) Motozo in Miguro-ku. They're only open 4 hours a day, 4 days a week now, with no café or bar visible. They do Italian desserts, so not a lot for me. I've already had their mont-blanc (and a variation) and one other cake. This time I went with their cheesecake, Torta di Ricotta, which seemed like my best chance. Still, it didn't look particularly encouraging, reminding of me of a café cake from Kobe, though that one was probably pretty good, now that I think about it. Anyway, it was much better than I expected, probably better than average for patisserie cheesecake overall, which is impressive. However, it's a tough call and I think I have to go with calling this definitely good, which isn't going to be enough to keep it in the quite fine group if I make a cut. Still need to find 7 more better shops, though.

Pierre Hermé, Elena

Tuesday, I worked relatively late but got to Isetan in time. I still owed Pierre Hermé a new cake, so I chose the Elena without knowing anything about it but that it was different and had pistachios. Actually, it's based on a traditional Italian cake of ricotta cheese with a fruit juice soaked sponge, cassata, which sounds less exciting. Of course, I wanted a great cake, but rarely get it. I was hoping for excellent while I ate it and thought maybe it would be justified, but in the end I'm satisfied having had a good cake and learning something new about sweets. I still remain too far ahead on this shop and it's dangerously low as far as ranking, so it could be under threat again soon, but it will probably hang on for a while as one the superb Tokyo cake shops. It's still got at least one more cake-off coming this year, even if one of the couple great tarts I'm looking for from them doesn't reappear soon.

Rose Bakery: Ricotta Cheesecake

Was trying to get something else, but it wasn't available but I felt busy, so I still wanted to get something at Isetan. That gave me a couple choices of quite fine shops to get a third cake from. I decide to go with Rose Bakery. I had my best previous luck with a cheesecake from, so this time I chose the Ricotta Cheesecake. It was different and good, but not enough that I need to go back. And of course, they aren't trying to be a patisserie, so they aren't really my focus anyway. 

No running

Since yesterday was my long run day and today it hit 35 degrees in Tokyo, no running, although I did some weight training indoors. I might regret it tomorrow, because rain is forecast. I went to Isetan for cake and checked out the Sucreries Nerd counter, but did not get too excited and ended up with just bread from Andersen, including this,

a ricotta cheese lemon pie, which was okay but not as great as I hoped. Next time I'll try the cinnamon bun. I still have a card from Sucreries Nerd, so maybe I'll go by when I run out of other places, since being at Isetan is recommendation enough.

Of course, I still had half a homemade chocolate-topped cheese tart. This time in adding the chocolate, I mixed in a tablespoon of yogurt to break up the crystal so I could cut through it rather than just break it into loose pieces, which worked. Today I added raspberry jam, which also worked. I asked at Jean-Paul Hevin about their sauces the other day, but they are about 3000 yen for 200 g and you ideally should finish the jar within two weeks of  opening it. I decided that 3000 yen was too much for me, so I'd stick to cheaper toppings, at least until I have company.