Frédéric Cassel, Savarin Orange

Sunday, I was right back to Ginza Mitsukoshi, since Frédéric Cassel won the cake-off, and anyway, are top of the shops with new cakes. I went with the Savarin Orange, so no alcohol. Though orange, it has lime juice to make it more tropical. Inside is vanilla cream, but on top is the staple mascarpone cream on top of the orange. They recommend with tea, which works for me. This was excellent, fortunately, and certainly better than the previous savarin I had from their neighbor counter, though it might have had more volume (though at greater price). This restores them to the the current target level, though the target is about to get raised, and they're at the top, so they will probably get another cake this weekend, though 

I'll say ahead of time that I got one cake ahead on Thursday this week, whereas last week I was one behind, so there will be at least one cake less this weekend. 

I should mention that I also got a second pastry from Johan, a Pain au Chocolat, and it was good, but nothing memorable. They used to have a super decadent version that also had pistachio when they had a Shinjuku shop, but I haven't seen it in Ginza.

Le Pan: Saint-marc Praliné and Tanba Chestnut Mont-blanc

I ran first and got a pastry from Pane Ho Baretta, a d'Amonde Chocolat (?). Definitely good but heavy, as expected, and pretty messy, as there is chocolate on the outside. They had a lot kinds of d'Amonde, though just a few of each on display.







Just from Googling, I had found Le Pan as a cake source in Kobe. I've probably seen the sign pointing upslope on the lateral road between L'Avenue and Gregory Collet Patisserie, but assumed they just have cake. I got cake for later before putting the borrowed bicycle in working order and going around photoing shops for Kobe Patisseries map, being maybe less discriminating than I should be, since there are places that I seem unlikely to visit, though a note to that effect might be useful later.

The cakes were Saint-marc Praliné and Tanba Chestnut Mont-blanc. The saint-marc was good but did not stand out. The supposed mont-blanc was the third cake in that many days that was not much like the conventional form, or like any other. This one actually had very little paste, though there was a little more chestnut inside. The main body is rum cream. It had very nice flavor and texture, so I'll say it was excellent.

I seem to having a lot more luck in this second pass through Kobe cake shops, though that may because I've sticking closer to the central cluster rather than visiting every neighborhood shop that managed to get in a guidebook. I'm also willing to visit the old brands, like Juchheim, sometime, even though I consider them fairly low-level brands in Tokyo. Like Tooth Tooth, I'd like to at least give them a chance in their own shops (though, actually I don't think I've seen any Tooth Tooth cakes in Tokyo, just they have a French restaurant).

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.

Friday night, Dalloyau: Vanille Fraise

Walked 6 km/h for 6 km (so, the long but nice way) for a Vanille Fraise from Dalloyau, vanilla cream and strawberry compote combined with white chocolate (there's a thin square visible in the middle) sandwiched between between pink dacquoise, for 594 yen.

As usual, leg tendon was a little sore from previous walk, tried not to over-do it, walked back slower, again avoiding straining, and seemed okay but a little sore the next day (but no burning).

Park still crowded with zombies, but got a better seat. This was excellent. More something I would want for someone else than myself, but a really nice strawberry flavor that I don't get too often. The dacquoise was soft enough to cut with a spoon without the cream completely squirting out, though a little dangerous eating without a plate.

Pierre Hermé and Gaien laps: Infiniment Vanille

Had to work late, so changed my plan and went to Isetan for cake. Was going to visit some place I haven't blogged yet there, but took a look at Pierre Hermé and did not resist the Infiniment Vanille.

For running, my goal was just 2 laps within 6'50'' at Meiji Gingu Gaien. After reaching that, I continued, since my time remained under 7', until the middle of the fifth lap, when I needed to tie my shoes, despite what I thought was a good effort to avoid that problem.

Times were 6'20''48, 6'24''29, 6'29''05, and 6'36''17, so I've got 3 laps under 6'30'', 4 laps averaging under 6'30'', and 4 laps under 6'40'' as current bests. Total distance today was about 9 km, but I had some speed, so it seemed enough. Next time I'll double-tie those shoelaces.

The cake, Infiniment Vanille, was 756 yen. It has almond biscuit, vanilla cream, and vanilla gel. I'm not thrilled by gelatin and the biscuit was not that exciting. Still, it was good cake, but I know I like the Tarte Infiniment Vanille better, so it did not seem great. I should have gotten the Millefeuille Infiniment Vanille, which ends Thursday. Can't have everything. Instead, I want to make a second trip to Amitié (closed today) and then maybe my first cake from Louange Tokyo.