Cycle Sunday May 31

Today, I decided to go to Ryoco, which is in Shirokanedai, in Minato Ward (港区). I got the below fig tart (イチジクのタルト) for 640 yen because I think that I haven't had it before. Of course, it was very good. Ryoco is the best place I know in that area (the south of inside the Yamanote loop), although there a branches of good places near Ebisu and Meguro stations. The tart has an about-1-cm-thick solid but not hard tart base. I'm guessing that there is some egg in there, to get that texture, but I don't have enough cooking experience to know. That's something I need to work on, but I'm busy running and such. Then creamy custard on top and finally the fruit.

Outside the Yamanote loop on the east side, the canals are not so clean. I decided to try going south first and then cutting over west, but got lost a lot and it's not that great as far as scenery, so I don't think I'll change my standard route to Meguro.

Of course, the goal in going west was to got back to Jiyuugaoka. This time I visited Origines Cacao, another great shop. Below, is what I ordered: the Martinique (マルティニック) for 484 yen. As the raisins on top give away, this is for adults. The bottom is a thin tart shell with rum raisin vanilla cream. On top is a chocolate Chiboust (チョコレートのシブースト), which means I don't no what, since Chiboust is just the name of a famous French chef. Anyway, it is very soft but had a slight granularity to it: the moistness is clustered in grains, not surrounding bubbles, like a mousse, or simply creamy. I was not surprised that it was great.

Lastly, the sad little heart below, who rode in my basket home. It's name is Puchi coeur ("little heart", プチクール) from Avançons next to Takadanobaba Station (高田馬場駅) for I don't know how much (the receipt has gone missing), but not so much: maybe 440 yen. As I should have guessed, it is mainly chocolate mousse (they told me vanilla, but that's just about 10% in the middle). Chocolate mousse and I are still not getting along, but at least I confirmed that they do have a decent selection of cakes if you go earlier. Since it was recommended to me personally, I'll try again. Fourth time's the charm?