Frédéric Cassel: Fraisier

It had been a week, so I was back at Frédéric Cassel expecting them not to disappoint. I figured I could use a little rest, so I only ran one way and walked (quickly) back; also, their bags and this cake are more heavy and awkward than average to run with. Actually, I had forgotten about the Fraisier [updated for consistency]; I was just thinking about this month's tart, but there it was, so a bought it as planned last week at least. It's main component is a very dense pistachio cream, which is between almond biscuits and topped with strawberries, obviously. I was hoping for excellent, but this was great. I guess I better change my plans for Saturday and see about confirming a match for this for a cake-off out east (not for this week, since I still want another go at Tonka), but when I next get an opportunity, which will perhaps be at the end of the month, which seemed to be telling me last week would still be within it's run.

Échiré Maison du Beurre: Misérable

Went to Marunouchi for a third time trying to see the same new shops, and actually found Échiré Maison du Beurre without a line, though of course mostly sold out late on a Friday. The cake they had was Misérable (which seems like a bizarre name for a cake, but it's apparently a standard French cake), for 756 yen, since no mille-feuille, what was recommended. I didn't really mind.

It was definitely good, being (vanilla?) buttercream between pretty standard almond biscuit, though pretty sweet. Very buttery, so I'm not sure that there actually is vanilla, since the point is to show off the butter, that being their specialty, and it did that.

Felt pretty good about finally getting something new worth having from a new shop on my list/map, but I was too fast going them and am now 1% over budget, having run about 4 km at 8 km/h, faster than I intended, with 6 km of walking. Because I ran a lot during the week and not much last weekend, I've got nothing left for tomorrow, so I'll just have to stay in and work on the next cake, as well as brownies, macarons, and canele (for surplus egg yokes, or I can try making brownies without egg whites). Sunday I may also skip running, since I still won't be able to get far, and instead cycle to Jiyugaoka.

Un Grand Pas: Fig

No running, of course. My leg actually felt like it was definitely improved today, but then started hurting bad at the end of the workday, although not more than the worst last week. I'm still worried that it's a stress fracture and isn't getting any better because I walk on it (because I need to go places and do things).

One thing maybe I don't need to do is go to Isetan, although it does not add that much walking to the day. I did though. Weirdly, where I thought Chez Cima was on Tuesday, the sign was covered and there seemed to be something else going on (Valentine's day is coming up, so some temporary rearrangement is expected for that madness), but I didn't look closely, as my goal was Ma Patisserie, which is (Patisserie et les Biscuits) Un Grand Pas, from Saitama City, this week. 

I got "Fig" for 420 yen, which has no figs, so my guess at an English spelling might be wrong. This is pistachio marzipan around rum-soaked raisins and currants, I think, on an almond cookie base, so it's like a fruitcake tart, almost. The cream layer in between is coffee, which I kind of noticed and could have done without, but it didn't ruin it for me, so it's probably best that I didn't know, since I'm not sure that anything else they had would suit me. Eventually, maybe I'll get used to coffee, but I don't accidentally eat it that often. Anyway, it was still excellent. I'm a little worried that the pain and medicine is making me loose my discrimination, but it is Isetan, after all, so I shouldn't be surprised that it's not bad. I might go back again while they are still at Isetan, since I don't know if I'll ever go that far north again, even if my leg recovers, and I've got enough to do in Tokyo.

(Jiyugaoka) Mont-Blanc

Started out running okay, but after a couple kilometers, my left knee started to hurt, so I should have rested. Seemed to be able to walk okay, so kept going, which I regretted halfway, but things were okay.

At (Tokyo Jiyugaoka) Mont-Blanc, I did not get the Mont-Blanc, I got the Exotic, which is relative, for 500 yen. This is apparently almond biscuit and white chocolate mousse with passion fruit, mango, and apricot in three layers, I think. Actually, the passion fruit completely dominated. It was okay. The biscuit was good quality and the flavor was fine, if limited. It's a big cake for a reasonable price, but it's nothing I need again. So they seem to be good, but not really what I'm looking for. Probably if I ever go back, I should go ahead and get a Mont-Blanc.

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.