Toraya Yōkan

Omogake from Toraya

Traditional Japanese confections, wagashi(和菓子), evolve into an art form. The typical one called Nama-gashi (生菓子) which is moulded in the shape of flowers, birds, and fruit, to represent the seasons, and are served mainly at the tea ceremony or special occasion.

Another wagashi called Yōkan which is not fancy as nama-gashi, but it is one of the most popular among Japanese traditional confections. Yōkan is made from a mixture of azuki bean paste, sugar and agar-agar and shaped in a mould. It is very sweet as it contains much sugar. Also it can keeps for a long time.

Toraya(虎や) is very famous wagashi shop which has more than 100 years history of making wagashi. Its Yōkan (羊羹) is very famous. I try their product called 'Omokage' (おもかげ). This name gives a sense of nostalgia. There are many different taste of Yōkan at the shop. Omokage is made with brown sugar. This is good to have it along with a cup of green tea for taking away a bit of the sweetness.

Toraya official website

This blog is a part of the official JNTO Hong Kong Campaign

URL: 日本新発売（JNTO Hong Kong campaign page)

Afternoon Tea at Omodesando

There are many cafes along Omotesando. I like to go to Cha-cafe because of its variety of tea, such as English, Chinese, Indian, Japanese tea. Also the atmosphere is relaxing. The interior is quite stylish with white walls and black chairs. I like their counter seats because I can look at people walking along Omotesando while I am sipping a cup of earl grey. It's delightful to have a piece of lemon tart for afternoon tea. The sweetness of the honey has balanced the sourness of lemon. Also it serves with a scoop of pineapple ice-cream and garnish with a slice of lemon. That's very elegant and prefect with English tea.

This blog is a part of the official JNTO Hong Kong Campaign

URL: 日本新発売（JNTO Hong Kong campaign page)

珈琲貴族エジンバラ

After shopping around Shinjuku, it's always good to enjoy a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. My friends are busy with iphone at this cafe where they can access wifi! It's nice place, though there is only Japanese menu without any picture.

珈琲貴族エジンバラ

http://www.k-thanks.co.jp/kizoku/

This blog is a part of the official JNTO Hong Kong Campaign.

URL: 日本新発売（JNTO Hong Kong campaign page)

Deep fried buns

4 tastes of Agemanju :

Plain Agemanju (filled bean bun)

Ume Agemanju (Japanese apricot taste)

Maccha Agemanju (Green Tea taste)

Goma Agemanju（Sesame taste)

Green tea taste and Japanese apricot taste

I do recommend the green tea taste even though both are great!

Agemanju, fried sweet bean-jam bun, is a traditional Japanese sweet. It's a fluffy flour bun filled with red beans. I highly recommend you to try the one at Nakatomi-syouten (中富商店) at Nakamise-dori in Asakusa. Believe me, you should try the one just made! That's much tasty when it's hot. Hot and sweet and also crispy outside. It definitely makes my day.

中富商店

東京都台東区浅草1の37の1

This blog is a part of the official JNTO Hong Kong Campaign

URL: 日本新発売（JNTO Hong Kong campaign page)

Misdo Rikakkuma

Misdo Rikakkuma + Misdo Christmas

Mister Donut is a doughnut chain store in Japan. Recently, it has new flavored products for Christmas. Doughnuts there are less sweet than other doughnut chains. Though it's easily to fed up if you're stuffing too many doughnuts at once. One nice thing there is you can have free refills on coffee or cafe au lait. And more exciting thing of this chain is they even offer set menu with noodle! Hard to imagine, right? Ok, that's just for excitement, I don't recommend their noodle set though!

PaPa Crepe

"PaPa Crepe" is smilar to Mobile Softee (富豪雪糕) in Hong Kong. However, it sells crepe instead of ice-cream. Though it's also a van traveling everywhere. I think Papa Crepe tastes better than those in the stores or restaurant. One reason may because it's hard to get! As well as Mobile Softee, we can't eat Papa Crepe whenever we want, becaue Papa Crepe won't stay in a particular spot! Why don't application designers create a GPS app. for tracing Papa Crepe?

Mini muffins

Mrs. Elizabeth Muffin sells various muffins and cooking. All muffins are baked fresh everyday. Price is around a couple hundred yen. Seasonal fruits or nuts are used for muffins. Until X'mas day, you can order a party mini muffins there even through the Internet. A box of 10 mini muffins costs 1,400yen. I am planning to grab some for party desserts again!

My friend, Mr. Calories

I always receive many small gifts in Japan without any specific reason. I'm simply overwhelmed by their generosity. Who would avoid the glaze slides down the doughnut between the thumb and forefinger? Of course, it's hardly to wait to have a bite. Though I feel confused after a bite. Is it really a doughnut? It tastes like a pound cake.

This bakery shop is quite popular in Ginza, together with its cafe. There is a product called "Angel's chocolate ring" which is highly recommended by the baker. I don't know how it tastes, but it looks interesting with its 18 cm width. Also it's interesting that there is photo competition using this product as a theme.

-------------------

正所謂無功不受祿,在日本我常收到大大小小的禮物,倒是有點受寵若驚。今天我就收到了一些冬甩。有誰可以抵擋糖霜從指間滑下呢？我當然也免不了有咬它一口的衝動。可是咬了這一口,我倒是有點疑惑。這真的是冬甩嗎？這味道好像雪芳蛋糕。

事實上這是一間在銀座頗有名氣的咖啡座。其中一個叫“Angel's chocolate ring”的產品,是麵包師高度推薦的。我不知道它的味道如何，但它其18厘米的寬度的外官,看起來很有趣，。另外有趣的是，這店有使用這個產品作為攝影比賽的主題呢!

お疲れさま/ Cheers for good work

お疲れさま

Cheers for good work

Day of Sakura

幸せなカップル/ Happy couple

楽しむ

Enjoying

桜まち

French cuisine at Le Pergolèse

I went to "Le Pergolese" at Hilton Hotel for dinner tonight.

Savour French cuisine inspired by Stephane Gaboriau, chef of the Michelin starred Restaurant "Le Pergolese" in Paris. I love the dessert the most!

Takano Fruit Bar

Late night